Hey guys new here, I've owned and successfully keep tropical fish, invertebrates and plants for the past 7 years
Last summer was the first time I considered Native fish
Im an avid fisherman and outdoors man, i usually fish for Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, pickrell, pike, catfish perch, and most of the popular sport fish out their, and most of them (other than pumkinseed sunfish) have pretty dull colors compared to tropical aquarium fish, so that summer as i bent down to wash my hands in the lake i saw a small fish (darter i think) and it had nice orange and red colors and a little blue it was the first time ive ever seen a fish like that, i was so amazed i tried to find out more info online and found out people were keeping these beautiful native fish that i have never seen before, but sadly i tricked myself into believing that those are really hard to keep and they dies easily and all that, but every time i go fishing i now start to notice these little beautiful fish and start to really appreciate them, and now finally i cant help but set up a Native tank of my own.
So here is my plan,
I have a spare 10g tank that i want to turn into a native tank, im gonna have a mixture of sand/grave substrate and i will be planting the tank with plants (i will try some native plants as well), filtration will be a old Eheim canister which will be more than enough for the 10g, lighting will be 2 15w T5s at 6500k, will be collecting driftwood and rocks from the lake i will be collecting the fish at. Really that's all i have setup right now.
As for collecting im waiting spring and will start collecting as soon as whether permits, i will be making a medium sized minnow traps placing it one day and coming back the next day to check up on it and see what ive collected, (i live 3-5 minutes away from the lake by bicycle)
For stocking im am very new to Native species so im honestly not sure, only thing i really got are madtoms, really need some help on this so, please if you guys can name out some good nice active fish, it will be greatly appreciated
on a side note
im setting up a 75g tank right now, and will keep it empty, just incase i get addicted to natives and decide i want bigger specimens, but im really more focused on the 10g right now
Will be reading up more on this forum since im sure their is an abundance of information already here, just wanna put out my plans and see if you guys have any advise and can help fix any mistakes i have made.
Thank!
Amazed by Native Fish
Started by
Guest_Kavin2845_*
, Feb 26 2014 10:16 PM
25 replies to this topic
#2
Michael Wolfe
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- Board of Directors
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- North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage
Posted 26 February 2014 - 10:33 PM
Welcome Kavin,
I am sure that you will be able to learn a lot about native fishes here on the forum. One thing that would help us is to clarify your location a bit... Malden where... like what state is that? Here in Georgia, we have yellowfin shiners that would fit your requirements, a small group would be OK in a ten... not ideal, but it would work. But fish in your area are probably different.
I am sure that you will be able to learn a lot about native fishes here on the forum. One thing that would help us is to clarify your location a bit... Malden where... like what state is that? Here in Georgia, we have yellowfin shiners that would fit your requirements, a small group would be OK in a ten... not ideal, but it would work. But fish in your area are probably different.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin
#3
Guest_Kavin2845_*
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Posted 26 February 2014 - 10:46 PM
Welcome Kavin,
I am sure that you will be able to learn a lot about native fishes here on the forum. One thing that would help us is to clarify your location a bit... Malden where... like what state is that? Here in Georgia, we have yellowfin shiners that would fit your requirements, a small group would be OK in a ten... not ideal, but it would work. But fish in your area are probably different.
Oh sorry about that should of mentioned that, im in Massachusetts, i also will be willing to purchase online but would like to keep it local
#4
Michael Wolfe
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- Board of Directors
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- North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage
Posted 26 February 2014 - 10:53 PM
Oh, catching your own and keeping it local is the way to go! I highly encourage that. In fact I liked your plan about visiting a local pond or stream. Stay with that...
The only problem is that I don't know your Mass fishes... but there will certainly be someone else that chimes in.
The only problem is that I don't know your Mass fishes... but there will certainly be someone else that chimes in.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin
#5
Guest_Erica Lyons_*
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Posted 26 February 2014 - 10:59 PM
Massachusetts has sticklebacks!
They're such neat little fish to watch. Here's a video of their spawning behavior. He builds that nest so deliberately.
http://youtu.be/cBX8hWuiHTk
https://www.youtube....h?v=cBX8hWuiHTk
They're such neat little fish to watch. Here's a video of their spawning behavior. He builds that nest so deliberately.
http://youtu.be/cBX8hWuiHTk
https://www.youtube....h?v=cBX8hWuiHTk
#6
Guest_Kavin2845_*
Guest_Kavin2845_*
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Posted 26 February 2014 - 11:03 PM
Massachusetts has sticklebacks!
They're such neat little fish to watch. Here's a video of their spawning behavior. He builds that nest so deliberately.
http://youtu.be/cBX8hWuiHTk
https://www.youtube....h?v=cBX8hWuiHTk
The male look beautiful, have never seen them in real life before only read about them would be an interesting fish
#7
Guest_Kavin2845_*
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Posted 26 February 2014 - 11:04 PM
Oh, catching your own and keeping it local is the way to go! I highly encourage that. In fact I liked your plan about visiting a local pond or stream. Stay with that...
The only problem is that I don't know your Mass fishes... but there will certainly be someone else that chimes in.
Thanks for helping! well if you cant help me in fish maybe you can help me set up wise or collection wise, any tips for me? or maybe if their is anything else i would need in my set up?
#8
Guest_Yeahson421_*
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Posted 26 February 2014 - 11:27 PM
In Mass. I believe you have Longnose, Northern Redbelly, and Blacknose Dace, as well as Central Mudminnows. I'm not sure what brightly colored darter you saw, as Mass. is only listed as having Swamp and Tesselated darters. I think a planted tank would lend itself well to 5 or so Northern Redbelly Dace and 3 Central Mudminnows.Let us know what you think of that stocking list, meanwhile, here's a list of Mass. Fishes to get your imagination going!http://www.biodivers...age/11/mode/1up
#9
Guest_Kavin2845_*
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Posted 26 February 2014 - 11:33 PM
In Mass. I believe you have Longnose, Northern Redbelly, and Blacknose Dace, as well as Central Mudminnows. I'm not sure what brightly colored darter you saw, as Mass. is only listed as having Swamp and Tesselated darters. I think a planted tank would lend itself well to 5 or so Northern Redbelly Dace and 3 Central Mudminnows.Let us know what you think of that stocking list, meanwhile, here's a list of Mass. Fishes to get your imagination going!http://www.biodivers...age/11/mode/1up
im not sure if it was a darter, that's what i guessed but with my limited knowledge i could be wrong
Thanks for the link! if only their were pictures to go with the names it would be so much easier!
#10
Guest_BenCantrell_*
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Posted 26 February 2014 - 11:51 PM
In Mass. I believe you have Longnose, Northern Redbelly, and Blacknose Dace, as well as Central Mudminnows.
I don't know about longnose, but blacknose dace are jerks in my experience. Redbelly dace are awesome, give them enough open space in the middle of the tank so they can school up. Mudminnows are really cool to watch when they eat, but the rest of the time they mostly hide in the plants. I agree with Yeahson, 5 and 3 of those two species would work well. A madtom would probably be fine too, but a lot of people here will warn you that they'll eat your other fish. I've had no issues with tadpole and brindled though.
#11
Guest_Erica Lyons_*
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Posted 27 February 2014 - 12:34 AM
This list might overlap http://wildlife.ohio...uide-index/fishif only their were pictures to go with the names it would be so much easier!
#12
Michael Wolfe
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- Board of Directors
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- North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage
Posted 27 February 2014 - 08:02 AM
OK, so I looked on a map... its Boston! Where are Bruce and Josh when you need them? Wonder if you are in range for mummichogs! If I remember right, they are supposed to be very hardy and personable and be great in a 10 gallon tank. You said that you have kept fish for a while... well mummichogs re you local killifish!
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin
#13
Guest_Erica Lyons_*
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Posted 27 February 2014 - 09:38 AM
Mummichogs are great fish. They like to be housed in crowds, though so I don't know if they could be happy with just one or two in a 10 gallon tank.
Here's a video of them living in a big tank in a crowd.
http://youtu.be/ezp0QNDymHo
https://www.youtube....h?v=ezp0QNDymHo
Hmmm, yeah, this fish in a 10 gallon would make me uncomfortable. But I am a nano fish lover, and biased.
http://www.marinespe...=1487&pic=37760
Oh, sticklebacks aren't the tiniest of fish, either, but they're smaller.
By the way, holding sticklebacks has repercussions. You can read more here:
http://forum.nanfa.o...l-inlet-in-rye/
Here's a video of them living in a big tank in a crowd.
http://youtu.be/ezp0QNDymHo
https://www.youtube....h?v=ezp0QNDymHo
Hmmm, yeah, this fish in a 10 gallon would make me uncomfortable. But I am a nano fish lover, and biased.
http://www.marinespe...=1487&pic=37760
Oh, sticklebacks aren't the tiniest of fish, either, but they're smaller.
By the way, holding sticklebacks has repercussions. You can read more here:
http://forum.nanfa.o...l-inlet-in-rye/
#14
Guest_Kavin2845_*
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Posted 27 February 2014 - 05:06 PM
I don't know about longnose, but blacknose dace are jerks in my experience. Redbelly dace are awesome, give them enough open space in the middle of the tank so they can school up. Mudminnows are really cool to watch when they eat, but the rest of the time they mostly hide in the plants. I agree with Yeahson, 5 and 3 of those two species would work well. A madtom would probably be fine too, but a lot of people here will warn you that they'll eat your other fish. I've had no issues with tadpole and brindled though.
Yeah im really liking the stock, i wouldnt risk the madtom with the other fish then
#16
Guest_Kavin2845_*
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Posted 27 February 2014 - 05:09 PM
OK, so I looked on a map... its Boston! Where are Bruce and Josh when you need them? Wonder if you are in range for mummichogs! If I remember right, they are supposed to be very hardy and personable and be great in a 10 gallon tank. You said that you have kept fish for a while... well mummichogs re you local killifish!
i never knew, their were native killifish, always though it was a tropical things, they look cool but their need to be in a school so i wouldn't want em to be unhappy
#17
Guest_Kavin2845_*
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Posted 27 February 2014 - 05:16 PM
Mummichogs are great fish. They like to be housed in crowds, though so I don't know if they could be happy with just one or two in a 10 gallon tank.
Here's a video of them living in a big tank in a crowd.
http://youtu.be/ezp0QNDymHo
https://www.youtube....h?v=ezp0QNDymHo
Hmmm, yeah, this fish in a 10 gallon would make me uncomfortable. But I am a nano fish lover, and biased.
http://www.marinespe...=1487&pic=37760
Oh, sticklebacks aren't the tiniest of fish, either, but they're smaller.
By the way, holding sticklebacks has repercussions. You can read more here:
http://forum.nanfa.o...l-inlet-in-rye/
I think i decided on 2 mud minnows 4 Northern Redbelly Dace and a stickleback, and im not worried about the spines since ive worked with freshwater rays in the past and was pretty good with not getting stabbed, but this is a much smaller fish and defiantly way more agile! but worth it especially if i get a male,
what do you guys think on the stock list? too much? would they get along?
#18
Guest_Erica Lyons_*
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Posted 27 February 2014 - 05:16 PM
Oh yeah, there are tons of native killifish. The mummichog is fundulus heteroclitus, and is one only one of many many species of fundulus.i never knew, their were native killifish, always though it was a tropical things
For example, fundulus luciae is found in Massachusetts.
photo by Fritz Rohde
Article on them: http://www.nanfa.org/fif/fluciae.shtml
#20
Guest_Kavin2845_*
Guest_Kavin2845_*
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Posted 27 February 2014 - 05:18 PM
Oh yeah, there are tons of native killifish. The mummichog is fundulus heteroclitus, and is one only one of many many species of fundulus.
For example, fundulus luciae is found in Massachusetts.
photo by Fritz Rohde
Article on them: http://www.nanfa.org/fif/fluciae.shtml
not much color but i can see how the markings would help it camouflage in the wild, Cause of native fish ive started to appreciate fish for more of their adaptations than looks!
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