55g stocking options

[firefly1152]

I currently have 4 baitshop minnows (I want to say they're 3 bluntnose and 1 emerald shiner) and 3 central mudminnows. I kinda want to get a smaller type of sunfish, but I'm not sure which one or how many. Or even if they would be good in this setup.

Any other cold water natives are an option, too. Bonus points if they eat Malaysian trumpet snails. The tank looks pretty boring right now. It desperately needs to be planted, but I've been putting it off until I can get a new light. Hopefully this weekend.

 

[Bigfishnut]

I'd avoid sunfish...they are way too aggressive. My 55g native tank currently has: 4 central mudminnows, 8 rainbow darters, 1 banded darter, 3 brook sticklebacks, 2 redside dace, and a small creek chub. The creek chub will get re-homed soon. They grow way too fast and eat like pigs! These fish have lived together since June2016 and no problems whatsoever. All wild caught, collected myself. Will probably add a few this spring. If I can dig up a decent pic I'll post it.

 

[Bigfishnut]

 

[Bigfishnut]

By the way, darters are snail killers too!

 

[firefly1152]

I have a 120 with greens and yes they're aggressive! I've learned to hold my hand out of reach during feeding time, otherwise I get bit.

For the 55, I was looking at elassoma okefenokee or evergladi. Would those still be aggressive? I have two fish stores on the lookout for them. If they won't work in the 55, I have another tank for them.

Your darters are very interesting. I was thinking about those too. I heard they were kinda fragile. Do you have any issue with that?

I had one red belly dace and it was from a bait shop. It died in quarantine... I can't find any right now, but I would like to add them.

I redid my tank with plants and new sand. I scooped out all the old sand and hopefully all the trumpet snails. I added about 44lbs of ace hardware pool filter sand and some plants and got a high output light. It still looks bare, but there's temple compactas, so I can make a forest when I trim them back.

 

[Bigfishnut]

I've never kept sny of the pygmy sunfish, tho I plan to at some point. Can't really give you first hand advice on them. Green sunfish are probably the most aggressive fish I've ever kept!! And I've kept a lot of aggressive fish!!

Rainbow darters are very hardy fish and really easy to keep. They will learn to eat almost anything you give them, but it takes time and patience. Mine even eat flake. It may help that they are wild caught. I think wc fish are much more hardy and healthy. They are super friendly and curious also, being the first to rush to the front glass to greet you. Great little fish!

Red belly dace are extremely sensitive and need highly oxygenated water. Redside dace on the other hand are much easier to keep and adapt to aquarium life very quickly. Blacknose dace are good ones to. Only the males get red sides tho, redside dace both sexes are colorful. It's unfortunate that where you live you can't collect your own wild fish, here in Pennsylvania it's the part of the hobby I enjoy the most!

 

[firefly1152]

I can collect to a certain point. Bait fish any native crayfish, from what I understand. My grandma lives near a pond and that's where I caught my cmm. All my other natives are from the baitshop and petco feeder tanks.

But let's say I wanted a yellow perch. I can't keep any that I catch as pets. I have to buy from a store or fishfarm. That's how the Dnr guy explained it.

Natives are so cool, though. I like them better that tropical fish. I'll check out the red side dace and I definitely want a rainbow darter.

I'm still unhappy with the tank look. I'm wondering if I should add a slate rock pile.

 

[Bigfishnut]

Darters do best in groups...and they are considered baifish under WI law. Sticklebacks are really great too. I'd have to check my books to see what species are native to your area. I'm fortunate to live in NW Pennsylvania, we have a lot of colorful and interesting species of fish to chose from. I spend a lot of time collecting plants and fish locally. I operate an oil lease and when I'm pumping oil I go down the hill and collect fish out of the creek and the little streams that feed it. Darters are a serious challenge to catch when your lucky enough to find where they are. They don't really swim away, but getting them into the net can be frustrating! I recommend starting a daphnia culture for helping getting them eating. Also, set a 5 gallon bucket outside to get mosquito larvae. This will get you thru the summer and by winter you should have them eating what ever you give them.

 

[Bigfishnut]

If you can find enough driftwood to fill in your tank some, it will help till the plants grow in. Hornwort is a fast grower, but too much light makes algae drow on it and kill it. Also try elodea

 

[firefly1152]

I want to see what I can catch in the pond. I always thought there were no fish in there. I went fishing a few times and never caught anything.

Then last October, I got an idea to drop a minnow trap in there. I got cmm and crayfish. I'm just waiting for it to warm up a little before I start fishing again.