I could really use some help with two new Central Mottled Sculpins I have. I can't seem to get them to eat much of anything. It seems as though they're wasting away.
Help please.
-Kyle
Help please.
-Kyle
Sculpin Help
- Thread starter KyleAlexander
- Start date
What size tank? Any other inhabitants? What have you fed?
It would also be nice to know the temp of the aquarium as they should be kept in cooler water. Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate readings as well.
They primarily feed on macro-inverts (ie. mayfly nymphs, stonefly larvae, worms) and crustaceans such as small crays.
My guess is that they wont take any prepared food such as flakes/pellets, or even frozen foods initially.
NANFA is a great native fish resource. They also have a forum.
Here's their write up on the mottled sculpin.
http://www.nanfa.org/articles/acmottledsculpin.shtml
It would also be nice to know the temp of the aquarium as they should be kept in cooler water. Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate readings as well.
They primarily feed on macro-inverts (ie. mayfly nymphs, stonefly larvae, worms) and crustaceans such as small crays.
My guess is that they wont take any prepared food such as flakes/pellets, or even frozen foods initially.
NANFA is a great native fish resource. They also have a forum.
Here's their write up on the mottled sculpin.
http://www.nanfa.org/articles/acmottledsculpin.shtml
The sculpins are about 2in long, in a 55gal. All levels are fine. They are in a native tank I keep at room temp high 60's low 70's. There are also, in the tank, 6 very small, yet too big to eat, crayfish, a 3in pleco and a 3in chub.
You are right about the prepared foods, they would hardly even acknowledge any of it and I tried everything I could find.
Just found something they would eat, thank god! I went to the LFS and got a dozen baby guppys and they each ate one right away.
Thanks for the help.
-kyle
You are right about the prepared foods, they would hardly even acknowledge any of it and I tried everything I could find.
Just found something they would eat, thank god! I went to the LFS and got a dozen baby guppys and they each ate one right away.
Thanks for the help.
-kyle
I would head over to the NANFA forums and ask if anyone has any ideas for feeding. Live fish is fine, but they should only be fed springly. They are high in fat and protein and dont contain many nutrients. Not to mention if you get them from a LFS you cannot be certain if they are safe or carrying something that might infect your fish.
Also, they are not the main part of a sculpins diet. Most things I've read say they primarily feed on aquatic insect larvae.
Also, they are not the main part of a sculpins diet. Most things I've read say they primarily feed on aquatic insect larvae.
I've only browsed through some thread, but there seem to be a lot of people (well a lot more than I thought) keeping sculpins.
Good luck!
Good luck!