Have chub, will spawn...
#1 Guest_farmertodd_*
Posted 07 April 2008 - 10:47 PM
So I added a bunch of medium sized rocks tonight to simulate a chub nest, and oh my golly did I get a response. What I've been most impressed with today are the ozark minnows (N. nubilus) which is kinda the "forgotten hydrophlox", maybe mostly, cause nobody never told no one how cool they are
I also had a mess of fun with the redline darter. He was prowling around looking for eggs.
Basically... EVERYONE knew what those rocks were. Even the bluehead kinda hid for a bit and then came out to nervously inspect it. It was pretty amusing to watch. I know I'm totally anthropogizing this, but dang, did they respond.
What sucks is I ran out of HBH Soft n Moist about a week and a half ago, and it's definately toned down a bit in the absence of that food. It might be twice as intense, who knows? I know those rainbow shiners have a loooong way to go, even though they were looking pretty good tonight. Hopefully I'll have time when they go full bore. Today was kind of a lull in the action for me. Ugh. I can't wait to be done with Multivariate Statistics. 4 more weeks!
Here's the link: http://www.farmertod.../Reefle/040708/
Here's some teasers:
bleeding_shiner_01.jpg 39.61KB 5 downloads
Bleeding Shiner, Luxilus zonatus
orangetail_shiner_01.jpg 22.91KB 1 downloads
Orangetail Shiner, Pteronotropis merlini
ozark_minnow_01.jpg 37.16KB 1 downloads
Ozark Minnow, Notropis nubilus
rainbow_shiner_03.jpg 41.35KB 1 downloads
Rainbow Shiner, Notropis chrosomus
redline_darter_08.jpg 31.44KB 1 downloads
Redline Darter, Etheostoma rufilineatum
redlip_shiner_01.jpg 25.9KB 1 downloads
Redlip Shiner, Notropis chiliticus
studfish_02.jpg 38.74KB 1 downloads
Northern Studfish, Fundulus catenatus
Enjoy!
Todd
#2 Guest_fishlvr_*
Posted 08 April 2008 - 06:49 AM
#3 Guest_farmertodd_*
Posted 08 April 2008 - 09:39 AM
Here's the rainbow shiners from this morning:
rainbow1.jpg 31.46KB 1 downloads
rainbow2.jpg 40.48KB 1 downloads
Todd
#4 Guest_pmk00001_*
Posted 08 April 2008 - 10:13 AM
#5 Guest_mikez_*
Posted 08 April 2008 - 10:16 AM
Those are better than any tropical.
I'd like to get me some of those! Are they hard to get? Protected?
Awesome photos too !
#6 Guest_threegoldfish_*
Posted 08 April 2008 - 11:38 AM
#7 Guest_farmertodd_*
Posted 08 April 2008 - 12:27 PM
They're found in the Coosa, Cahaba and Tallapoosa drainages.
Nope, not protected, although they are found on the TN 2004 list (without status) due to their limited range in TN.
They can be extremely abundant where they occur and even in some of the most dank looking streams. However, many places that they have been found in the past are diminishing mostly due to cultural eutrophication, but I dare say it, also due to over collection.
I have a really good friend in Talledaga now, and when I go to see her, I'm going to try and increase the number of sites in the general consciousness where they can be found. Some have observed that the Ft. Payne area has taken enough of a beating (guilty!). Maybe by promoting some different spots, it'll dilute the effect.
Todd
Edited by farmertodd, 08 April 2008 - 12:30 PM.
#8 Guest_fishlvr_*
Posted 08 April 2008 - 03:42 PM
#9 Guest_fundulus_*
Posted 08 April 2008 - 03:46 PM
#10 Guest_mikez_*
Posted 08 April 2008 - 03:54 PM
A healthy, adult male will turn dayglo electric like in Todd's photos. It's easy to get them to spawn, a lot harder to raise the young, of course. I've had breeding males spawn and die, almost like salmon; I've never seen that in any other cyprinid.
What's the deal with raising the fry?
Are they too small? Special diet?
#11 Guest_fundulus_*
Posted 08 April 2008 - 06:05 PM
#12 Guest_keepnatives_*
Posted 08 April 2008 - 06:08 PM
I've had the same experience with greenhead shiners with a couple making it through to the next year at most.A healthy, adult male will turn dayglo electric like in Todd's photos. It's easy to get them to spawn, a lot harder to raise the young, of course. I've had breeding males spawn and die, almost like salmon; I've never seen that in any other cyprinid.
#13 Guest_farmertodd_*
Posted 08 April 2008 - 08:12 PM
Looks like the rainbows like it in the morning. They're not as fired up tonight. But the greenhead looks like he's gonna burn a hole in the glass lol.
Todd
#14 Guest_Nightwing_*
Posted 08 April 2008 - 08:42 PM
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