Started Native Aquariums: Assistance Request...

[DTro]

keep an eye on that bass. I once had a couple of bass with crappie, walleye and northern in 55 gal tank. The bass ate all except bullie. The bigger bass even ate the smaller one. I swear this thing was the pit bull of the tank. We got to a point of going to the pet store and buying snake feeder mice and dropping em in the tank. Man, this bass would just hammer those things.

[Moose-Hunter]

Howdy All....

All I can say is WOW!!! I, not more than 5 min. ago, watched my largest bass (all of 3 1/8" ) swoop down upon an unsuspecting feeder minnow. Feeding "down".... Hmmmm.... Anyway it was a real site to see. Nothing left but a smile on Mr. Bass.

Tony.... I'm holding off on the sunfish until I get the large tank set up. I've heard they can be very "pesty" to the other fish in a small tank. The only sunfish I can get right now are older/larger than the other gamefish I already have and I may have too much competition at feeding time. I will eventually get them, just not right away.

dtro.... I see what you mean. When he grows a bit, I think this guy's going to be trouble in a native community tank. The crappies I'm going to add to that tank are going to be a bit longer than the bass. (around 4") Maybe they'll be safe then. Who knows....

More to come.... Stay tuned....

M-H (aka: Dan)

[Cyberfish]

I used to have a pet bass when I was a kid, I called him JAWS cuz he was a real meanie!
He wouldn't let another fish live with him in the tank! I fed him frozen fatheads he would snap right out of my fingers. He liked nite crawlers too, but they made a mess cuz he would chew on em and dirt would come outa his mouth and gills. Once tried "fishing" for him with a plastic worm. Big mistake there! He put up a big fight and splashed half the water on the floor, my mother was not at all pleased! He finally got too big and I released him in lake Calhun.
I didn't know it was illegal, but I doubt the addition of one more bass hurt the lake, I just couldn't eat him, though he was big enough for a good meal! haha

[fishdog]

I have had several native tanks (30 to 120 gal.)in the past 5 years or so.
These are my suggestions:

start with larger tanks, they are easyer to maintain because the water remains "good" longer.

dont over feed,(it hard not to feed them whenever a freind comes over and wants to see them eat.) This is my #1 rule of keeping the ammonia level low. Also remove dead stuff as soon as possible, and keep the feeder fish in a seprate tank.

keep a lid on your tank and, screen off any holes that are open enough for fish to jump through. some fish will open lid by jumping into it.Then is bye bye fishy

Use salt in all tanks (almost),canning salt or fish salt works well: this is for good health and keeping their electrolites up giving them energy. it also helps them fight diesese and helps them breath. :snails dont like salt or do invertabraies: I use 1 tbs per 5 gal and sometimes even more. (Ive never had any fish die of diesese yet)

always keep an eye on the ammonia level and remove the clorine (spelling error?) from the city tap water. let well water sit and desolve any "gasses" in the winter because cold water holds in some harmfull gases.12 to 24 hrs will do. (I never wait but have read this is can be fatal to fish and is important)

If using logs (not bought ones),put a few coats of clear poly urethane on them (Ive never had a prolblem yet) first boil log or bark, then air dry it, then brush on the poly-urathane (spelling error) wash log or let soak submerged in another tank a few days before putting with fish.

never use lead to hold down stuff in tank. (or your fish will be swimming sideways and will be upside down in no time.)

I like using plastic plants because they dont rott or plug up your filters.

lots of air helps the "good bacteria" grow.
I use porer heads with a sponge filter on the bottom of them.

use other "good water" from another tank of lake to help start a new tank (make sure this water has had air in the whole time transporting it) also there are several good bacteria's you can buy to start a new tank. this is important to keep water strong during the first month.

Never change all the water in your tank. less than 1/2 forsure. to maintain a goog bacteria in the tank.(remeber : salt dosent evaporate from water neither does pee or [PoorWordUsage]) add very little salt after first time.

use salt to scrub bad spots when cleaning the inside of tank. rinse with water.

dont mix natural fish with other types: those cichlides will peck the fins off most native fish until being eaten.

Good luck.
good luck.

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[can it be luck?]

I once had a freshwater crab. In about a 1/2 years time this thing got huge! I left for a week to fish Lac Seul, when I came back all that was left was an empty shell of the crab. I guess the fish picked him clean. I loved that crab, similar to the way others love thier lobsters. About a month later I was feeding my cursed crab eating fish, and to my surprise there was old Sandy Claws! (my crabs name). He had grown to big for his shell and molted. I guess he was hideing under something for that whole time until his shell hardened. I now had a new, improved, and bigger crab! I was so mad at first when I found him "dead" thinking the crab eating fish had killed him that I was going to empty the tank. I'm glad I didn't, with the molting process going on, I would've ended up with a "crushed-ation"

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http://groups.msn.com/canitbeluck

[Moose-Hunter]

Howdy All....

Update: 10-13-2003....

Both the 55 gallon and the 30 gallon are now stocked with as many fish as I feel "safe" with until the LARGE tank is ready....

55 gallon....
(2) Walleyes
(3) Crappies
(1) Bullhead

30 gallon....
(2) Largemouth Bass
(2) Bluegills
(1) Bullhead

Everyone is doing just fine. The Walleyes and Crappies (as well as the Bullheads) gobble up the small minnows without any reservations. The Bass too, but but only as a "treat" once a week. They, as well as the Bluegills, have a diet of bloodworms and beef heart. They don't seem to be as picky as the Craps and walleyes. I've tried waxworms without success on either tank. Also tried pellet food. No luck. Maybe after a small fasting period they may be more reseptive to other flavors.

Water chemistry is very stable on both tanks. Ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and pH all seem to be within tolerable levels for the fish. I've used live plants in both tanks and they are doing GREAT!! I've even had to start pruning them back. As long as it's real wet, I guess I have a green thumb after all. I may need to add an algea eater to each tank. Not a big problem yet, but it may "grow" into one. Can anyone recommend a fish that would fit the bill and either be native or appear like it is? Something other than a plecostomis. The tend to produce more waste than the amount of algea that they eat.

Gotts run. The dogs are saying it's time to hit the fields....

More to come. Stay tuned....

M-H (aka: Dan)

[Aquaman01]

Little update...
My kids wanted to bring home one of the river clams/mussels that we were using for cut-bait on the Missy. We did, and it's been a great move!

I have a substrate of washed play-sand and pea-gravel with larger fist-sized and smaller rocks for structure. I have been a little lax with my water changes and the tank had gotten...well...pretty nasty.

After 3 weeks of the Mighty Mollusk of the Missy being in there - the substrate is clean. I mean REALLY clean. There is still some debris in the corners where it can't reach, but the rest of the sand is free of decaying crud and fish [PoorWordUsage].

The cats are finally acclimated and swim around a lot. Dang - those are beautiful and graceful fish.

Rob

[Moose-Hunter]

Hi Rob...

River mussels, eh? Sounds like an idea... Although an invasive species, the Zebra mussels seem to be cleaning up their waters. Erie I think it was (?) Anyway, I may look into that a bit closer. Where would I get such a critter? Would I have to collect them myself?

My tanks are going pretty much as expected. The fish behave almost as if they were in "the wild". The walleyes and crappies get very active during the low light hours and stay pretty much concealed during the day. The bluegills seem to be active all the time, except when the night light comes on. Then they hover in the weeds. The bass are always prowling in the shadows waitng for the minnows from heaven. Then they turn into rockets.

Cats.... Hmmmmmmm....... Sounds like they're fun to watch. Maybe I should sell the 125 and go HUGE for the final tank and include a couple. I need a bit of a "constant activity creature" to round out the collection.

Dan

[MedicineMan]

I collect Mussel shells and there are certain laws that you might want to know about.....

No live mussels may be collected in Minnesota. If you pick up a live mussel, return it to the water immediately, being careful to place its foot end in the stream or lake bottom so about two-thirds of the shell is buried. Currently, with a fishing license, a person may posses up to 24 whole or 48 half shells of dead mussels. However, it is illegal to collect state listed species. Since many common species look like listed species, and even experts can confuse them, it is best to leave mussels where you find them.

[Aquaman01]

Oh my...I better read my regs. Thanks for the heads-up. I would never want to advocate breaking the law.
Thanks
Rob

[LocalGuide]

Hey moose-hunter hows your tank going?
Im thinking about starting up a 55 gallon one. Im wondering though, were did you get your little walleyes and crappies from?
I can get some little bullheads and sunfish from this creek were I get my creek chubs at, but I have yet to find any little walleyes.
I also saw that link on one of the previous posts, but paying $10 for a fish that maybe I could trap or get cheaper somewere else makes more sence in my mind.

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AKA PikeEye 300

[Aquaman01]

If you do not have a child under 16 in the house (and present when you transport the 'gamefish') it cannot be legally transported or kept in a home aquarium.

That's why buying one may be the ticket (or lack therof ).

There are less than 10 licensed dealers of native fish in the state. One is in Buffalo - Critter Country. Save your reciepts from your fish in case you ever have the law over. The gamefish also count towards your household's possession limit.

Man, I love watching the channel cats. The big one (12" or so) has become comfortable enough to eat live crappie minnows during daylight - but the little one (10") will only eat carrion at night. The rockbass will eat from my fingertips. They will eat carrion, too as long as it's on the fall - but I don't like a lot of that sitting in the tank overnight. Whe we had Asian ladybugs me & the kids tossed hundreds of them in there (and then de-parasited the water) and had a blast. The positive pest control felt good, too

Rob

Rob