substrate for swamp darters and other questions
#1 Guest_celaeno_*
Posted 28 August 2012 - 11:16 AM
what substrate would be more suitable for swamp darters, caribsea's torpedo beach or crystal river sand? i'm looking for color contrast that would make the darters stand out more. i have black aquarium gravel now. also, do swamp darters dig?
what size do they get to? i've read 2'' but someone on aquabid told me 3.75''.
what is their life expectancy? i read 1 to 2 years.
and finally, what do i feed them? so far, i've only seen them go for frozen bbs. they have small mouths.
can i keep them at 77F long term with tropicals?
what other fish would be suitable to keep with the darters? i don't want other fish to out-compete them for food.
#2 Guest_jblaylock_*
Posted 28 August 2012 - 11:28 AM
Mine did fine with natural looking aquarium gravel, they won't dig. The substrate is your preference. Usually darker surroundings and bright lights help the coloration. I perfer the look of darter's natural surroundings. The swamp darter has a range of habitats, "Habitat includes slow or still waters of swamps, ponds, lakes, and streams, often over mud and detritus or near aquatic vegetation, sometimes over sand or gravel"
Size, I would say 2-2.5inches...tops
Life span, about a year
I feed all my darters frozen bloodworms and frozen brine shrimp, they love them.
Most darters prefer temps below 72. However, the swamp darter is more common in the south and they likely are tolerant of higher temps. I would acclimate them slowly and make sure they have a lot of O2.
As for other fish. You can keep them with other non-aggressive community fish. But, most of us prefer to keep them with their native species...other darters, shiners, minnows, dace...
Here's a nice site about the Swamp Darter
http://www.natureser...stoma fusiforme+
#3 Guest_njJohn_*
Posted 28 August 2012 - 11:38 AM
#4
Posted 29 August 2012 - 07:46 AM
hello all, i'm new to us native fish and recently acquired a few swamp darters for my 20g planted tank. i have some questions about them.
what substrate would be more suitable for swamp darters, caribsea's torpedo beach or crystal river sand? i'm looking for color contrast that would make the darters stand out more. i have black aquarium gravel now. also, do swamp darters dig?
I would use smaller/finer sand. Think of the habitat they are found in....it's not going to be the same as the cobble/rubble you find other stream-going darters on. They don't dig, but like all darters they do pick at food items in the substrate.
what size do they get to? i've read 2'' but someone on aquabid told me 3.75''.
You show me a 3.75" Swamp darter and I'll show you a trillion dollar bill. Around 2" is correct.
what is their life expectancy? i read 1 to 2 years.
That is correct. Although I'm sure there are others who may have accounts of them living a bit longer. But we are talking ''in the wild" versus "in a captive environment".
and finally, what do i feed them? so far, i've only seen them go for frozen bbs. they have small mouths.
Mine will eat adult brine shrimp, blood worms, black worms, daphnia, and even bits of finely chopped up meats (smelt, shrimp). They will swim up in the water column to compete with other tankmates, but always ensure enough gets down to them if yours does not.
can i keep them at 77F long term with tropicals?
I think that is an acceptable temp. Just watch for aggression with your tropicals. Some tetras can be a little dominant, and other tropical bottom dwellers (loaches, cats) can be as well.
what other fish would be suitable to keep with the darters? i don't want other fish to out-compete them for food.
As mentioned previously, passive natives will work. I keep mine with Bluefin killifish and Least Killifish. (All found in the same type of habitat). The daters will hide under any type of cover you provide and will come out during feeding time. My tank is heavily planted and days go by where I'll only see 1 or 2 Swamp darters out of the 8 or so that are in there. Yet when food is offered, the all appear. Good luck with them. They're a great fish.
#5 Guest_Richard_*
Posted 29 August 2012 - 02:10 PM
#6 Guest_celaeno_*
Posted 29 November 2012 - 12:00 PM
So I was wondering if I could get a betta (splendens) in there? Maybe a male or a couple of females? Would they attack the darters?
#7 Guest_ashtonmj_*
Posted 29 November 2012 - 12:25 PM
#8 Guest_Usil_*
Posted 29 November 2012 - 02:12 PM
To make your native tank more interesting take some time to actually go out collecting rather than adding tropicals. Try to get species that live near the top like gambusia or top minnows both are generally easy to catch this time of the year when water tends to clump in puddles or pools. This isolates the fish and make them easy to catch with dip nets. Also, try for fish that swim actively in the middle of the tank. Shiners can also be found in the pools and they do well in fish tanks. Very active and flashy. Altogether it makes for an interesting tanks. As you learn more about what kind of natives live nearby you can be more selective as you learn their habitats.
Sunfish can make interesting additions to a tank but they get larger and limit what else can be in the tank at the same time.
Usil
Edited by Usil, 29 November 2012 - 02:14 PM.
#9 Guest_gzeiger_*
Posted 04 December 2012 - 11:20 AM
#10 Guest_njJohn_*
Posted 15 January 2013 - 04:16 PM
Edited by njJohn, 15 January 2013 - 04:17 PM.
#11
Posted 16 September 2014 - 08:24 AM
#12 Guest_don212_*
Posted 16 September 2014 - 04:11 PM
#13
Posted 16 September 2014 - 04:44 PM
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