Jump to content


Photo

Lake sculpins?


  • Please log in to reply
9 replies to this topic

#1 Riffledace

Riffledace
  • NANFA Guest
  • Massachusetts

Posted 16 December 2014 - 08:08 AM

I sort of included this question in the " welcome to nanfa" section earlier. I really want to know what you all think about mottled/ banded sculpins from lakes as opposed to swift flowing streams. I read one thing on here about a sculpin from a lake behaving normally and eating at 78 degrees, and lots of other stuff about how they die at those sorts of temperatures, but it doesn't specify whether they were caught in streams or in lakes. My basement reaches the mid seventies in summer and could possibly get higher during a heat wave. I have a 40 gallon planted tank with a strong current and very heavy aeration. Could I keep a few sculpins in there if they came from lakes?

#2 kirby007

kirby007
  • NANFA Guest
  • berea ky

Posted 16 December 2014 - 08:15 AM

sculpins are a favorite of mine, I've never kept one because of the temperature tolerances though. I am not to sure about the lake vs stream thing although I would assume that the sculpin that is used to higher temperatures would be easier to keep

#3 Michael Wolfe

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

Posted 16 December 2014 - 08:52 AM

I don't bieve that the whke lake is getting I that temperature. Those lake sculpin are almost certainly finding good micro habitat for them.

I have ponds into the backyard here on Georgia that get 90 degrees onto he surface. But much cooler at the bottom under the shade of the lily pars and other plants.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#4 Riffledace

Riffledace
  • NANFA Guest
  • Massachusetts

Posted 16 December 2014 - 04:08 PM

No, I mean that the btd darters guy said he captured a mottled sculpin in a 60 degree lake and it was acting healthy at 78 degrees in an aquarium. But I've also read other posts about how delicate they are and how they disappear from the shallows during hot weather. I'm not sure if it's legal to take natives from other states and keep them.

Edited by Riffledace, 16 December 2014 - 04:52 PM.


#5 MichiJim

MichiJim
  • NANFA Guest
  • Michigan Upper Peninsula

Posted 17 December 2014 - 10:03 AM

I have found mottled sculpin to be a very hardy aquarium fish. The last ones I caught came from a rapids area in a small stream that was about 60 degrees. I put them in a orange Home Depot bucket with an air stone. They were supposed to go to a local science museum, but after a week, they said they didn't want them. After another week in the bucket, at room temperature, I put them in a tank with some greensided darters. Lived for a couple of years like that.

In my experience, lots of O2 and filtration and they do fine at normal room temps. And they remain one of my favorite fish. I imagine that you have read about their big mouths. I watched them eat darters that were over twice their length. They are also shy when kept with larger fish. Keep them by themselves in a small aquarium and they will reward you.

#6 Riffledace

Riffledace
  • NANFA Guest
  • Massachusetts

Posted 17 December 2014 - 01:56 PM

That's great to hear! I was thinking 2 sculpin and a hogsucker in a 40 gallon.

#7 Riffledace

Riffledace
  • NANFA Guest
  • Massachusetts

Posted 17 December 2014 - 04:40 PM

oh, and could you specify "normal room temps?"

#8 MichiJim

MichiJim
  • NANFA Guest
  • Michigan Upper Peninsula

Posted 17 December 2014 - 07:00 PM

65 to 75 or so. I did not monitor water temps, but they probably reached mid to upper 70s. I can't say it always works, but I never had a problem.

#9 Riffledace

Riffledace
  • NANFA Guest
  • Massachusetts

Posted 17 December 2014 - 09:39 PM

Wow. So they aren't nearly as sensitive as I thought, are they?

#10 gzeiger

gzeiger
  • NANFA Guest

Posted 17 December 2014 - 11:48 PM

I would say that they are very difficult to acclimate. Once they are living in captivity they can be great, but I have had several die in streamside observation buckets.




0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users