freshwater darter fish (sneak preview)

mjordan29 said:
ok... haha i was thinking the dots on the side looked like mine. then again the pic was after i took them from a tank and put them in a small container so really the black is more defined. i was just reading state laws and it looks like i may need some type of 50.00 anual renual sale/buy registration.

not worth it for what im doing
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$50.00 huh? That may be LL/State Laws. Wait until you find out if it is restricted/prohibited from crossing state lines as one Sp from 45039 may end up in Wyoming somehow and causing major problems to its endemic Sp. population.


Although have not collected darters since 70's from my local creeks, I do remember that water was much cooler with faster water movement/high dissolved O2 than most hobbyists can provide. As you can see, I was intrigued by these darters/ other small local fishes since very young (ASA i could walk. Just kidding!! but close) but gave up on trouts/darters for difficuties in keeping COOL & STEADY water temp during Summer.
I think I can diy my own river system with easier way to keep the water cool (my drinks as well, haha) w/o having AC blasting 24/7 throughout summer but I am into local s/w for past few yrs as certain tropical marines are avail locally during hot Summer.
Check out my 2010 local s/w collections in FOWLR sect including pipefish and seahorses.

btw, do you think water was lower than 75F where you caught these darters?

was bottom sanded or pebbles?

Your own version of DIY contraption to catch these fish? If so, how about pics of your contraption.
 
Often with dartners it's not cold water that's absolutely necessary. It's high o2 levels (much like with trout), though some darters are very variable with what environment they'll tolerate (johnny darters being one of them).
Colder water holds more o2, so with warmer water (not tropical, but low 70s) you need other ways to sufficiently oxygenate (lots of water agitation and plenty of turnover).

I have kept orangethroat darters that I caught from cold turbulent water just fine in low 70s room temperature water. Provided lots of surface agitation and water flow and turnover through powerheads.

The main problem I've found with darters is feeding. Some do not like to accept prepared foods. The only foods mine would accept were very small guppies. The way they hunted them was quite odd. They'd bash them head first into the gravel and stun them, then swallow them.
 
RiVerfishgirl said:
Often with dartners it's not cold water that's absolutely necessary. It's high o2 levels (much like with trout), though some darters are very variable with what environment they'll tolerate (johnny darters being one of them).
Colder water holds more o2, so with warmer water (not tropical, but low 70s) you need other ways to sufficiently oxygenate (lots of water agitation and plenty of turnover).

I have kept orangethroat darters that I caught from cold turbulent water just fine in low 70s room temperature water. Provided lots of surface agitation and water flow and turnover through powerheads.

The main problem I've found with darters is feeding. Some do not like to accept prepared foods. The only foods mine would accept were very small guppies. The way they hunted them was quite odd. They'd bash them head first into the gravel and stun them, then swallow them.
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Please review general physical and chemical properties of water.

How many tanks of darters have you kept? I am just curious as your posting seems to suggest you have done many.
 
i was in a creek that was pretty war. i would guess higher than 75 as i wasnt cold at al and i like swimming in a 90 degree pool lol. the creek was barely moving and i wanted to try a seine net but when i learned it was so slow moving i decided to go buy fish nets at the lfs. ya know the ones that we all catch our fish with in our fish rooms :)

it worked like a charm. snuck up on them and placed a net at the head and one at the tale and then swooped in. i would say i caught one for every 5 attempts on average.
 
thats pretty crazy. let me know when you find out more on the lgality, whiat kind of substrate are they in? what do you do for lighting and feeding? (i know you said bloodworms but how many?)
 
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