After I aquired some of my fish this past summer and fall most did very well but all of my Greenside Darters. They would eat aggressively and pack their stomachs but they continued to get skinnier and skinnier. The two smaller ones died and I am figuring my larger one will die shortly too. No other fish species did this but I was warned my Johnny Darters would (they are alive, fat and happy). Any ideas what is wrong with the Greensides?
Andy
Skinny Greenside Darters...
Started by
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, Dec 24 2008 12:56 PM
12 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_drewish_*
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Posted 24 December 2008 - 01:04 PM
I've had that happen to one of my greenside darters that I've had for over a year, maybe even longer. I've also had that happen with banded darters. Interestingly enough, they all came from OH. The bandeds just seemed hyperactive and I wasn't able to feed them constantly. The greenside ate a lot so I just figured it was a parasite of sorts or ate something that caused a blockage.
#3
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Posted 24 December 2008 - 01:22 PM
The Greensides I had for about 3 months or so before they died and the big living one I have had about 5 months. I am noticing a possible similiar thing with my Bandeds but I have only had them about 2.5 months and it just may be how they look.
Andy
Andy
#4
Guest_dsmith73_*
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Posted 24 December 2008 - 02:59 PM
I believe that greensides are snail feeding specialist in the wild. May be a little off, as I'm sure they are opportunistic feeders as well. I wonder if there is some nutritional deficiency associated with aquarium fare vs. snails, etc.?
#5
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Posted 24 December 2008 - 03:56 PM
I've had the same thing happen to my Variegates. They would last a few months and whither away. My newest ones are doing fine though. I've heard that you must get some species as juveniles, or they will never make the transition to aquarium food.After I aquired some of my fish this past summer and fall most did very well but all of my Greenside Darters. They would eat aggressively and pack their stomachs but they continued to get skinnier and skinnier. The two smaller ones died and I am figuring my larger one will die shortly too. No other fish species did this but I was warned my Johnny Darters would (they are alive, fat and happy). Any ideas what is wrong with the Greensides?
Andy
-Thom
#6
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Posted 25 December 2008 - 12:28 AM
They're all species that live in more productive environments, it's strange to think of needing lower water quality for darters, but these are the species tolerant of the bigger streams. As such, I think their habit is to browse all day long on chironimids and other macroinverts that live in high abundances in more productive river systems.
I never had good success with greensides, banded and variegates until I started using techniques that allowed me to leave food laying around for their browsing over hours, sometimes, over night even. Deep sand substrate, accelerated plant growth (with mud and high light) and canister filters helped me get there.
Todd
I never had good success with greensides, banded and variegates until I started using techniques that allowed me to leave food laying around for their browsing over hours, sometimes, over night even. Deep sand substrate, accelerated plant growth (with mud and high light) and canister filters helped me get there.
Todd
#7
Guest_BTDarters_*
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Posted 25 December 2008 - 04:25 AM
Andy,
Have you treated your fish at all for parasites?
Brian
Have you treated your fish at all for parasites?
Brian
#8
Guest_jblaylock_*
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Posted 25 December 2008 - 10:52 AM
Similar thing happened to me. I had two Greensides, one large adult and one small juvenile. The juvenile, though eating a lot, it stayed skinny and died. The adult is doing fine though.
#9
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Posted 31 December 2008 - 10:30 AM
Similar thing happened to me. I had two Greensides, one large adult and one small juvenile. The juvenile, though eating a lot, it stayed skinny and died. The adult is doing fine though.
I have also had the same problem over the years and figured it was the "quality of the food that they were getting. I have better results with my Greensides feeding them a higher protein food. I also feed them quite a few snails. The food I have been using with good results is HBH soft and moist with Krill pellets. It has a protein value of 36%, not the highest I have found but they seem to eagerly hunt it and eat it. My Dusky and Slenderhead Darters seem to live off of it also.
Bil F.
#10
Guest_JohnO_*
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Posted 31 December 2008 - 12:21 PM
Funny you mention skinny greensides - I've always found greensides to be very resilient. Brought two back from a spring fed stream recently and they are skinny, and are staying that way, definitely have shrunken bellies. Has me wondering if they have some sort of parasite.
Never had a problem with banded and variegate. I have two large and fat variegates, had them for about a year now, and they show no signs of slowing down. One 'owns' a fairly large rock in the tank.
I do treat the darters to some little brown shrimplike crusteacans that I find in the spring channel on my farm, on occasion. They love those little things, you can see the darters prowling the sand, looking to pick off the ones that were missed. Toss in a few snails from time to time as well. They don't last long.
Never had a problem with banded and variegate. I have two large and fat variegates, had them for about a year now, and they show no signs of slowing down. One 'owns' a fairly large rock in the tank.
I do treat the darters to some little brown shrimplike crusteacans that I find in the spring channel on my farm, on occasion. They love those little things, you can see the darters prowling the sand, looking to pick off the ones that were missed. Toss in a few snails from time to time as well. They don't last long.
#11
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Posted 31 December 2008 - 04:14 PM
We have been having a similar problem I call the "dwindles" with some of our wild caught and sometimes even hatchery reared sunfish stocks. Food intake usually depressed. Even when the fish occasionally eat enough to put on a nice belly, as soon as the food is passed they will shrink back down. They tend also to be a little dark. Feeding continously with belt feeders does not help much. When we get really young fish from the same stocks the problem is less pronounced and we can get good growth on the exact same diets. The fish seem able to put weight on better at lower temperatures but still too slow. Whe we get these affected fish to breed, the problem does not show up in the offspring.
I think the problem, at least with my fishes, is related to parasite burden. We are preparing to test this soon with some coppernose bluegill suffering from the dwindles.
I think the problem, at least with my fishes, is related to parasite burden. We are preparing to test this soon with some coppernose bluegill suffering from the dwindles.
#12
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Posted 26 February 2009 - 01:38 PM
I have a female greenside that seems to be suffering from a similar affliction. She is roughly 2" and very slim with a sunken belly. This pic sort of shows the ailment but it is more extreme than it appears in this shot.
I have her in a 10 gallon tank with a male greenside of the same size and 3 very small tessellateds. I am using this tank to grow out my smaller darters. I have had them all for about 2 months now. They were all very skinny when I collected them but I have been feeding twice daily with frozen brine and bloodworms plus blackworms and wild macros when I have them. She eats as much if not more than everyone else yet remains skinny. All of the others now have he contented bellies of healthy aquarium darters.
I think she may have an internal parasite. I have jungle parasite clear but I was wondering if there is something more I should use that is more specific that maybe can be added to the food. Should I isolate her for treatment of treat the whole tank?
Thanks,
Bart
I have her in a 10 gallon tank with a male greenside of the same size and 3 very small tessellateds. I am using this tank to grow out my smaller darters. I have had them all for about 2 months now. They were all very skinny when I collected them but I have been feeding twice daily with frozen brine and bloodworms plus blackworms and wild macros when I have them. She eats as much if not more than everyone else yet remains skinny. All of the others now have he contented bellies of healthy aquarium darters.
I think she may have an internal parasite. I have jungle parasite clear but I was wondering if there is something more I should use that is more specific that maybe can be added to the food. Should I isolate her for treatment of treat the whole tank?
Thanks,
Bart
#13
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Posted 02 March 2009 - 06:40 PM
Bart,
I think you should treat the fish individually, if you can. I've had fish treated with the regular dosage of Parasite Clear still have the "dwindles". Only recently, I had a fish survive the dwindles and come back into full form. In fact, she's gravid now. She recovered on her own, though, which was very unusual. Anyways, you might want to try a higher-than-recommended dosage of Parasite Clear. I haven't tried that yet, as I don't have any fish with the dwindles right now, but I plan to if I have a fish that I feel needs it during the upcoming collecting season. I'll leave that up to your discression, though. I hope this helps.
Brian
Brian J. Torreano - Owner
BTDarters
American-Native Fish for your aquarium...and more!
Web: http://www.btdarters.com
Email: bt@btdarters.com
Phone: (262) 268-7489
Edit: Added signature line.
I think you should treat the fish individually, if you can. I've had fish treated with the regular dosage of Parasite Clear still have the "dwindles". Only recently, I had a fish survive the dwindles and come back into full form. In fact, she's gravid now. She recovered on her own, though, which was very unusual. Anyways, you might want to try a higher-than-recommended dosage of Parasite Clear. I haven't tried that yet, as I don't have any fish with the dwindles right now, but I plan to if I have a fish that I feel needs it during the upcoming collecting season. I'll leave that up to your discression, though. I hope this helps.
Brian
Brian J. Torreano - Owner
BTDarters
American-Native Fish for your aquarium...and more!
Web: http://www.btdarters.com
Email: bt@btdarters.com
Phone: (262) 268-7489
Edit: Added signature line.
Edited by BTDarters, 02 March 2009 - 06:41 PM.
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