11 replies to this topic

[thedood]

I have decided to put my Elassoma in a 20g for now. I have tyhe tank setup. I am running an Elite double sponge filter. I have plenty of hornwort. I have one fairly large piece of wood that takes up around a third of the footprint. The wood has a cave like section they can hide under. The tank is a 20H. How many Elassoma gilberti should I start with if I want a self sustaining colony? I was thinking three females and a male.

 

To do before fish go in:

I'm starting a scud colony in the aquarium (I also have a 10g with a colony I just started

I'm thinking of buying an ounce or two of blackworms to have a little culture going for them to eat - votes yay or nay for that idea anyone?

Allow the ramshorn snails to start reproducing

Remove as many trumpet snails as possible over the next thirty days (I'm hoping the scuds and ramshorn will out compete them)

Get my home made hood and cooling system on the tank. It gets hot in our home when were gone.

Order fish!

[doubleatraining]

OOOH send me the MTS, I have the worst luck with them and could use more in my sandy tanks.

 

You'll want a LOT more scuds in there than you think. I also have blackworms in my substrate that are getting established before I order mine. I know they prefer more "ground" space than a 20H. So maybe a trio or quad like you are thinking. I also think maybe a spare male in case something happens to yours.

 

They are VERY shy so unless they associate you with food...you won't see them very much. Maybe keep a culture of microworms?

[thedood]

If you send me a pm with your address I will ship you a sack of snails.

 

I wanted to put them in my 75, mama wants a Tanganyika rig so she has the 75g. I figured three or four would be right. I am ordering blackworms this week. I am going to let the woms and scuds go another 4 weeks before I put the pygmies in. 

 

I have been thinking of culturing grindals. I need something fairly hands off with minimum maintanence and no smell. My wife doesnt really want worms in the house to begin with. 

 

As for seeing the little guys I have a plan for that. I tend to enjoy watching my fish as naturally as possible. When I get it setup I will share what I did. I think you all will get a kick out of it.

[Matt DeLaVega]

If I wanted to control or eliminate snails, I would put a greenside darter in the tank. Voila.

[thedood]

If I wanted to control or eliminate snails, I would put a greenside darter in the tank. Voila.

Hey Matt, thanks for contributing. Right now I wouldnt have anywhere to put it when I am ready for my pygmies. Will the greenside eat MTS? I already have some 'ornamental' ramshorns I put in to breed for the pygmies to snack on will it eat those as well?.

[Matt DeLaVega]

Greenside darters are snail specialists. They will eat them. Every single one they find. Suck them out of their shells. I am not certain about ramshorns, but I do think greenside darters would relish them as well. They definitely eat MTS.

[thedood]

Thanks Matt. Here in lies the problem. I want some now lol Seriously beautiful fish and next on my native list. Ive been itching for darters for 3 or 4 years now. This fall I hope to have a fish room so I can have them. Those are just seriously gorgeous fish. I really have no interest in tropicals any more, well I do but my interest have shifted for sure.

[thedood]

Matt that is just a gorgeous fish. It looks like they may be native to my area. Matt at the map below would this species be available in the Kaskaskia or Embarras water sheds?

 

 

[Matt DeLaVega]

Try Fishmap. Link up in our task bars. Otherwise, I will ask a friend from the area and let you know, I used to drop snails in with greensides and watch them suck them out of their shell for entertainment. Lots of darters eat snails, but I have never witnessed any others do it like greenside darters.

[thedood]

The only reason I asked is I have never went out and collected natives, wouldnt mind giving it a shot sometime. Plus those watersheds are close to home and would be pretty neat to have some local natives even if I did buy them.

[Matt DeLaVega]

They  are in the Embarras.

[thedood]

They  are in the Embarras.

Thanks!