I've been having problems keeping my Elassoma spp alive for more than 6 months. I have had spawns but even the young don't live very long.
Earlier this year, I moved a trio out of my basement and onto a window sill in my kitchen. The tank is 2.5g, sand substrate, sponge filtered, and full of java moss. I feed live blackworms every other day and there are usually worms left the next day but gone within 2-3 days. I had multiple spawns throughout the summer and have quite a few young. The female died a few weeks ago but looked terrible, and I assume that is from the spawning action. I haven't had the casualties like I've had in the past with this tank.
The only difference between this tank and others is that it reaches higher temperatures and has natural light. The tanks in my basement don't climb much higher than 70-72F. Do they need the higher temperatures just to survive? I've been told that wild populations are found in shallow waters during the summer where temps are in the high 80's.
Your thoughts?
Need help with Elassoma captive care
Started by
Guest_drewish_*
, Sep 05 2008 03:51 PM
9 replies to this topic
#2
Michael Wolfe
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- North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage
Posted 05 September 2008 - 09:35 PM
I've been having problems keeping my Elassoma spp alive for more than 6 months. I have had spawns but even the young don't live very long.
The only difference between this tank and others is that it reaches higher temperatures and has natural light. The tanks in my basement don't climb much higher than 70-72F. Do they need the higher temperatures just to survive? I've been told that wild populations are found in shallow waters during the summer where temps are in the high 80's.
I'm confused... are you having trouble with them in both locations, or did they do better in one of the locations? Mine are in a 10 gallon in the basement with no natural sun, so I am sure that the water is never getting very hot.
Are the fish showing any signs of distress? I read somewhere that when doing water changes or adding make up water, you should add straight tap water an not even dechlorinate it... some have theorized that Elassoma are more sensitive to parasites or fingus and that somehow the chlorine helps knock that down and yet for some reason does not affect the fish... I can tell you that it works... but it is really scary the first time to add fully chlorinated water right form the tap to the tank of your really cool little fish.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin
#3
Guest_drewish_*
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Posted 05 September 2008 - 10:06 PM
Oh sorry, I should have made it more clear. I'm not having the same problems with the tank upstairs in the window sill.
I've been told by many people that these fish really need to be left alone. Minimal water changes and live food. With so few fish in a 10g or 20g, I could go awhile before having to do water changes, but I did them once a month or so.
The most recent ones started dying after I added my dwarf crayfish to the tank. That may have stressed them out. I don't know as the tank was so full of java moss and other plants that it was hard to see anything.
Chlorinated water, eh? Most of the year we have chloramine instead of chlorine so would that make a difference? I can imagine it being kind of scary.
I've been told by many people that these fish really need to be left alone. Minimal water changes and live food. With so few fish in a 10g or 20g, I could go awhile before having to do water changes, but I did them once a month or so.
The most recent ones started dying after I added my dwarf crayfish to the tank. That may have stressed them out. I don't know as the tank was so full of java moss and other plants that it was hard to see anything.
Chlorinated water, eh? Most of the year we have chloramine instead of chlorine so would that make a difference? I can imagine it being kind of scary.
#4
Guest_jimv8673_*
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Posted 06 September 2008 - 08:12 AM
which species is this. do you know the water chemistry of the natural habitat for these fish.
#5
Guest_drewish_*
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Posted 06 September 2008 - 09:48 AM
evergladei, okefenokee, and zonatum. They are all found in tannin-stained, slightly acidic, swampy water. There are some found in spring-fed areas though (which sort of kills my temperature theory). My water out of the tap is pretty neutral, on the acidic side.
On that note, I've been collecting rain water and plan on trying that with the next batch I try.
On that note, I've been collecting rain water and plan on trying that with the next batch I try.
#6
Michael Wolfe
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- North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage
Posted 06 September 2008 - 05:08 PM
I have not found them to be that delicate... I had okefenokees in with some l. omatta and all were fine... even had some fry make it to adult size... now I have bandeds from the missouri convention (mingo swamp) and just recently noticed that I again have a few juveniles... and I don't do live foods... only frozen stuff and they seem to do great... but the tank is certainly packed with plants (water lettuce with very dense roots).I've been told by many people that these fish really need to be left alone. Minimal water changes and live food. With so few fish in a 10g or 20g, I could go awhile before having to do water changes, but I did them once a month or so.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin
#7
Guest_mikez_*
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Posted 13 September 2008 - 03:28 PM
I was gonna try and type out a technical explanation of how and why chlorine and chloramines are used in municiple drinking water and how it relates to fish husbandry. After about five paragraphs, I deleted it all and started over.
Basically, chlorine breaks down quickly and concentrations coming out of the tap are often low enough for fish to tolerate.
Chloramines are a combination of chlorine and ammonia. This combination does not break down easy and concentrations coming from the tap are usually too strong for fish to tolerate.
Bottom line is, don't take any chances with chloramines.
Basically, chlorine breaks down quickly and concentrations coming out of the tap are often low enough for fish to tolerate.
Chloramines are a combination of chlorine and ammonia. This combination does not break down easy and concentrations coming from the tap are usually too strong for fish to tolerate.
Bottom line is, don't take any chances with chloramines.
#8
Guest_drewish_*
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Posted 13 September 2008 - 03:35 PM
Thanks Mike, I've read up on them both as my water supply switches back and forth between the two based on the seasons.
I'm going to try to bring the temperatures up in pygmy tanks in the basement next batch I get. I'm also going to be more careful when doing water changes, i.e. less amounts and slowly refill.
I'm going to try to bring the temperatures up in pygmy tanks in the basement next batch I get. I'm also going to be more careful when doing water changes, i.e. less amounts and slowly refill.
#9
Guest_brian1973_*
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Posted 24 November 2008 - 07:54 PM
I was gonna try and type out a technical explanation of how and why chlorine and chloramines are used in municiple drinking water and how it relates to fish husbandry. After about five paragraphs, I deleted it all and started over.
Basically, chlorine breaks down quickly and concentrations coming out of the tap are often low enough for fish to tolerate.
Chloramines are a combination of chlorine and ammonia. This combination does not break down easy and concentrations coming from the tap are usually too strong for fish to tolerate.
Bottom line is, don't take any chances with chloramines.
Sorry to bump this but didnt see a reason to start a new thread for my questions..I am getting some pygmy sunnies from zimmermans captive raised fish and after reading this was wondering if I should dose the tank with Prime after water changes as I do with tropical tanks? I am not sure what my current water company uses but from my tap readings I would say they switch back and forth because I will occasionally read 1ppm of ammonia out of the tap other times no ammonia. Also how often should I do water changes if they like to be left alone? They are now going to have there own tank. Sorry I dont know the species off the top of my head but I believe they are banded pygmies. Oh and if my water company uses chloramines what is the best method to remove it without purchasing a RO/DI system? Thanks.
Brian
Edited by brian1973, 24 November 2008 - 07:56 PM.
#10
Guest_camber1981_*
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Posted 24 November 2008 - 10:40 PM
Sorry to bump this but didnt see a reason to start a new thread for my questions..I am getting some pygmy sunnies from zimmermans captive raised fish and after reading this was wondering if I should dose the tank with Prime after water changes as I do with tropical tanks? I am not sure what my current water company uses but from my tap readings I would say they switch back and forth because I will occasionally read 1ppm of ammonia out of the tap other times no ammonia. Also how often should I do water changes if they like to be left alone? They are now going to have there own tank. Sorry I dont know the species off the top of my head but I believe they are banded pygmies. Oh and if my water company uses chloramines what is the best method to remove it without purchasing a RO/DI system? Thanks.
Brian
I've always used Tetra Aquasafe any time I add tap water. It's probably the easiest way to treat your tap water for chlorine/chloramine, plus it has additives to precipitate any heavy metals. It's pretty darn cheap, too; I can get a 6 mos. supply from Wal-Mart for about 8 bucks (I do 50% water changes weekly on my 55 gallon).
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