Hi,
I'm new to keeping natives, although I have several years experience with other freshwater species.
Since summer's coming and I'm out of school, I'd like to do what I've wanted for awhile, and start keeping some more natives. Specifically, pygmy sunfish, simply because I have limited room. I have a big, nasty green that I enjoy very much, but I want something a little more "community."
I currently have about 11 blue fin killies and was wondering if two pair of Elassoma evergladei could be housed in a planted 20 gallon long with them?
If not, I could have a spare 10 I could use for a species only (planted of course).
Also, they seem to need live food? How hard are they to convert to frozen/manufactured/etc.? I've always had good luck with feeding New Life Spectrum and all my fish eat it, even ones that are supposed to be picky. Small live food cultures are no problem for me in the summer because I have several tubs outside, but once it cools off I'm a bit leery. Also, I saw it suggested to get a colony of breeding cherry shrimp to supply some food? I plan on getting cherries for another tank, so that would be doable too!
Unfortunately, I live in the midwest, so I would be buying these fish, not collecting them. They will be quarrentined and treated as any other fish that I buy from petstores. How well do they ship?
Is there anything I should specifically know? Anything I'm overlooking.
Thanks.
Thinking about Pygmies
Started by
Guest_eveliens_*
, May 02 2008 12:32 PM
7 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_Newt_*
Guest_Newt_*
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Posted 02 May 2008 - 12:47 PM
Hello and welcome!
Pygmies are fun fish. They do best on live foods, but they will also eat small frozen foods. I can't see why they wouldn't do well with bluefins, unless you are trying to breed the fish.
Indoor daphnia and scud cultures are as easy as falling out of bed, so if you have a little room you can certainly maintain enough for your fish.
Pygmies are fun fish. They do best on live foods, but they will also eat small frozen foods. I can't see why they wouldn't do well with bluefins, unless you are trying to breed the fish.
Indoor daphnia and scud cultures are as easy as falling out of bed, so if you have a little room you can certainly maintain enough for your fish.
#3
Guest_jase_*
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Posted 02 May 2008 - 01:48 PM
Welcome!
Try searching -- *lots* of folks keeping pygmies, and there's tons of info on the forum:
http://www.google.co...forum.nanfa.org
Cheers,
Jase
Try searching -- *lots* of folks keeping pygmies, and there's tons of info on the forum:
http://www.google.co...forum.nanfa.org
Cheers,
Jase
#4
Guest_eveliens_*
Guest_eveliens_*
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Posted 03 May 2008 - 10:07 PM
Thank you for the replies.
After reading a bit more, I think I'm just going to set them up in a 10 gallon for now with a sponge filter and hornwart/java moss and cherry shrimp.
After reading a bit more, I think I'm just going to set them up in a 10 gallon for now with a sponge filter and hornwart/java moss and cherry shrimp.
#5
Guest_NVCichlids_*
Guest_NVCichlids_*
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Posted 04 May 2008 - 02:07 PM
I wouldn't know why you wouldn't put them in the 20 gal L. I am planning on having 8 pygmys in a 20 gal L with some least killies and scuds/cherry shrimp in there for clean up and live food source.
Live food is easy to get here in the midwest, try live brine shrimp or live bloodworms, any fish store SHOULD have them.
I just feel that you would enjoy the tank more if you had the bluefins in with the pygmy sunnies.
NV
Live food is easy to get here in the midwest, try live brine shrimp or live bloodworms, any fish store SHOULD have them.
I just feel that you would enjoy the tank more if you had the bluefins in with the pygmy sunnies.
NV
#6
Guest_eveliens_*
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Posted 04 May 2008 - 07:18 PM
The 20L currently has other occupants aside from the killies. It's going to take a few months to get them into their new 40 (purple spotted/rainbow gurdgeons would eat the pygmies in one bite). Also, the killies tend to go outside for the summer. So, in the fall I will probably put the killies and the pygmies in the 20L. Oh, the joys of multiple tanks.
I don't think I've specifically seen this, but will the pygmies eat snail eggs/young? Specifically red ramshorn snails.
As for the live food, the LFS are rather pathetic around here. The one store I knew of went out of business because a Petco opened up next to them. I'm assuming baitshops would only be open during fishing season? I don't know as I don't fish.
I don't think I've specifically seen this, but will the pygmies eat snail eggs/young? Specifically red ramshorn snails.
As for the live food, the LFS are rather pathetic around here. The one store I knew of went out of business because a Petco opened up next to them. I'm assuming baitshops would only be open during fishing season? I don't know as I don't fish.
#7
Guest_NVCichlids_*
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Posted 05 May 2008 - 12:19 PM
My petco's have brine shrimp and blood worms (alive) for sale. Just have to ask for them.
#8
Michael Wolfe
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Posted 06 May 2008 - 11:28 AM
I don't think I've specifically seen this, but will the pygmies eat snail eggs/young? Specifically red ramshorn snails.
I think I read in a book that they do... and I have always kept snails with mine... but since everything is so small, I cannot swaer that I have ever actually seen one do it... but I think the answer is yes.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin
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