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Small suckers


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#1 Guest_IndianaNatives_*

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Posted 04 November 2008 - 09:32 PM

Are there any small sucker species,
like from 1-3 inches I'd do research but I have a huge list and not all of them have sizes :unsure:

#2 Guest_ashtonmj_*

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Posted 04 November 2008 - 10:01 PM

Allison,

You can find general information and references for greater detail at either of these two links.
Natureserve explorer
Fish Base

The smallest suckers I can think of are Thoburnia suckers which max out at about 6 in. Two species arevery limited in range (only a few watersheds) and the other is farily widespread in central and western Virginia.

#3 Guest_smbass_*

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Posted 11 November 2008 - 05:28 PM

On average Erimyzon species do not get very large either. Breeding adults are often 6" or even a little less, although they can reach sizes of around 12" particularly the lake chubucker. I have never seen a creek chubsucker over about 5". I have no personal experience with the third sp. in the genus.

#4 Guest_ashtonmj_*

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Posted 11 November 2008 - 07:49 PM

I didn't even think of Erimyzon's, but we get oblongus larger than 5" quite frequently in large coastal plain streams.

#5 Guest_farmertodd_*

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Posted 12 November 2008 - 05:11 PM

I didn't even think of Erimyzon's, but we get oblongus larger than 5" quite frequently in large coastal plain streams.


Yeah, but if you get them as a juvenile, they're not going much larger than what Brian is describing. That size is only found in hyper-productive wild situations. I had oblongus for 3 years and they never made it past 4".

On the other hand, the blacktail redhorse (Moxostoma poecilurum) shot straight to 10 inches within a year and was pushing 14 inches when I donated it to the Ichthyoseum there in Hastings Michigan after three years of captive care.

So I agree with Brian's assertion that Erimyzon is the perfect aquarium Genus for Catostomids, and is much more accepting of general conditions than some of its more picky cousins.

If you have larger tanks, don't overlook spotted sucker, Minytrema melanops or hogsucker species, Hypentelium. I've enjoyed success with both and they were some of my favorites I've kept along the way.

I don't know how jumprocks (Scartomyzon)do in captivity... I'm curious to know if others have tried them, and what types of conditions / aquarium setup you tried them in or had success with them?

Regardless of species, you will want to get the absolute smallest juvenile size you can to start with.

If you search on the Forum, I think I wrote up a more detailed sucker specific thread at one time.

Todd

#6 Guest_bart_*

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Posted 08 February 2009 - 09:41 PM

I have also given Jumprocks some consideration. I will post if I have any success in finding and keeping one. I currently have a very small hogsucker, probably 3" with various shiners and dace. Very cool fish that has adapted quite well to aquarium life.



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