I've helped out some with my lab's tank of darters at my college, but it's super informal, and I'd like some advice from more professional keepers before diving into my own adventure. I'll be setting up either a 33 long or 55
Firstly, I'm in love with variegates, the males are stunning and the personalities are great, but I struggle to ID the female variegate from female rainbow, could someone give me advice or pictures on how to tell these apart? I'm sure it's easy once I see them compared, but at the moment I can't find any good resources with pictures of female variegate.
Secondly, is a chiller necessary? I've read they can be kept without, but I want to be sure.
Best diet? I'm currently thinking bloodworm, scuds (I already culture them for my tropicals), and mayflies as a base? Any other suggestions?
And for darter tankmates, the lab has a couple young stonerollers and some dace, would this work for me as well, or was this bad choices on their part? Or should I just do more free-swimming darters like blackside and logperch?
And as a note, I'm thinking variegate, rainbow, fantail, blackside, logperch, and maybe some greenside, but those are the only one we haven't had do overly well, so I'm questioning that. I'm aware of local laws and will be collecting my own legally.
I have 10 other tanks from 5-120 gallons with anything from a betta to goldfish to mbuna, so, cycling and general maintenance shouldn't be an issue
Edited by Cadevan, 16 May 2016 - 01:44 AM.