Online references for Pteronotropis sp id & natural history?
#1 Guest_mikez_*
Posted 15 June 2014 - 07:32 AM
I collected a group of what I believed to be Pteronotropis hypselopterus, sailfin shiners, but which in coloring up appear to be flagfin. Also, I stopped at the next stream on the same road, looking just like the last, and grabbed a few more that looked identical. Took two weeks in my tank before I began to suspect they were different and now everybody is coloring up and getting full bodies and they are clearly different. So similar at a glance, but no doubt a hole nuther animal.
I do have pics which I will get up here eventually. Unfortunately, my camera had died during my trip so my photos are only from when I got home. I understand they would not be allowed in the id forum.
Streams were tribs to the Blackwater river in Fl, north side.
I also regret not having enough time actually in the stream observing the shiners and habitat. That's why I'm looking for natural history or any personal observation.
I'm already deeply in love with these fish. Fascinating behavior, different from the stream minnows I'm used to yet also so similar. The flagfins [if that's what they are] are getting big wide bodies and coloring up. One male looks like a tropical and rules the roost. I'm setting up a tank to get some fry. Hope to have these guys a long time.
Any insight, observations, links or even name of a good book would be greatly appreciated.
#2 Guest_Nearctic_*
#3 Guest_NotCousteau_*
Posted 15 June 2014 - 06:44 PM
#5 Guest_mikez_*
Posted 16 June 2014 - 06:15 AM
I really like this site called The Encyclopedia of Life: http://eol.org
Thanks, that's worth a bookmark.
#7 Guest_mikez_*
Posted 18 June 2014 - 08:20 PM
Looks like the bulk of my shiners are flagfin, a few must be sailfin. I'm good with that. Went looking for sailfin, found the flagfin instead, like 'em better.
Now to set up my vegetated riffle tank and get some little ones...
#9 Guest_mikez_*
Posted 21 June 2014 - 09:29 AM
The fact that the book is published by the Smithsonian keeps the price way down. I use it as a textbook for my summer school Ichthyology class, the students are floored that they can find a huge textbook for no more than fifty-some dollars.
I blame my parents for not putting me in a place where I could have taken classes that used such as a text book. Just think how I might have turned out...
#10 Guest_jetajockey_*
Posted 12 September 2014 - 03:13 AM
#11 Guest_mikez_*
Posted 12 September 2014 - 08:03 AM
Both streams were off the same road [which I'll name to you via PM if you're interested] and they were the only two we crossed that were small enough to check quickly but not slow and weedy swamps. My memory is the two streams were next to each other but going back to the map, I see a few in the area and can't tell which was which.
My current plan is to return next spring to the same area so if you're up for going out PM your contact info.
On a related note, I have had one unsuccessful spawn from my flagfins. Unsuccessful cause of me. I left them in too long, let snails get out of hand so most eggs and fry got eaten, then the few fry I saved apparently died when the tank got up into the 80s F. The adults are back in the tank display tank for now and are already fatting up. I'm working on a bigger breeding tank and getting rid of snails.
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