View Full Version : New pics - Bowfin
Mattimeo
12-02-2002, 6:08 PM
Eating a 3.5 inch prawn:
http://arofanatics.com/members/jamaicanflo/assortedpredators/image18.jpg
http://arofanatics.com/members/jamaicanflo/assortedpredators/image19.jpg
http://arofanatics.com/members/jamaicanflo/assortedpredators/image20.jpg
enjoy!
Pootspete
12-02-2002, 6:10 PM
What action packed pictures of your Bowfin!
slipknottin
12-02-2002, 6:12 PM
cool pics :cool: :)
JamisonBWolsh
12-02-2002, 6:22 PM
Are you the one that said an albino tinfoil is ugly...take a load of the above pic and tell me which is prettier..
Mattimeo
12-02-2002, 6:26 PM
I'm sorry if a completely white fish which has no pigment and has bloody looking eyes is ugly to me. Take a look at both fish, and tell me which 1 is more rare in an lfs. Take a look at both fish and tell me which would appeal more to the oddball fish collector.
I collect intriguing and oddball fish. As a matter of fact, I saw a beautiful serrasalmus elongatus var. "red river" and I think I may buy it.
Ah...Matt. GIVE ME your Bowfin! . I have been looking for one of those for the pond. Good looking fish you lucky...mumble-mumble-mumble:p
Jamison chill out now. If you continue to try and stir the pot like that I am going to see that you are directed to a more "age appropriate" site. Consider it a warning.
Mattimeo
12-02-2002, 6:31 PM
mo... If I find another, I may be able to send it to you....
JamisonBWolsh
12-02-2002, 6:34 PM
Im just saying that your fish is not all that. An Albino Tinfoil would add so much more to an aquarium then your fish.
BTW: why am I always bringing up Albino tinfoils? because you alwats put them down no matter what. In this case, They are much prettier then the one pictured
slipknottin
12-02-2002, 6:36 PM
maybe not everyone has your acute sense of taste jameson. :rolleyes:
As is often said...beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think the bowfin is a very impressive fish. And another cliche...each to his own. Wierd looking fish with big mouths and teeth don't impress you. Beauty of the countries most of us live in; nobody can tell us what to put in our tanks, they can only try.
Mattimeo
12-02-2002, 6:37 PM
You know, I really couldn't care less about albino tinfoil barbs. In my world, all they're good for are target fish. Albino tinfoils are even worse IMO, they look plastic and fake, just like those albino clawed frogs.
Tyler718
12-02-2002, 6:41 PM
That is a great looking fish and pics. Out of curiousity how long did it take him to eat the fish?
Mattimeo
12-02-2002, 6:43 PM
tyler - he's eating a shrimp :p :p :p
he ate another whole 1 just before, so it took him about 1 min to muscle it down (I sent crenicichla a copy of a vid of him eating it).
It took him about 10 seconds to eat the first 1;)
JamisonBWolsh
12-02-2002, 7:14 PM
Im looking at these pics. I just cant see any benefits to have them in any aquariums. If your interested in watching them eat live foods..then perhaps..but they are one butt ugly fish.
No, you don't know what ugly is. Let me show you.
THIS IS AN UGLY FISH!!!!!!!
I'm not gonna use up their bandwith anymore. Heres the site if you wanna see.
http://www.scotcat.com/factsheets/chaca_chaca.htm
slipknottin
12-02-2002, 7:22 PM
Originally posted by vfrex
THIS IS AN UGLY FISH!!!!!!!
yea, but dont tell it that
It is also said that they have a very pungent dorsal fin spine leading to a very sore hand if impaled on it, which is common to a fair amount of the order Siluriformes.
:eek: :D
NJ Devils Fan
12-02-2002, 7:28 PM
nice pics
Mattimeo
12-02-2002, 7:28 PM
Bowfins get VERY large - htey make extremely impressive display fish. If you've ever walked into a room with a 2 foot + bowfin charging the glass at you, you'll know what I mean.
I don't see the advantages of having a hyper skittish fish crashing around your tank disrupting everything.
jiggerpolebill
12-02-2002, 10:00 PM
from what ive read about them, bowfin belong to one of the oldest families found on the planet. they are almost prehistoric, if i understand it correctly. they can survive in the worst water conditions and water with very little oxygen content. is it rare? no. its quite COMMON in much of north america. expensive? only as much as your states fishing license. but i guarantee you wont find them in many aquariums or LFS. and if saying that you own something with prehistoric origins in your tank doesnt make any impression on the people youre trying to impress, then they probably dont care much about fishkeeping in the first place.
matt(or anybody else for that matter) - do you know of any books out there for information/identification of north american species? preferably one with alot of good pictures for slow people like myself. got any other pictures of your native species?
Serrateeth_2002
12-02-2002, 10:11 PM
vfrex,is that a chaca bankanensis?I heard they make croaking sounds,i wonder what are the diff between a bowfin and a goby,i know they are different families altogether but look very similar.
Mattimeo
12-03-2002, 1:34 AM
bowfin are part of an ancient order of fish. As a matter of fact, they are the only surviving member of their genus, making them a very special fish. It's rare in the pet trade because it's a native species which grows large, isn't outstandingly coloured, is an overly aggressive predator, and is very greedy, not something the typical aquarist with a mere 55g tank would want to buy. Also, if you're outside of it's natural range, then it would be considered a "rare" fish because they aren't commonly available through the pet trade and they are not available to catch.
Bowfins are not anywhere near related to gobies. They are partially cartillaginous, making them closer relatives to sturgeons and other primitive fish. However, as far as looks go, I'd say it looks like a cross between a snakehead and a wolffish.
FishBait
12-03-2002, 10:02 AM
I've always thought these were some really cool fish, any fish that can be found burried miles away from any water body and live for months at a time like that impresses me :) Not as cool as the Polypterus though IMO :p
Mattimeo
12-03-2002, 1:25 PM
yeah, they are the closest relatives of the polypteridae family:p
125gJoe
12-04-2002, 4:56 AM
Bowfin are known as 'Mudfish' down here. I'm guessing they are a warm water fish. They are very common in the lakes and rivers. I've caught several over 10 pounds. They seem to seek out stagnant waters and I believe they are a labarynth fish - 'air gulpers' - when needed due to low oxygen content in stagnant areas. They put up a heck of a fight at the end of a fishing line, but are of no 'tasty' food value. They have been said to taste like mud.
It seems strange never to have seen one in LFS's...as they would sell...
Yes, they can look ugly, and so does my Violet Goby.
FishBait
12-04-2002, 7:55 AM
80gJO
I think these guys can tolerate VERY wide ranges of temperature. I had heard they are most common in southern states, but my first encounter with one was up in Michigan when visiting my dad. I thought they were just awesome. Another cool fish from up there is the burbot...which is what I first thought they called the bowfin. But like so many other fish/animals around, the locals call them waterdogs. Fight like crazy I hear ;)
HazyWater
12-04-2002, 10:42 AM
jiggerpolebill asked, so...
You'll want a book tailored for your area. There are really many, many native american fish.
this is a good book (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0395910919/104-9028230-3331943?vi=glance)
check out NANFA (http://www.nanfa.org/) if want some info on native species.
I know the Bowfin is endangered in Maryland. Make sure you check your local regulations before you go out and fish for... a fish. Your LFS may not be able to sell you a bowfin because it can require special permits, depending on your state.
redpaulhus
12-04-2002, 1:43 PM
jiggerpolebill -
If you're willing to look online for an out-of-print book, one of the best I've found is John Quinn's "Our Native Fishes" published in 1990 by The Countryman Press. It covers everything from collecting the fish to setting up the aquarium to the fish themselves.
The only thing lacking is good color photos, which a field guide (like the one previously mentioned by Hazywater) would provide nicely.
I found my copy on Amazon.com for about $20.
Hope it helps.
Awesome bowfin pics by the way ! great lookin fish !
jiggerpolebill
12-04-2002, 8:36 PM
hey thanks for the resourses. ive been to the nanfa site before but i couldnt remember the name of it. there's some good links off of it as well. thanks again for the info. ill be keeping my eye out for them.
jiggerpolebill
12-04-2002, 9:16 PM
FYI - just found this surfing through NANFA's site, in case anybody else is interested in the bowfin.
http://www.nanfa.org/articles/ACarticles.htm
sorry. link didnt post through to the article. if you scroll down the menu on the left, under "MISC FAMILIES" you can find an article titled "Tank Raising Bowfins" by R.W. Wolff.