24 replies to this topic

[fishlvr]

I've attempted all of the above to no avail. Most of the ones I've collected were right at .5"

[gerald]

Steve -- I just PM'd you Erica's response to the PM that you sent her.  She emailed it to me and asked me to fwd it to you.

 

I usually collect them in late fall or winter and rarely have problems transporting and acclimating them.  In warm weather they're more sensitive, and in late spring/summer you get mostly spawned-out adults ready to die or tiny fry that slip through 1/8" mesh.  Salt at 1 teasp/gal (dissolved in the collecting bucket before you start collecting) can help reduce their ion loss, which leads to bacterial and fungal infections.  Also it's better if you do not pick them up between your fingers.  Plop them directly from dipnet to bucket quickly without handling, or if seining you can pick them up on leaves, plants, or whatever is in the net.  If collecting them in low-oxygen swamps, you might want to BYO clean water to mix 50/50 with the native water, or a battery air-pump.   Feed them fresh-hatched BS or small skeeter larvae right away when you get home - a good meal seems to promote quick recovery from collecting stress.

[fishlvr]

Awesome man thanks for the info I'll try the above next weekend. Tell Erica I said thankyou for the breeding advice as well Please.

[fishlvr]

So I've collected a couple more that look like males. I'm going to try leaving them in water with added salt for a week or so and feed them mosquito larvae every day. I added some plants from the tub and a small Heterandria made its way in the container and was immediately eaten by one of them, which caught me by surprise. I'll let y'all know how this goes. Keeping my fingers crossed!

[fishlvr]

It's been 2 days. No fuzz present. One of the males had some on top of his head when I put them in the container with salt and it has completely dissappeared. Hopefully I can add them to the tub in a few more days!