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Alaska blackfish eats blackfish


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#1 Guest_FishofSchool_*

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Posted 17 February 2010 - 08:35 PM

Enjoy!


Edited by FishofSchool, 17 February 2010 - 08:38 PM.


#2 Guest_donkeyman876_*

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Posted 17 February 2010 - 08:38 PM

Now that's a mouthful!

#3 Guest_FishofSchool_*

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Posted 17 February 2010 - 09:12 PM

boy, you said it! I had to leave and came back 3 hrs later...prey was gone (see end of video). How on earth did he eat it that fast??

I have 2 males acting really aggressively, attacking other fish and each other. They've been held indoors for over 4 weeks in 16 degrees C and 12L/12D photoperiod, and I think they are becoming territorial for breeding. I've been getting some very helpful tips from fellow members about what the next step might be to breed them in our 80-gal. lab aquaria. Have about 30 or so other blackfish in a separate tank, assorted sizes and sexes.

You can tell this guy is a guy by his longer, skinny pelvic fin which extends back past the start of the anal fin. Plus, he has a bulldog-like expression from a slightly down-angled head. He's a wonderful specimen!

#4 Guest_Burbot_*

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Posted 17 February 2010 - 10:00 PM

i really cant see or learn too much about these guys!

#5 Guest_FishofSchool_*

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Posted 17 February 2010 - 11:26 PM

come "west" so we can take you out blackfish trapping with us!!!! :biggrin:

#6 Guest_natureman187_*

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Posted 17 February 2010 - 11:34 PM

That's impressive! Neat fish. I really enjoy the elegance of the creatures in that video. They resemble big graceful mudminnows.

#7 Guest_FishofSchool_*

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Posted 18 February 2010 - 01:49 AM

That's impressive! Neat fish. I really enjoy the elegance of the creatures in that video. They resemble big graceful mudminnows.

you are so lucky to have seen other mudminnows. So these do look similar, at least in some ways? I really appreciate hearing that!

Some here suggest blackfish should not be considered a mudminnow at all but rather a pike family member. I've had several locals call blackfish "burbot" although freshwater cod are as far away as you can get from mudminnows. Those folks comment that blackfish are nothing like pike because their flesh is different.

#8 Guest_mudminnow_*

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Posted 18 February 2010 - 08:26 PM

Your blackfish reminded me of mudminnows as well.

#9 Guest_FishofSchool_*

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Posted 18 February 2010 - 10:51 PM

Appreciate hearing that. Have you worked with more than one Umbrid species?

#10 Guest_panfisherteen_*

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Posted 19 February 2010 - 01:53 PM

you are so lucky to have seen other mudminnows. So these do look similar, at least in some ways? I really appreciate hearing that!

Some here suggest blackfish should not be considered a mudminnow at all but rather a pike family member. I've had several locals call blackfish "burbot" although freshwater cod are as far away as you can get from mudminnows. Those folks comment that blackfish are nothing like pike because their flesh is different.

mudminnows are a part of the pike family. I can really see the similarities between the blackfish and mudminnows (in terms of appearance)

Edited by panfisherteen, 19 February 2010 - 01:54 PM.


#11 Guest_FishofSchool_*

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Posted 19 February 2010 - 05:50 PM

mudminnows are a part of the pike family. I can really see the similarities between the blackfish and mudminnows (in terms of appearance)


So appreciated your comment!

Ah, the debate over blackfish and mudminnow classifications is a pretty hot topic, at least where I live! Present classification in Fishes of Alaska (AFS publication) places all mudminnows in family Umbridae, and order Esociformes which includes pike. My advisor in Fairbanks is investigating blackfish genetics to see if they should indeed be reclassified in the pike family (Esocidae.) Others such as Bond (Bond's Biology of Fishes) prefer to place blackfish in their own unique family separate from other mudminnows, Dalliidae.

A similarity I notice between blackfish and northern pike in our area is their prominent mucous coat (sand sticks to them.) Have you noticed this on other mudminnows?

#12 Guest_Burbot_*

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Posted 19 February 2010 - 05:52 PM

A similarity I notice between blackfish and northern pike in our area is their prominent mucous coat (sand sticks to them.) Have you noticed this on other mudminnows?


Not a ton of mudminnow experience, but NOTHING is as slimy as a pike :laugh: . I wouldn't rate central mudminnows as slimy as one.

Edited by Burbot, 19 February 2010 - 05:53 PM.


#13 Guest_joshuapope2001_*

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Posted 19 February 2010 - 09:24 PM

What an awesome fish... I have never seen these before...Thanks for the video...Now I am off to google and learn more :)

#14 Guest_FishofSchool_*

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Posted 19 February 2010 - 11:38 PM

they are such cool fish! air breathers, legendary for cold tolerance. Native Alaskans tell numerous stories of keeping these fish in freezing water during winter. One tale is of feeding frozen blackfish to sled dogs; the fish thaw in the dogs' stomachs and are thrown up alive.

The Alaska Dept of Fish and Game Notebook Series online gives a very accurate write-up.

Not anywhere as slimy as pike, got it! :smile2:

Please, all, plan a trip to AK so we can show you these fish up close.

#15 Guest_nativeplanter_*

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Posted 20 February 2010 - 11:05 AM

Donna,
Since you obviously have the capability to care for them, would you like some eastern mudminnows? They are exceptionally common in my area and would be very easy to get for you. I don't know the rules for shipping to Alaska though, we'd have to check. It should warm up here pretty soon and I will be swamping around again.

You can PM me if you like.

Laura

#16 Guest_FishofSchool_*

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Posted 20 February 2010 - 11:39 AM

Laura, that would be simply fantastic! How I wish I could reciprocate.

Let me check into logistics for shipping north and get back to you.

Thank you!

#17 Guest_nativeplanter_*

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Posted 22 February 2010 - 09:47 AM

Reciprocation not needed. A lot of NANFAns were very good to me when I was in grad school and just starting to learn about native fish and knew very little (shoot, I do plants, right?). I figure I need to put back into the karma bank every now and then.

Or how about this - reciprocation can be you updating the forum on your blackfish work. There is a lot of interest! That, and contributing your thoughts to the various convservation/scientific/etc discussions. I think that would be a fair trade in your case... well, perhaps NANFA comes out ahead. But if you want those fish... :biggrin:

#18 Guest_FishofSchool_*

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Posted 22 February 2010 - 11:20 AM

deal!

I'm double-checking with my advisor to make sure our IACUC permit will let me keep these fish in our outdoor 440 gal pools on campus. More soon....joy and thanks!

#19 Guest_nativeplanter_*

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Posted 22 February 2010 - 12:18 PM

Ummm... how cold do those outdoor tanks get up there? These might be better suited to aquaria. They only get about 4-5 inches long...

#20 Guest_FishofSchool_*

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Posted 22 February 2010 - 02:06 PM

We only use outdoor pools during warm summer months for fish keeping; all fish are moved indoors in winter.

Most pools house threespine stickleback and blackfish, and sometimes trout. We usually set up in late April after all the snow melts in our yard, fill tanks and provide sponge filters, and set up a large tent for cover. Plastic wading pools are also available. Water temp starts out around 40 degrees F and warms to around 60 degrees or so. Outside temps in summer average 65 degrees here.




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