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New to Natives

Started by Guest_mudminnow_* , Dec 06 2009 12:19 PM

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15 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_mudminnow_*

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Posted 06 December 2009 - 12:19 PM

I have been reading through the forums here for quite some time. Now I have my own tank! And, I would appreciate your knowledge and suggestions regarding it.

As stated, the tank is a 75 gallon. All decorations and plants came from the creeks around my house.

Plants:
Willow Moss
Water Cress
Unknown Moss (resembles a miniature Christmas Cactus)

There are a lot of invertebrates that came in with the rocks and plants, but I have not yet added any fish as my tank is only now finishing its initial cycle. Nevertheless, I have been out catching fish in my dip net to get a feel of what species live around my house.

So far I have not been able to find any fish in the open rocky areas of the creeks--I guess it is just too cold this time of year. But, I have been able to find the following fish in beds of willow moss or in piles of leaves:

2 Tessellated Darters
Way too many to count Eastern Mudminnows
Way too many to count Bluespotted Sunfish
1 Northern Hogsucker
2 Fathead Minnows
3 Creek Chubs
1 Fallfish (this one was over a foot long!)
6 Blacknose Dace
1 unknown shiner (looked a little like the Swallowtail Shiner in the Peterson's Field Guide)

I think I want to set up my aquarium around the Tessellated Darters. So, from the above list, which fish would be good tank-mates for some future Tessellated Darters? Are there other fish in my area that would be good tank-mates that I have not found yet? (I live just a little south of Scranton PA.)

Also, what would make some good potential algae eaters?

Lastly, I have read that Margined Madtoms might be in my area. If I find any of these, would they make good tank-mates for the darters?

#2 Guest_octavio_*

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Posted 06 December 2009 - 01:44 PM

I would like to complement you on your beautiful set up, it's really manicured! As for fish, I would go with what you have on your list except for the fallfish which are to large and make it a community tank. I would also go with the madtoms, just my 2 cents. Keep us posted would like to see more pic's after the fish are in.

#3 Guest_panfisherteen_*

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Posted 06 December 2009 - 05:36 PM

i would think mudminnows would make good tank mates as well (plus mudminnows have a personality of their own)

#4 Guest_schambers_*

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Posted 06 December 2009 - 08:56 PM

That's a great looking tank! I'd skip the creek chubs, too. They get too big. I've always admired hogsuckers, but I've been told they are hard to keep, so I'm skipping them for now.

Bluespotted sunfish, mudminnows, dace, and darters will make a really nice combination of fish. You can add some more darters and shiners later if you want.

Edited by schambers, 06 December 2009 - 09:00 PM.

#5 Guest_Jeff_*

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Posted 07 December 2009 - 12:55 PM

No advice to add here but.........

I am totally blown away by your tank setup. Looks like you really took your time and did it right!

#6 Guest_Jim_*

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Posted 07 December 2009 - 01:59 PM

I agree, that tank set up is fabulous, makes my native tanks look like i threw them together with a scoop shovel

#7 Guest_mudminnow_*

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Posted 07 December 2009 - 06:05 PM

Thank you all for your complements and suggestions. I will post another picture after I get the tank stocked. This may take some time though, as all the water in my area is starting to freeze up.

#8 Guest_Elijah_*

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Posted 08 December 2009 - 01:23 AM

Hey great tank!
Your list of fish ideas sounds good too. You might go for a different madtom though because margined madtoms get to be 6 inches long or so and most will eat anything they can fit in their mouths. Your darters, are the first thing that comes to mind. Tessellated darters have great personality BTW.
Do you have tadpole madtoms in your area? They usually do not grow over 3 inches.
American Flagfish eat algea and are colorful. They can be fin nippers though. I am going to try red bellied dace as I have hear they eat algae and I have 1 tank that is growing a lot of it!
Also, I just came upon some wild watercress myself. In researching it I have found info that says that it does not live long underwater. -FYI.
Happy fishing!

#9 Michael Wolfe

Board of Directors

North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 08 December 2009 - 01:56 PM

Hey great tank!
Your list of fish ideas sounds good too. You might go for a different madtom though because margined madtoms get to be 6 inches long or so and most will eat anything they can fit in their mouths. Your darters, are the first thing that comes to mind. Tessellated darters have great personality BTW.
Do you have tadpole madtoms in your area? They usually do not grow over 3 inches.
American Flagfish eat algea and are colorful. They can be fin nippers though. I am going to try red bellied dace as I have hear they eat algae and I have 1 tank that is growing a lot of it!
Also, I just came upon some wild watercress myself. In researching it I have found info that says that it does not live long underwater. -FYI.
Happy fishing!

Of course, everyone's experience is different... but I had great experiences with margined madtoms and highly suggest them... they were more active than some of the other madtoms I have had... and I never lost darters in the tank they were in... they started small and grew nicely eating shrimp pellets and frozen foods.

Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#10 Guest_mudminnow_*

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Posted 08 December 2009 - 03:11 PM

Hey great tank!
Do you have tadpole madtoms in your area?

There may be some tadpole madtoms no too far from me. But, as I understand it, tadpole madtoms are a protected species here in Pennsylvania.

#11 Guest_mudminnow_*

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Posted 08 December 2009 - 03:14 PM

I just came upon some wild watercress myself. In researching it I have found info that says that it does not live long underwater.

Has anyone had long-term success growing watercress?

#12 Guest_fundulus_*

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Posted 08 December 2009 - 04:35 PM

It grows like crazy in north Alabama in spring systems where it was introduced, and I see no reason why it wouldn't in a well-lit aquarium. And I'm sure it does much better as an emergent rather than submerged.

#13 Guest_Elijah_*

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Posted 08 December 2009 - 06:45 PM

Of course, everyone's experience is different... but I had great experiences with margined madtoms and highly suggest them... they were more active than some of the other madtoms I have had... and I never lost darters in the tank they were in... they started small and grew nicely eating shrimp pellets and frozen foods.

Good to hear about your margined madtoms. I have speckled myself -and rarely ever see them. Kind of a bummer to have fish that hide all the time. How big did your margineds get?
I have been told many times that most madtoms will eat anything they can fit in their mouths- even fish almost the same size as them. I have not had problems with mine (but they are only 3") and I keep a few small shiners. I was thinking of the size of margineds though. Anyway, you never know for sure unless you try. They are cool looking.

#14 Michael Wolfe

Board of Directors

North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 09 December 2009 - 01:29 PM

Good to hear about your margined madtoms. I have speckled myself -and rarely ever see them. Kind of a bummer to have fish that hide all the time. How big did your margineds get?
I have been told many times that most madtoms will eat anything they can fit in their mouths- even fish almost the same size as them. I have not had problems with mine (but they are only 3") and I keep a few small shiners. I was thinking of the size of margineds though. Anyway, you never know for sure unless you try. They are cool looking.

I have (I think) a speckled right now... and I never see him...

I had the margined madtoms from a trip that we took to southwest Georgia, and they were only a couple of inches at the time and grew to nearly five inches before I had a tank crash event (my fault, long story)... they were by far the most visible of the madtoms I have kept, came out every day at feeding time... and while I do agree with the general statement that fish will eat any other fish that fits in their mouth, I did not have any specific problems with these margineds... even though they were long term residents of the tank and grew quite a bit.

Also had an Ozark madtom that grew in a tank of yoke darters and never lost one to him despite his growth from about 1 inch to over 4 inches.

Edited by Michael Wolfe, 09 December 2009 - 01:30 PM.

Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#15 Guest_tennfan56_*

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Posted 13 December 2009 - 06:10 PM

Where in PA can you get bluespotted sunfish? I live near Harrisburg and have never caught one.

#16 Guest_mudminnow_*

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Posted 14 December 2009 - 01:29 PM

Where in PA can you get bluespotted sunfish? I live near Harrisburg and have never caught one.

Not far from Scranton there are lots of little ponds, swamps, and creeks. In these places, it is very easy to catch Bluespotted Sunfish. Just Scoop in the leaf litter or in areas with thick plants.