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Margined Madtom


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#1 Sean Phillips

Sean Phillips
  • NANFA Member
  • Allegheny River Drainage, Southwest PA

Posted 21 August 2014 - 08:44 PM

I've finally found someone who can get me the last addition I've been looking for for my 20 gallon (24" x 12" x 16") planted semi-riffle tank. A Margined Madtom, the only one of two PA native Madtoms it's legal to keep in PA (the other is a Stonecat which would get way to big). Just wanted to double check with you guys to make sure the stock will be fine and I won't be overstocked or have any aggression issues

Stock:
  • 2 Rainbow Darters (2 Males)
  • 2 Greenside Darters (1 Male and 1 Female)
  • 1 Pugnose Minnow (I know I should have more but I got it from a shipment of feeder shrimp)
  • 1 Bluefin Killifish (1 Female)
  • 5-6 Some Species of Shiners or Dace I've yet to get
  • 1 Margined Madtom
Temp is 64-74 (Winter-Summer) and pH is 7.6. Filtration is a sponge filter with a 50 gallon rating and water changes are 33-50% weekly.

Substrate is sand mixed with a few loose rocks from my creek. Decor is large rockwork piles and I'm going to be getting some plants for it soon.

Does that sound good?
Sean Phillips - Pine Creek Watershed - Allegheny River Drainage

#2 Michael Wolfe

Michael Wolfe
  • Board of Directors
  • North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 21 August 2014 - 09:08 PM

In the long run, the madtom will eat all of those fish (well, probably not the greensides). Speaking from direct experience, see my post below. Margineds are great and mine came out to eat all the time. But now I have two that are over 5.5 inches and eat anything smaller than themselves.

http://forum.nanfa.o...argined +madtom
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#3 Sean Phillips

Sean Phillips
  • NANFA Member
  • Allegheny River Drainage, Southwest PA

Posted 21 August 2014 - 09:13 PM

In the long run, the madtom will eat all of those fish (well, probably not the greensides). Speaking from direct experience, see my post below. Margineds are great and mine came out to eat all the time. But now I have two that are over 5.5 inches and eat anything smaller than themselves.

http://forum.nanfa.o...argined +madtom


Oh jeez, might have to forget about them for now then. I'd still love to keep a pair though, what'd be the smallest tank size for 2 if they were the only fish?
Sean Phillips - Pine Creek Watershed - Allegheny River Drainage

#4 Michael Wolfe

Michael Wolfe
  • Board of Directors
  • North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 22 August 2014 - 06:56 AM

Something like that 20 would be OK. And they wouldn't have to be the only fish. I have my two currently housed with a big creek chub (another fish that will grow too big and eat smaller fish). But in a 20, you could also have a smaller sunfish in there. Like maybe a dollar. You might have to be careful when they are growing up. But a mostly full sized dollar and a mostly full sized margined madtom would not try to eat each other.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#5 Guest_Skipjack_*

Guest_Skipjack_*
  • Guests

Posted 22 August 2014 - 11:06 AM

Big Cyprinella would probably be fine, I would think. Michael?

#6 Michael Wolfe

Michael Wolfe
  • Board of Directors
  • North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 22 August 2014 - 12:29 PM

Sure, I mean mine are big now (nearing 6 inches) but they would not go after a big Cyprinella like a fieryblack or steelcolor or whitetail or Alabama or even a tricolor (which in my experience are kind of aggressive).

Now they would certainly eat any of these if they were 2 and a half inch juveniles... but not adults.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#7 Guest_Dustin_*

Guest_Dustin_*
  • Guests

Posted 22 August 2014 - 02:17 PM

They wouldn't go after them in the middle of the day, but what about when they are still at night?

#8 Michael Wolfe

Michael Wolfe
  • Board of Directors
  • North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 22 August 2014 - 03:09 PM

They were eating 2 inch minnows like they were candy. And 3 inch blackbanded darters like sandwiches. But they ever got a Nocomis and they are not bugging a 4 inch creek chub at all. So I am just going off of experience and trying to extrapolate a little.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#9 Sean Phillips

Sean Phillips
  • NANFA Member
  • Allegheny River Drainage, Southwest PA

Posted 24 August 2014 - 06:47 AM

Is there any other madtoms that are native to just around me (so western PA, eastern OH, northern WV) that wild do good in my riffle tank? Preferably something I can get from one of the vendors here since the only pa madtoms legal to keep are Margineds and Stonecats.
Sean Phillips - Pine Creek Watershed - Allegheny River Drainage



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