I’d like to get a few Emerald Shiners for my new 75g walstad aquarium in the next couple months. Do they have any special care requirements? Will they eat flakes and/or freeze dried foods? When I get them at bait shops, they seem very fragile and sensitive. Do they adapt well to aquariums? About how many could a 75g support?
Emerald Shiner Care
Started by
Guest_Rtifs_*
, Nov 09 2009 02:00 PM
12 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_gerald_*
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Posted 09 November 2009 - 03:30 PM
Ive never kept emeralds but have kept its close relative the comely shiner. Yes they stress out rather easily when first collected, as do many silvery mid-water fishes. Salt at 1 teasp/gal plus an antibiotic like nitrofurazone (eg Jungle Binox) will help ward off Flexibacter (aka columnaris, tail rot) on newly caught ones. Those from bait shops are probably starved too, but handle gently and feed well and you can probably get some to recover. Once settled they are hardy and easy to feed (frozen, flakes, baby cichlid pellet, etc). You could probably put 20 or 30 comfortably in a 75 gal.
#3
Michael Wolfe
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Posted 09 November 2009 - 10:17 PM
My experience with emeralds in Northern Ohio bait shops was very dismal. They were so stressed that my survival rate was very quickly zero. I beleive that some others around here have had better luck with wild caught... they are still stressed, but at least have not been crowded and starved.
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#7
Guest_BTDarters_*
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Posted 10 November 2009 - 06:39 PM
Rtifs,
Below I've attached my care sheet for Emerald Shiners. I used to sell them before the whole VHS thing here in Wisconsin. Your best bet, if you're getting them from a bait shop is to warm them up slowly to the temp of your tank. When you get up to temp, acclimate them carefully to the new tank's water chemistry. A good technique to use may be the drip-method. In order to get them eating quickly, after you've got them in the tank, keep one or more fish with them that are already acclimated to flake food. The Emeralds will learn much more quickly that the flake is food if someone "shows" them. Also, you may want to offer them live or frozen brine shrimp. They seem to like brine shrimp.
In addition to the gentle acclimation, you may want to parasite pre-treat them. That means treating them with a parasite-clearing medication, even if parasites aren't obvious on the fish. I use Parasite Clear by Jungle Labs for pre-treating. It seems to work pretty well.
Hope this helps! Any other questions, just ask! If I don't respond quickly here, the best way to get a hold of me is to email me. My email is below.
emerald_shiner.pdf 103.05KB
812 downloads
Brian
Below I've attached my care sheet for Emerald Shiners. I used to sell them before the whole VHS thing here in Wisconsin. Your best bet, if you're getting them from a bait shop is to warm them up slowly to the temp of your tank. When you get up to temp, acclimate them carefully to the new tank's water chemistry. A good technique to use may be the drip-method. In order to get them eating quickly, after you've got them in the tank, keep one or more fish with them that are already acclimated to flake food. The Emeralds will learn much more quickly that the flake is food if someone "shows" them. Also, you may want to offer them live or frozen brine shrimp. They seem to like brine shrimp.
In addition to the gentle acclimation, you may want to parasite pre-treat them. That means treating them with a parasite-clearing medication, even if parasites aren't obvious on the fish. I use Parasite Clear by Jungle Labs for pre-treating. It seems to work pretty well.
Hope this helps! Any other questions, just ask! If I don't respond quickly here, the best way to get a hold of me is to email me. My email is below.
emerald_shiner.pdf 103.05KB
812 downloadsBrian
#8
Guest_Rtifs_*
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Posted 10 November 2009 - 11:10 PM
Ah, VHS. I hadn't thought about that. My Pumpkinseed probably hasn't been exposed to that before and wouldn't have an immunity. Maybe I'll have to put my plans on hold. Do Rainbow Shiners behave similarly? I've never seen them live, only pics on the internet.
#9
Guest_mikez_*
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Posted 12 November 2009 - 06:49 PM
Years ago, before the introduced rainbow smelt population died off in famous Walden pond, I used to drive 50 miles to buy emerald shiners for icefishing bait due to their shape similarity to smelt. [The well educated large brown trout wouldn't touch a golden shiner].
I found they are much more fragile, sensitive, jumpy and have higher O demands than other bait. Keeping densities low, temps low and stable, water well oxygenated and protecting from being spooked helped keep my expensive bait alive in a bucket from week to week. Should work in a healthy tank.
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I found they are much more fragile, sensitive, jumpy and have higher O demands than other bait. Keeping densities low, temps low and stable, water well oxygenated and protecting from being spooked helped keep my expensive bait alive in a bucket from week to week. Should work in a healthy tank.
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#10
Guest_gerald_*
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Posted 13 November 2009 - 01:33 PM
Rainbow shiner and the rest of the Hydroplox sub-genus (redlip, yellowfin, rough, greenhead) are easy to keep, not too jumpy or easily spooked. They live in shallower streams around rocks and logs, rather than open, deeper water like emeralds and other silvery-colored shiners. I think that helps them adapt more easily to tank life.
#11
Guest_BTDarters_*
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Posted 16 November 2009 - 01:33 AM
Rtifs,
As gerald said, the Rainbow Shiners are easier to keep. If you haven't already found a source for them, Sach's Systems Aquaculture is selling them. Their website is http://www.aquaculturestore.com. If you buy from them, please tell them that Brian from BTDarters sent you.
Brian
As gerald said, the Rainbow Shiners are easier to keep. If you haven't already found a source for them, Sach's Systems Aquaculture is selling them. Their website is http://www.aquaculturestore.com. If you buy from them, please tell them that Brian from BTDarters sent you.
Brian
#12
Guest_schambers_*
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Posted 16 November 2009 - 12:59 PM
I bought some rainbow shiners from Sachs last spring. I got the smallest they sold, because they were cheaper. I am very happy with them, they are growing well and are gorgeous fish. I also enjoy keeping less flashy local fish. I like to watch them, it helps with my ID skills.
#13
Guest_JohnO_*
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Posted 06 December 2009 - 07:35 PM
I didn't have any problems with emerald shiners. Very pretty, and reasonably well behaved. My last pair lasted almost a year before the tank was hit with some strange malady and took out quite a few fish.
The trick for me was to collect them in winter. High mortality rate if you try to move them in summer. Come to think of it, I have to get back out and get a few more. Very attractive, neat swimming motion.
The trick for me was to collect them in winter. High mortality rate if you try to move them in summer. Come to think of it, I have to get back out and get a few more. Very attractive, neat swimming motion.
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