Edited by AppStateBimmer, 28 March 2008 - 05:38 PM.
Caught my first Sculpin today!
#1 Guest_AppStateBimmer_*
Posted 28 March 2008 - 05:35 PM
#2 Guest_sandtiger_*
Posted 28 March 2008 - 07:15 PM
#3 Guest_JohnO_*
Posted 28 March 2008 - 08:07 PM
I will say that they didn't have quite the personality of darters. The sculpins I kept tended to be a bit dour, hanging out under a rock all day, while the darters go poking their noses into just about everything.
#4 Guest_jase_*
Posted 28 March 2008 - 09:12 PM
Ditto -- definitely not a "beginner" fish by any means. I tried to keep two a couple years back, and both died within about a week. They're shy enough (at least in daytime) that they get outcompeted by just about anything. Room temperature is probably too warm for them. I won't try keeping them again unless I'm set up with a chiller and have a tank dedicated *only* to sculpins.Sculpins are one of the more difficult natives to care for IMO. They require clean, cold and well oxygenated water. They also are a bit difficult to feed preferring live food or frozen.
#5 Guest_AppStateBimmer_*
Posted 28 March 2008 - 09:48 PM
#6 Guest_teleost_*
Posted 29 March 2008 - 08:39 AM
I sampled several sites that were lowland streams with the typical swampy type fish but also contained quite a few Banded sculpin (Cottus carolinae)*. The fish I collected from the warm, sluggish waters seem unaffected by lower than typically acceptable oxygen levels and warm temps. This could also have something to do with the species.
Anyone else find (Cottus carolinae) in warm sluggish streams?
*possibly either or both of these fishes are now recognized as other species however I don't have the most recent distribution info for them.
#7 Guest_JohnO_*
Posted 31 March 2008 - 07:09 AM
Just added a more modestly sized one to the tank, and he seems fairly happy. When I kept these some years ago, they would only like live food, but we'll see how he does with frozen bloodworms. They've been a big hit with the darters.
#8 Guest_Irate Mormon_*
Posted 31 March 2008 - 10:44 PM
#9 Guest_JohnO_*
Posted 05 April 2008 - 08:10 AM
The darters will be a big hit with the sculpins!
This little guy is too small to eat the darters, maybe 1.5" long, though I did find another large one, over 3". Left it in the creek, needless to say. They're sort of scary looking when they get that big. So far, he has ignored the frozen food. I do have the tank heavily filtered/oxygenated, with a reef filter, Fluval 405 canister filter (love that quick change), and long air stick. He seems quite happy, otherwise. Ignored the many rocks I left in the tank, and prefers to bury his pectorals in the sand.
Interesting to note that since he's been in the tank, his coloration has become more distinct. From a muddy brown, it has developed dark and light spots, particularly on it's head. Now, if the rainbows I found will just do the same...
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