Anyone have information about captive care of either of these fish? I would like to have some ideas before I attempt such a delicate animal.
Thanks
Mooneye & Goldeye
Started by
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, Oct 25 2006 11:19 AM
12 replies to this topic
#4
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Posted 10 November 2006 - 01:42 AM
from NANFA:
Captive Care Notes: Mooneye and Goldeye (Family Hiodontidae)
written by Christopher Scharpf
Although Mooneye and Goldeye pose no great difficulties as aquarium fishes, few people keep them, perhaps because they are difficult to collect in the deeper river waters they prefer. Thompson (1985) said they need large aquaria (over 100 gallons), can be conditioned to take prepared foods, grow quickly, and are highly suitable for outdoor ponds. Biologists at the Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg, Mississippi, kept small (3-5 inch) wild-caught Goldeye in large (300-liter and up) laboratory aquaria with good results. Initially, the nocturnal Goldeye were sensitive to bright light and fed only at night; after six months in captivity feeding occurred at all times of the day. Foods included feeder minnows, large flake food, frozen bloodworms, chopped earthworms, shrimp and clam chunks, live mealworms and crickets, and cooked squashed peas, and were usually taken mid-water or near the bottom of the tank. Two prey fishes were conspicuously avoided, even by hungry specimens: live Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) and live young-of-year Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus ), presumably because of the former's surface-hugging habits and the latter's fin spines. Like other pelagic (open-water) fishes, goldeye swim continuously.
At the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science in Jackson, Goldeye and Mooneye are kept in a large exhibit with other large Mississippi River fishes (e.g., Pallid Sturgeon, Paddlefish); the fish are hardy following some initial handling-related mortality, and eat the same "plankton cocktail" prepared for the Paddlefish.
According to Fernet and Smith (1976), both wild and captive Goldeye are not particularly gregarious. Their population density in one Canadian delta was estimated at one fish per 50 sq m (538 sq ft); likewise in the aquarium, Goldeye prefer to keep a space around themselves, and nip and chase away other Goldeye that get too close. Metabolism may play a role in aggressive behavior. In their study aquariua, Fernet and Smith found that females are more aggressive than males, and that smaller Goldeye are more aggressive than larger ones. It's hypothesized that female and smaller Goldeye have higher metabolic demands and therefore more vigorously defend their feeding territories. Interestingly, Fernet and Smith were able to subdue aggressive behavior by adding more adults to each tank. With less territory to defend, adult Goldeye didn't both to battle it out; instead, they formed a peaceful school.
Clearly, there is more to learn about the care and behavior of captive Mooneye and Goldeye.
Captive Care Notes: Mooneye and Goldeye (Family Hiodontidae)
written by Christopher Scharpf
Although Mooneye and Goldeye pose no great difficulties as aquarium fishes, few people keep them, perhaps because they are difficult to collect in the deeper river waters they prefer. Thompson (1985) said they need large aquaria (over 100 gallons), can be conditioned to take prepared foods, grow quickly, and are highly suitable for outdoor ponds. Biologists at the Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg, Mississippi, kept small (3-5 inch) wild-caught Goldeye in large (300-liter and up) laboratory aquaria with good results. Initially, the nocturnal Goldeye were sensitive to bright light and fed only at night; after six months in captivity feeding occurred at all times of the day. Foods included feeder minnows, large flake food, frozen bloodworms, chopped earthworms, shrimp and clam chunks, live mealworms and crickets, and cooked squashed peas, and were usually taken mid-water or near the bottom of the tank. Two prey fishes were conspicuously avoided, even by hungry specimens: live Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) and live young-of-year Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus ), presumably because of the former's surface-hugging habits and the latter's fin spines. Like other pelagic (open-water) fishes, goldeye swim continuously.
At the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science in Jackson, Goldeye and Mooneye are kept in a large exhibit with other large Mississippi River fishes (e.g., Pallid Sturgeon, Paddlefish); the fish are hardy following some initial handling-related mortality, and eat the same "plankton cocktail" prepared for the Paddlefish.
According to Fernet and Smith (1976), both wild and captive Goldeye are not particularly gregarious. Their population density in one Canadian delta was estimated at one fish per 50 sq m (538 sq ft); likewise in the aquarium, Goldeye prefer to keep a space around themselves, and nip and chase away other Goldeye that get too close. Metabolism may play a role in aggressive behavior. In their study aquariua, Fernet and Smith found that females are more aggressive than males, and that smaller Goldeye are more aggressive than larger ones. It's hypothesized that female and smaller Goldeye have higher metabolic demands and therefore more vigorously defend their feeding territories. Interestingly, Fernet and Smith were able to subdue aggressive behavior by adding more adults to each tank. With less territory to defend, adult Goldeye didn't both to battle it out; instead, they formed a peaceful school.
Clearly, there is more to learn about the care and behavior of captive Mooneye and Goldeye.
#5
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Posted 10 November 2006 - 02:17 AM
From: NatureServe
Hiodon tergisus - Lesueur, 1818
Mooneye
Genus Size: B - Very small genus (2-5 species)
Concept Reference: Robins, C. R., et al. 1991. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. American Fisheries Society, Special Publishing 20. 183 pp.
Name Used in Concept Reference: Hiodon tergisus
Taxonomic Comments: One of two species in a monogeneric family. HIODON is the only extant North American member of the order Osteoglossiformes.
Global Range Comments: St. Lawrence-Great Lakes (except Superior), Mississippi river, and Hudson Bay basins from
Quebec to Alberta, south to Gulf; Gulf Slope drainages from Mobile Bay, Alabama, to Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana;
locally common (Page and Burr 1991).
Ecology & Life History
Reproduction Comments: Spawns in spring. Males sexually mature usually in 3 years, females often not until 5 years.
In Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, females spawn between ages 3 and 6 years; spawns at water temperatures of 8-15
C; spawning peaks late April-early May in Tennessee River, May in Cumberland River (Wallus and Buchanan 1989).
Habitat Type: Freshwater
Non-Migrant: N
Locally Migrant: Y
Long Distance Migrant: N
Mobility and Migration Comments: Migrates upstream for spawning in some areas (Becker 1983).
Riverine Habitat(s): BIG RIVER, Low gradient, MEDIUM RIVER, Moderate gradient, Pool
Lacustrine Habitat(s): Deep water, Shallow water
Habitat Comments: Deep pools and backwaters of medium to large rivers and interconnecting lakes and reservoirs with
clear water; often found in nonflowing waters but feeds mostly in swift water. Often migrates up large clear streams to
spawn. Eggs are semibuoyant and drift downstream or into quiet water (Page and Burr 1991). In Tennessee-Cumberland
system, most larvae were collected from near-surface waters at night (Wallus and Buchanan 1989).
Adult Food Habits: Invertivore
Immature Food Habits: Invertivore
Food Comments: Eats mainly aquatic and terrestrial insects; also crustaceans, molluscs, and small fishes.
Length: 45 centimeters
Hiodon tergisus - Lesueur, 1818
Mooneye
Genus Size: B - Very small genus (2-5 species)
Concept Reference: Robins, C. R., et al. 1991. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. American Fisheries Society, Special Publishing 20. 183 pp.
Name Used in Concept Reference: Hiodon tergisus
Taxonomic Comments: One of two species in a monogeneric family. HIODON is the only extant North American member of the order Osteoglossiformes.
Global Range Comments: St. Lawrence-Great Lakes (except Superior), Mississippi river, and Hudson Bay basins from
Quebec to Alberta, south to Gulf; Gulf Slope drainages from Mobile Bay, Alabama, to Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana;
locally common (Page and Burr 1991).
Ecology & Life History
Reproduction Comments: Spawns in spring. Males sexually mature usually in 3 years, females often not until 5 years.
In Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, females spawn between ages 3 and 6 years; spawns at water temperatures of 8-15
C; spawning peaks late April-early May in Tennessee River, May in Cumberland River (Wallus and Buchanan 1989).
Habitat Type: Freshwater
Non-Migrant: N
Locally Migrant: Y
Long Distance Migrant: N
Mobility and Migration Comments: Migrates upstream for spawning in some areas (Becker 1983).
Riverine Habitat(s): BIG RIVER, Low gradient, MEDIUM RIVER, Moderate gradient, Pool
Lacustrine Habitat(s): Deep water, Shallow water
Habitat Comments: Deep pools and backwaters of medium to large rivers and interconnecting lakes and reservoirs with
clear water; often found in nonflowing waters but feeds mostly in swift water. Often migrates up large clear streams to
spawn. Eggs are semibuoyant and drift downstream or into quiet water (Page and Burr 1991). In Tennessee-Cumberland
system, most larvae were collected from near-surface waters at night (Wallus and Buchanan 1989).
Adult Food Habits: Invertivore
Immature Food Habits: Invertivore
Food Comments: Eats mainly aquatic and terrestrial insects; also crustaceans, molluscs, and small fishes.
Length: 45 centimeters
#8
Guest_Mike_*
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Posted 30 August 2007 - 02:38 AM
He's registered so hopefully he will chime in when he has a few.
Anyone know of a good place, that one could get some Mooneyes & Goldeyes?
Anyone up for going after them?
Are there any restrictions for them in Illinois or Indiana?
Mike
#9
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Posted 30 August 2007 - 08:31 PM
Anyone know of a good place, that one could get some Mooneyes & Goldeyes?
Anyone up for going after them?
Are there any restrictions for them in Illinois or Indiana?
Mike
Hi Mike, I'm glad you brought this thread to my attention. These are really neat critters to keep!
In spite of their close appearance to shad, they're really quite hardy fish, based on my limited experience and what Dave Neely has said. What they require is mentioned in the NANFA tidbit Chris put together... They HAVE to have lateral flow. Dave is working with Nicolai Konow at Hofstra University (he contacted many NANFAns), and they were having some trouble with acclimating the fish until they put them in the lateral flow.
A problem I had with the one I kept was that he continually ran his eye against the glass, leaving him on the verge of an exopthalamus infection. I would like to try a 3 or 4 pack of them, to see if they'll switch out with one another, and perhaps break up the continual rubbing. I have a feeling though, this will be problematic for the dominant fish, however they work out dominance, regardless.
They do grow quickly, so I'd look at having a tank that has at least a 48x18 footprint, but 72x18 would be prefereable.
I have some decent footage here: http://www.farmertod.../reefle/100606/
I hope to soon update my site with some better quality film. That may not be a reality until Christmas Break tho.
So far as I know, they're only listed in Ohio, which was marginal to their distribution, and probably too fragmented for their persistence.
Places to look would be the lower Wabash and Vermillion, Illinois and places along the Ohio. You really get into their distribution the further into the central midwest you go, and may find them in smaller streams. But they are most prevelant in the big systems like the Miss and Mo. One place to watch are pools that are segregated from the main stream after flooding. This seems to be a place where many linger and are trapped, or easier to get to. Also watch along the channel behind woody debris. It seems they like to sit in the current and wait for things to fly off the wood to eat.
My fall is jam packed, but I'm completely up for an excursion "In Search Of" next spring! Maybe we'll do a conjoined IL/IN/OH trip again and take a drive from the Kankakee south to the Ohio
Todd
#12
Guest_Mike_*
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Posted 31 August 2007 - 09:05 AM
Hi Todd,
A spring trip sounds good.
I was going to keep them in an outside Raised garden pond, its 12' X 8' and 3' deep.
The filtering system creates a good current.
I have 2 Albino Channel Catfish, 2 Black Bullhead, 2 Longear Sunfish, 1 Rockbass, 7 Golden Orfee, 3 Goldfish, & 3 Koi in it now. None of witch are very big (4"-7").
I hope we can find both Goldeyes & Mooneyes.
Mike
A spring trip sounds good.
I was going to keep them in an outside Raised garden pond, its 12' X 8' and 3' deep.
The filtering system creates a good current.
I have 2 Albino Channel Catfish, 2 Black Bullhead, 2 Longear Sunfish, 1 Rockbass, 7 Golden Orfee, 3 Goldfish, & 3 Koi in it now. None of witch are very big (4"-7").
I hope we can find both Goldeyes & Mooneyes.
Mike
#13
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Posted 12 September 2007 - 04:11 PM
Hi Todd,
A spring trip sounds good.
I was going to keep them in an outside Raised garden pond, its 12' X 8' and 3' deep.
The filtering system creates a good current.
I have 2 Albino Channel Catfish, 2 Black Bullhead, 2 Longear Sunfish, 1 Rockbass, 7 Golden Orfee, 3 Goldfish, & 3 Koi in it now. None of witch are very big (4"-7").
I hope we can find both Goldeyes & Mooneyes.
Mike
Hi All,
I'm on the west coast and have an interest in obtaining both Mooneye and Goldeye. I do research in a biology lab and getting live fish or even a tissue sample would help our research immensely! Embryos would be even better. Any help or suggestions would be great.
Cheers,
Mark
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