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Anybody kept cavefish?

Started by Guest_catfish_hunter_* , Nov 18 2009 10:53 AM

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10 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_catfish_hunter_*

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Posted 18 November 2009 - 10:53 AM

What are they like as captives? They look like a fish version of Gollum from Lord Of The Rings.

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#2 Guest_jblaylock_*

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Posted 18 November 2009 - 11:09 AM

I've often wondered what these would be like also. I would assume they would be very hard to keep in a tank. Comparing a normal tank setup compared to the pools in cold caves they are used to, I would say they wouldn't thrive in a tank. KY has 3 species of Cavefish, strange looking fish.

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#3 Guest_catfish_hunter_*

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Posted 18 November 2009 - 11:15 AM

An awesome idea for a biotope aquarium: a bunch of dark rocks, black sand as substrate, a school of cavefish and two or three blindacats. Now THAT would be an amazing setup. I thought one species of cavefish came from swamps? And had eyes?

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#4 Guest_jblaylock_*

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Posted 18 November 2009 - 11:18 AM

I believe the Spring Cavefish has eyes, though I'm not sure of it's habitat.

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#5 Guest_Newt_*

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Posted 18 November 2009 - 11:22 AM

Two species of cavefish are often found above ground: the swampfish and the spring cavefish. I believe the swampfish has been bred in captivity. I find spring cavefish periodically, usually in the spring (and in a spring). I wouldn't try to keep them, though, without a chiller or a consistently cool basement. Also be aware that many cavefish are rare and protected.

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#6 Guest_Dustin_*

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Posted 18 November 2009 - 11:25 AM

The spring cavefish does have eyes, although diminished, as does the swampfish. The spring cavefish would be very difficult to keep due to its temperature requirements. It is typically not found in caves, but in cold spring runs. Also, all of thw cavefish species, except the swampfish, are currently protected in some fashion. A good alternative would be the swampfish, which is found in mud or debris in swamps of the coastal plain on the east coast. It can be locally abundant and is a fairly easy fish to keep in a species only tank with live foods offered. It may not be terribly interesting though since it hides most of the time and only comes out at night to feed. The option of a biotope tank would be very limited as the swampfish, like all of the cavefishes, would make a quick snack for nearly any other fish you would attmept to put with it.

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#7 Guest_catfish_hunter_*

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Posted 18 November 2009 - 11:26 AM

I would assume they would need a chiller, and a bunch of rocks to hide in. Kind of like a higher-strung version of those blind cave tetras.

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#8 Guest_jblaylock_*

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Posted 18 November 2009 - 11:49 AM

An awesome idea for a biotope aquarium: a bunch of dark rocks, black sand as substrate, a school of cavefish and two or three blindacats. Now THAT would be an amazing setup.

This would be a cool setup. Dark rocks, dark substrate, air driven low-flow filters and maybe just some moonlights for the lighting. Would be an interesting tank.

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#9 Guest_jblaylock_*

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Posted 18 November 2009 - 11:50 AM

Also be aware that many cavefish are rare and protected.

Also, even in the actual fish isn't protected, most of their habitat is protected with National Parks, Nature Conservatories, etc...

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#10 Guest_catfish_hunter_*

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Posted 18 November 2009 - 11:55 AM

Kind of a bummer, but I recently found out that one species of blindcat is sold as a aquarium resident, but I forgot the name. It is on Planet Catfish's site...

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#11 Guest_gerald_*

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Posted 18 November 2009 - 12:50 PM

ive kept swampfish and they're pretty neat, though not very active. They dont need low temp -- do fine at least up to 82F and possibly higher, since they live in leaf litter in shallows. DONT put them in a tank with gravel; they can get stuck in it. Use fine sand or just leaf litter on the bottom, and feed them live food (blackworms, tufifex, scuds, brineshrimp, daphnia). Elassoma, Heterandria or Leptolucania would probably be OK tankmates.