5 replies to this topic

[Cadevan]

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.

[mattknepley]

Welcome, Cadevan! It sounds like you have a pretty good idea what you're doing, and what it is that you need to learn. There are way more helpful folks as far as the i.d. and chiller issues so I'll let them answer. I'll say this though, if your fish would have bloodworms, live scuds and mayflies as their base diet, I think your fish will be ok!

What general part of PA are you in? We have some Keystone members who are active. As for me, I haven't been there for a long time, but as a kid I lived in the Northern Tier (Wellsboro), and eastern PA (out towards Scranton). My family goes way back in the sticks in Clinton County. It's a long way from happening, but I'd love to set up a PA tank as part of genealogy-based section of a fish room. Till then, keep us posted so I can do some vicarious living!

[dmarkley]

Welcome to NANFA!  I'm in SE PA, just west of Lancaster.

[NotCousteau]

Welcome!

I keep rainbows, fantails and Johnny darters with no chiller (just central AC in the house and an airstone/wave maker in the tank), and they do fine throughout the summer. The tank has hit the mid-70s before.

Personally, I vote for the 33 gallon long if you're not keeping any top dwellers. It's a beautiful size and shape for shallow stream fish! Good luck!

[Michael Wolfe]

I'll be setting up either a 33 long or 55

Secondly, is a chiller necessary? 

Best diet?

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?

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. 

 

You will be happier with the larger tank (and its standard size) in the long run.

 

No a chiller is not necessary.

 

Your diet is fine, although I would add a lot of flake as per your next question.

 

Yes dace and stonerollers make good tank mates for darters... as do other shiners.  But they are hungry and will eat all the food before it makes it down to the darters.  I suggest adding a good flake food (I am a big fan of earthworm flake) to feed the fast and hungry shiners and get them distracted before feeding something that you can dump down to the darters.

 

Someone will contradict me (it is the internet after all), but I do not think greensides do well in a tank long term.  They are specialist snail eaters and after a while they seem to not thrive and sort of just fade away.  I would leave them out of the mix... logperch do great in tanks and look different and rainbows adapt rather easily as well. 

[Cadevan]

Awesome, thanks all

I'm Midwest/southwest in Indiana county most of the year, and spend some time in Washington county for breaks and such with family.

I'm breeding ramshorns, mysteries, pond and bladder snails already to feed a dwarf puffer tank, would they work for the greensides? Or should I just give up on them?

I'll look into some high quality flake brands and types, would regular tropical flakes work as well? I like a varied diet for my other fish, but I don't know enough for these guys yet!

It's awesome to hear I won't need a chiller, they cost a small fortune.