6 replies to this topic

[Betta132]

My LFS gets random darters in their ghost shrimp tank now and then, and I'd like to start a bit of a collection of them. I already have a Johnny darter in my 65g.

This tank is going to house Betta albimarginata, a small, slightly timid species of wild betta. It's also going to house diptail pencilfish and one or two varieties of tiny fish, things like ruby tetras and maybe microrasboras. I'd like to keep darters in here, as they're more visible than in my 65g.

I will not be capturing wild darters, I'll just stay that up front. I know many of them are protected by law, plus I know many of them won't adapt terribly well to the average aquarium. Any and all darters I keep will be obtained from the feeder tanks of local stores if and when they hitchhike in. These fish are accidentally captured, and there's no way I could safely return them to the wild, given possible pathogens and such. I just want to know which species would be safe to keep if they popped up and which species I should pass on.

So far I've seen swamp darters and a Johnny darter, and there could possibly be more species. They have a few types running around in a planted tank that I can't buy because those guys are impossible to catch now.

Oh, and one issue- temperature. Bettas don't like cold, darters do. However, I know I've read that swamp darters seem okay in normal-temp tanks, and the Johnny seems fine so far. I only kept the Johnny because I didn't know what else to do -thought he was a swamp when I got him-, so I was a bit concerned about the heat, but as far as I can tell he doesn't care.

Edited by Betta132, 28 January 2015 - 09:53 PM.

[Matt DeLaVega]

I don't think you are likely to have trouble from any darter you run into in a feeder tank, or really anywhere else for that matter. They are generally not aggressive towards other species. If they happen upon small fry or eggs near the bottom, they will likely eat them if they get the chance. So if you are attempting to breed the other fish species, realize that you may lose some fry. Your Johnny could also be a tessellated darter. They are very similar, and I think that both can show up in feeder tanks.

[Betta132]

Ok, good to hear.

I'm fairly sure he's a Johnny, his flank markings are smaller than on a tesselated. Could be wrong, though. Well, I suppose it's not a majorly important ID, it's not like one is deadly venomous or something.

I don't plan to breed anything, though I'll remember that if one of the albi males shows up with eggs in his mouth. They're mouthbrooders, so I would know if I was about to have babies running around.

[gzeiger]

Swamp darters are quite comfortable in water up to the low 80s, although they will tolerate down to the 50s also.

[mattknepley]

To add to what has already been said, the darters that turn up in feeder tanks and ghost shrimp shipments tend to be tough. And peaceful. They should make happy adjustment to tankmates such as you name. As was stated earlier, they are only a threat to eggs and fry. And baby snails. They looooove them some baby snails.

[dac343]

I'd be more worried of water chemistry problems between fish species. B. albimarginata, prefer low flow, soft water, lower pH water. I'd be concerned about balancing their needs with those of darters. Personally I'd keep albimarginata in a species only tank.

[Betta132]

I'm looking for a breeder who has albis bred in slightly harder water, as we don't have soft water. I've read they're a fairly adaptable varietiy of wild betta.

I'm still working out the logistics, the darters were just an idea. I'm looking for a bottom-dwelling species of fish that's reasonably active but isn't hyper or aggressive enough to frighten the albis.