Hmmm How do I explain this?
Sometimes forums can be difficult to read since half of each topics' thread text consists of signatures. We had the option to only list the persons signature in the first post within the thread. We figured people would soon recognize the user name and become familiar with that person without the signature showing in each post. This was a way to compress the posts and make for more simplified reading of the topic at hand. If you look to your first post in this thread, you'll see it's working fine.

Hard to keep up!
Not enough info in signature...or too much?

Are you sure you've routinely collected F. diaphanus from salt water? I never found them in water more than about 5 or 6 ppt saline in places like the Westport River where it's tidally influenced, or in the uppermost edge of a salt marsh system in a variety of places. I'm sure they can tolerate short exposures to 30+ ppt saline, but I'd guess they wouldn't be happy.

(My signature file doesn't seem to be working today...
Bruce Stallsmith, Huntsville, AL)

Yah, I haven't found them is salt despite years of collecting and observing in salt marshes, estuaries and inshore ocean waters.
Maybe the saltmarsh in question isn't as salty?
I have noticed that mummichugs are widely variable in coloration depending on substrate, salinity, water temps etc. A bucket full of mummies sometimes seems to have two or three species in it.

You're right, mummichogs are unusually variable and can confuse many people. When I was wrapping up my degree at UMass/Boston I was called over to a lab at Harvard that was working with the genetic basis of PCB tolerance in mummichogs in New Bedford harbor. The postdoc doing the study had several tanks full of collected fish, and realized that she couldn't tell mummichogs from other killies liked striped killies. She thought she had 4 or 5 species, when she only had lots of mummichogs and a few stripeds. Usually the bandeds are more distinct, but that's variable too.

Sometimes forums can be difficult to read since half of each topics' thread text consists of signatures. We had the option to only list the persons signature in the first post within the thread. We figured people would soon recognize the user name and become familiar with that person without the signature showing in each post. This was a way to compress the posts and make for more simplified reading of the topic at hand. If you look to your first post in this thread, you'll see it's working fine.

Images have been banned and size limits have been imposed on sigs since this was implemented. Therefore, this may no longer be necessary. Just a thought.

I am 100% sure that this is a F diapahanus. The salt marsh was at low tide when I caught him. His body shape and coloration is consistant with a diaphanus. I took some test strips and a hydrometer to the marsh so that I know what the salinity and water chemisty is that I am acclimating the fish from.

A local school did an aquatic wildlife survey there. They put out fish traps. 70% of hte fish they caught were mummichogs, 25% were diaphanus, and 5% were sticklebacks (3spine and 9spine) They also got a ton of marsh crabs and saltwater ghost shrimp.

I picked up 3 killis at the LFS today; one I think is an olivaceus. The other two could be diaphanus or seminolis. They are washed out so I'm not sure. (I haven't gotten a good look at them yet. seminolis has a unique mouth structure) They came in as contaminants with the ghost shrimp.

I picked up 3 killis at the LFS today; one I think is an olivaceus. The other two could be diaphanus or seminolis. They are washed out so I'm not sure. (I haven't gotten a good look at them yet. seminolis has a unique mouth structure) They came in as contaminants with the ghost shrimp.

Where in the Boston area did you find a LFS with ghost shrimp? I might want to get some.
PM if you don't want to give free ad space.

all petsmarts carry ghost shrimp at 36 cents each,

Skipton Pet Center in Roxbury, MA has ghost shrimp at $5 a dozen or 50 cents each. I got 2 F. diaphanus and a Lucania goodei from that shrimp tank.

Oh, and I was wrong about the F. diaphanus. It was really a F. heteroclitus that didn't feel the need to color up (he has a 10 gallon all to himself)

Are you sure you're not getting mummichugs in the salt marsh? They look similar with the mummie having a thicker body.
According to Inland Fishes of Massachusetts, F diaphanus "occasionally enters slightly brackish water". I collect both fresh and saltwater and have never seen F diaphanus in anything but clear sandy bottomed freshwater ponds.

i know this is old. but i did catch killis on the cape in a stream that ran from a pond to the ocean. but the water was fresh. and it was a sandy bottom.

all petsmarts carry ghost shrimp at 36 cents each,

Skipton Pet Center in Roxbury, MA has ghost shrimp at $5 a dozen or 50 cents each. I got 2 F. diaphanus and a Lucania goodei from that shrimp tank.

Oh, and I was wrong about the F. diaphanus. It was really a F. heteroclitus that didn't feel the need to color up (he has a 10 gallon all to himself)

again old...but krystal klear in auburn has ghost shrimp for 10 cents a piece.

Don't underestimate the Charles; one of the densest populations of banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanus) I've ever seen was in the Charles at Harvard Square, upstream of the bridge from Allston by the stadium. If you want to attract a crowd, start seining in the Charles during rush hour on a nice day; works like a charm!

I went to Boston a few weeks ago and spent a bit of time wondering what fish would be in the city itself.

From the train taken at ALEWIFE station to the new england pond and salt marsh displays at the aquarium (my favorite ones their), to maps showing ponds in the park, and the oh so samplable looking back bay fens I spent the whole time wondering how fish were (if their were any) in the city itself.

The Muddy River in the Fenway is loaded with big golden shiners and sticklebacks, and Jamaica Pond in Jamaica Plain has banded killifish. The Charles River just upstream from Harvard Square is another good banded killifish site. This time of year the alewife are running up the Charles and other streams, but you need a local permit to catch them and they make terrible aquarium fish. But... I'm glad to be in 'bama.

Striped bass are caught in good number at the locks where the Charles meets the salt. They're there for the alewives.
Stripers are found in many locations in the city and when bluefish have good years they fill the harbor as well. I used to do alot of combat fishing in the city. Not for the feint of heart but there is something satisfying about landing a big wild fish in such a setting. I used to enjoy the adventure. I've got some stories.... gang bangers, perverts, hookers, muggers, homeless insane people, huge stripers, bluefish blitzes, a Peregrine Falcon catching a tern in mid air....

Boston Harbor has recovered amazingly in the last 20 years. You could find all kinds of cool saltwater fish right in the inner harbor.
The New England aquarium has or used to have a nice Boston Harbor tank in a room overlooking the harbor. Cool stuff in a cool city.
Can you tell I like Boston?

gang bangers, perverts, hookers, muggers, homeless insane people, huge stripers, bluefish blitzes, a Peregrine Falcon catching a tern in mid air....

Wasn't that line in the song, "Love That Dirty Water" by the Standells in 1966?