12 replies to this topic

[damias]

I plan on building myself a patio pond (85-100 gal), and I didn't want to go down the goldfish/koi route.

 

What are some good natives that would look nice from a top view?

[Michael Wolfe]

Top minnows stay near the surface (as long as it is not too hot) so you see them a good amount.  I might recommend Fundulus chrysotus.

 

We also had yellowfin shiners, Notropis lutipinnis in an outdoor container pond recently and they showed very nicely.

 

I have also had good luck with Cyprinella sp. in 100 gallon stock tanks... and they are larger and active and show nicely when the males are in white finnage.

[Doug_Dame]

My experience is that F. chrysotus, although a topminnow, actually spends the vast majority of its time lurking in vegetation. It's very rare that I see one before catching it. 

 

But F. lineolatus, escambia, olivaceous and stellifer are fundamentally top-water cruisers that submerge only when they sense trouble. I suspect that's true of the other starhead species as well, and the catenatus I've seen.

 

Some of these guys are strong jumpers. 

 

(Stellifer get big. I was under-impressed with them, until I saw them live in Wolfe-land. NICE fish.)

 

Agree with Michael's advice on yellowfin shiners and pretty much any kind of Cyprinella. Very active and good-looking. 

 

Native mollies could also be an option, especially if your patio pond has some shallow areas. They spend a good deal of time visible, industriously nibbling algae wherever they can find it; the males are flashy and show off frequently.

[Betta132]

Mollies are great fish, and they're wide and easily visible from above.

[lilyea]

I agree with the comments about mollies -- I am especially partial to the high sailfin native mollies with the blue on their tails.  When these guys get in full breeding color and then start flipping to the side they are fantastic to watch from above - the flashes of blue are definitely eye catching!  Although some may take issue with my other choice (especially those in the "dambusia" crowd), I enjoy watching melanistic gambusia from above.  They tend to swim in the open near the top and have enough color (i.e., black and white) to make them easy to watch but not too much color to make them easy prey for birds (a concern here in FL).

[Assault0137]

Top minnows stay near the surface (as long as it is not too hot) so you see them a good amount.  I might recommend Fundulus chrysotus.

 

We also had yellowfin shiners, Notropis lutipinnis in an outdoor container pond recently and they showed very nicely.

 

I have also had good luck with Cyprinella sp. in 100 gallon stock tanks... and they are larger and active and show nicely when the males are in white finnage.

Do you happen to have any pictures of the Yellowfins? I've been thinking of putting some in my 100gal pond but haven't gotten around to it quite yet.

[Michael Wolfe]

This is a joke right?  All I do is post pictures of yellowfins!  But OK, just in case you are a little serious.

 

[damias]

Thanks for all the recommendations!

 

I have a few questions about some species I can find around my area.

 

Fundulus

 

-Heteroclitus

-Majalis

-Similis

-Waccamensis

-Zebrinus

 

Notropis

 

-Petersoni

-Cummingse

-Chloroephalus

-Hudsonius

 

Cyprinella

 

-pyrrhomelus

-Chloristia

 

Moxostoma sp.

 

hybopsis hypsinotus

 

clinostomus funduloides

 

After looking at so many beautiful fish I have truly fell in love with the topminnow/killifish, minnow/carp, and sucker groups. Mudminnows are awesome too, if I ever got a hold of a Alaska Blackfish I'd be a happy man!

[Dustin]

Thanks for all the recommendations!

 

I have a few questions about some species I can find around my area.

 

Fundulus

 

-Heteroclitus - Coastal and brackish, also get large and eat smaller fish

-Majalis - coastal, require nearly full salt

-Similis - not near you at all

-Waccamensis - Protected

-Zebrinus - not near you at all

 

Notropis

 

-Petersoni - plain silvery fish

-Cummingse - still a little boring but has a nice darker band

-Chloroephalus - looks very similar to the yellowfins shown above

-Hudsonius - large, plain silvery fish

 

Cyprinella

 

-pyrrhomelus - very pretty fish but tough to catch

-Chloristia - also a very pretty fish and much easier to catch.  These have a great metallic turquoise coloration during the spring and summer breeding periods.

 

Moxostoma sp. - Get large and hug the bottom

 

hybopsis hypsinotus - not commonly seen and not terribly attractive

 

clinostomus funduloides - very pretty and common in your area

 

After looking at so many beautiful fish I have truly fell in love with the topminnow/killifish, minnow/carp, and sucker groups. Mudminnows are awesome too, if I ever got a hold of a Alaska Blackfish I'd be a happy man!

[don212]

not only are male mollies , but the whole school often darts around right on the surface

[zooxanthellae]

If you wanted to go the sail fin molly route, there is a population in the Emerald Isle area (about 2.5 hours from you) that seem pretty cold tolerant. I usually see them in the wild each year up to around December 20th, but have yet to determine if they are permanent residents this far north. 

 

Attached Files

•  Poecilia-latipinna.png   429.07KB   1 downloads
•  Poecilia-latipinna-Male.png   406.18KB   2 downloads

[Doug_Dame]

Mike Jacobs of SKS (who doesn't frequent our forum AFAIK) recently shared this picture of a native male mollie given to him by Bruce Lilyea (who does.)

 

It's not too hard to find places where you can see 4 or 6 or 8 of these guys flashing for their ladies in various spots in the shallows. Usually a dominant male will run off smaller rivals within a 1-2 ft radius. Catching them with a dip net is harder (than spotting them) since they are pretty wary, but it's a fun exercise. 

 

 Mollie________ - image001 - by Mike Jacobs of fish from Bruce _____ - 2016-0518.jpg   90.91KB   1 downloads

[littlen]

damias---another factor to consider when choosing your species is heat tolerance.  Some may do better/worse than others if you have a tub that is going to be exposed to extreme temps in the summer when the entire water column in the pond will be in upper 80's/90's(?).

I'm in the process of digging a big hole to sink a 55gal. drum in my backyard.  I think Mr. Wolfe has a thread on here about his pond experience.  Cooler water species will find refuge at the bottom where it will be significantly cooler than the surface.  Just a thought.  

Keeping it in partial shade, and having some surface plants to block some of the direct sun will help, but I'm sure you're already ahead of me on that.

I had a ~500 gal. pond growing up, and FWIW bluegill do not fit the criteria you're looking for!