Thought I'd introduce myself somewhat at least

Currently residing in Temecula, California where is hardly eve rains, but I'm an invasive species from England, not New England, but further across the pond, a place called Leigh-on-sea Essex. I've kept fish for as long as I can remember, mainly tropical and cold water (roach, rudd etc) and marine, both tropical and cold water.

I have not kept any fish for the past 7 years, so I am keen to get back into it, but my interest really lies in whatever is local, not the same old boring tropical fish you find everywhere. Interestingly, I have kept a Pumpkinseed before and that was bought from an aquarium shop! When living a bit in Uganda, Africa we had an aquarium that had been stocked up with fish taken from Lake Victoria, although we did turn down the juvenile Nile Crocodile that the fisheries offered.

Well bored you enough for now!

Matt

Welcome to the forum! (again) Have you thought of what your going to put in that 40g of yours?

Welcome to the forum! (again) Have you thought of what your going to put in that 40g of yours?

Still deciding . Although I'm leaning more and more towards Sunfish, Dace, Shiners and Madtoms. Going to setup my tank with ug filter, but not sure whether to use power head filters, or an air pump?

Many thanks,

Matt

Still deciding . Although I'm leaning more and more towards Sunfish, Dace, Shiners and Madtoms. Going to setup my tank with ug filter, but not sure whether to use power head filters, or an air pump?

Many thanks,

Matt

Just FYI, sunfish don't really get along with minners(dace and shiners). Madtoms will pig out on them too if they're small enough to fit in their mouth. Tadpole madtoms get pretty big compared to others(except stonecats) and will eat minnows that are even just an inch or so shorter than themselves. Sunfish are about the same way. You might be able to get blackbanded or bluespotted sunfish to work with minnows, but that's about it.

If you want minnows, put some powerheads in there. Minnows like current. If your putting any sunnies in there, they aren't exactly fond of current, except for a few species(mainly longears, redbreast also come to mind; both species will eat your minnows). The smaller sunfish that won't eat your minnows don't like current, so I would either set it up as a planted sunfish community with slow moving water, or as a stream tank with your speedy minnows and some of the smaller madtoms. Make sure the madtom you want isn't endangered, as quite a few of the smaller ones are.

Welcome to the forum Matt.

Living in California really makes it hard for you to take your own tankmates from the wild. Really you can't take any fish from the wild for home aquariums. You can however buy fish from vendors as well accept free fish provided they are legal to possess. You have quite a few on the "cannot possess" list and investigation is required before you buy or accept free fish.

I think you're painting with too broad of a brush Fishlvr. I regularly keep sunfish, "minnows", madtoms and killifish in the same tank. You do have to select the right fishes but it's not all that difficult.

I think you're painting with too broad of a brush Fishlvr. I regularly keep sunfish, "minnows", madtoms and killifish in the same tank. You do have to select the right fishes but it's not all that difficult.

What species do you keep together? I was just being general. I don't really know specific minnows that can be kept with the larger sunfish, except some of the chub species. The Enneacanthus species can really be kept with just about any minnow, as long as they're too big to swallow. I don't really know what madtoms can fit in there mouth, but when I was considering getting some, I was told to be carful about their tankmates, as they will eat the ones small enough to swallow.

IMO most Luxilus and Cyprinella can be kept with most sunfish. I must admit I'm not big on brutish sunfish with large mouths

I always keep adult Notropis and phoxinus with medium size lepomis without any issues. Naturally placing tiny minnows in with adult sunfish can be an issue if you took adult sunfish from the wild. Pellet/frozen foods might curb a lot of sunfish predation on minnows at home. Not really sure on the last but I've never had real problems with keeping sunfish and minnows. What sunfish do you keep?

IMO most Luxilus and Cyprinella can be kept with most sunfish. I must admit I'm not big on brutish sunfish with large mouths

I always keep adult Notropis and phoxinus with medium size lepomis without any issues. Naturally placing tiny minnows in with adult sunfish can be an issue if you took adult sunfish from the wild. Pellet/frozen foods might curb a lot of sunfish predation on minnows at home. Not really sure on the last but I've never had real problems with keeping sunfish and minnows. What sunfish do you keep?

I keep some of the more gluttonous, piscivorous species; the obvious reason why I've had little luck with the minnow-sunfish combo. I put a 2" yellowfin shiner in with my warmouth and longear sunfish when they were about 2.5". The longear beat it up to the point of no recovery, then the warmouth just came out of nowhere and ate it. It took her all day to finish. If I put any kind of minnow in the tank with them they either eat it or beat it up if it's too big. She didn't, however, eat the rosy reds that she "grew up" with. The rosy reds were 1" and the warmouth was 1.5" at the time.. The warmouth got to be about 3" and the rosy reds were almost 2". She showed almost no interest in them, but when I put a same-sized creek chub in there she would attack it so fast and hard that scales would fly off. On the other hand, I have had a 4" creek chub gobble up a 2" bluegill. Interesting to watch.

I am looking into some of the more peaceful sunfish though, since I know have some more tanks. I'm going to buy some bluespotteds from Zimmerman soon, so I might try to keep some fatheads with it. I don't really have too many minnow species available too me. Although, I have seen some sailfin shiners in my backyard, which may be a good candidate to keep with bluespotteds. I've only seen them once, though, during one warm summer night. They were breeding. I wish I could've gotten some pics or video or something. It was a spectacular sight. If I ever see them again, I'll be coming home with a couple pairs.