23 replies to this topic

[littlen]

Some hints:

*They're captive bred, and one of the 'easier' and more readily bred species of shiner.
*They are beautiful as juveniles, and especially as adults--even not when colored up.
*These are ~2 months old.
*They would definitely be Roll Tide fans.


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[littlen]

*The orange in their bellies is from the artemia nauplii they eat, but they are also developing the same color on their skin as they grow.

[mattknepley]

Great picture of all those little guys!

Which one's Bear, and which one's Nick?

Edited by mattknepley, 25 April 2013 - 08:59 PM.

[littlen]

Here is the close-up of the fry. You can clearly see the pigment. I think some of you are on the right track.


Hints:
*The metallic blue the males develop during spawing is stunning.
*You'll not find a 'pot of gold' at either end of these fish.

[littlen]

All who guessed Rainbow shiners/Notropis chrosomus are correct!

I luckily happened to see several individuals of a population of ~18 adults in a 120 gallon display tank spawning between some large rocks (as opposed to over a chub nest as they do in the wild). I gravel washed over that area and sucked up most of the eggs into a 5 gallon bucket. They were kept on constant air and received a 50% w/c daily. A few weeks after hatching, I moved them into a 5 gallon tank. A sponge filter was added but daily 50% w/c continued. As they grew, they moved into a 10 gallon, and finally a 40 breeder from where the pictures were taken. I am only aware of 2 that have died, both within the first few weeks after they became free swimming.

I made a post a few years back about rearing the fry as I was having some difficulties at that time. Their numbers just kept decreasing from week to week. A few had suggested keeping a light source on 24/7. THAT seems to have been the trick. Even since they were eggs, a small, 18" fluorescent light has been kept over their tank(s). They are thriving and eating microworms and artemia nauplii 2x daily. I'm starting to introduce new foods at this time.

Thanks to all who participated. More to follow...

[littlen]

Another species I'm working on rearing. Any guesses?


Hints:
*It might have vertical stripes on occasion, but they are not a defining characteristic.
*This fellow is not 'truly' a member of the family we commonly refer to them as.
*Ben Stein might offer it 'Clear Eyes' for its (bright), red eyes.
*When it first hatched, it was not able to eat artemia nauplii (for a few weeks, anyways).

[littlen]

Gerald, you are correct. I had Casper's guess/fish in mind when I wrote that--getting my "Pygmies and Dwarfs" mixed up. (Maybe a mod can remove hint #2 for any future readers).

Thanks for the heads up.

[littlen]

Next up.....2 age classes of the same species. The larger individual is almost 3 months old, the other fish just became free-swimming.

Hints:
*Most of you are familiar with members of the same family that are abundant east of the Mississippi. This one is found way out west.
*It is a Federally Threatened species.
*Only found in the Rio Yaqui drainage of Arizona and Mexico.

[littlen]

No one? Huge hint: First name: Cyprinella. Last name: __________?

[littlen]

Well done, Mike!

The last species will be quite the challenge. The only credit I can take is that the pictures are mine, (I did not breed this species, a co-worker did). None the less I will see if any of you can figure this one out.

Hints:
*It is a cold-water, marine species.
*This is a fairly common species, ranging from Alaska to Southern California.
*In their larval form (pictured) they are pelagic like most marine fish. They use their large pectoral and dorsal fins to navigate throughout the water column. As adults, they are demersal.