1 reply to this topic

[PBK]

These pretty green darters tend to wither away after a short while in aquariums. It might diet related. A study shows that most of their diet is underwater insect larvae. Info from Wisconsin U. discourages keeping them because they die after a few weeks. If youve had success with kindly share your story.

Edited by PBK, 15 June 2024 - 09:53 PM.

[littlen]

Bandeds are very hardy IME.  Live a long time (3-5 years in captivity).  AND breed!  I'm not sure what sort of inadequate husbandry is being performed at WU, but the information that they are hard to keep is inaccurate.

Catching them around this time of year (summer) is not ideal.  They are already expending lots of energy on breeding activities and there is an increased load of pathogens in the environment and in/on the fish.  The stress of capture and move to captivity usually results in them getting sick.

Once in captivity, they adjust well to feeding on mysis shrimp, bloodworms, and a favorite...live blackworms.  Are you able to share any additional information about the conditions in which they are kept at WU and what they were fed?