Finally think ive got some baby bowfin. Ive got a few Questions.

[crappiekeeper]

After months of researching and fishing, Someone has told me and even sent pictures of a place near me with small bowfin. The only problem is that they are much smaller than I wanted. Because of this, I cant put them in my 60 gallon or pond because they would be eaten. Do yall think that three or four 2-3" bowfin could live in a 20 gallon long for about a month and a half? It would be temporary until im done building my second pond. A 20 gallon long would be about as much as I could afford right now and still be able to get a nice filter for the tank( im assuming they are messy). Also, how often should I feed them? I am planning on feeding them bits of worms and guppys once a day. Is that to much or too little? Another thing is that I plan on having the tank planted with brazillian elodia, which is alot like hydrilla. If yall could answer these questions and/or give me some tips It would be much appreatiated.

 

[screaminleeman]

I have raised even much smaller baby bowfins in uber cheap Walmart plastic bins.

The can breath air. Leave a small space on the surface for the bowfins to breath air if they desire.

A pre-seeded sponge filter works like a charm. Drill small hole(s) right beneath the handle(s) to run the air hose line(s) through. This will allow for the lid to be closed completely. Heat is not required if the bins are inside a temperature controlled room. If you want heat, the cord can fit under the lid and still allow it to close.

Tiny cut tillapia chunks (~ 2mm) are taken voraciously by baby bowfin. You Bowfins will outgrow your Redfin Pickerel in the 60 within the year.

I am not necessarily suggesting the even when the Bowfin is of equal size to the Pickerel in a few months that the combination would work.

 

[crappiekeeper]

Thanks for the tips! They will be in a pond I'm building.

 

[crappiekeeper]

I picked up my aquarium yesterday and am leaving today to try and get them. After I got the tank I face palmed and realized I completely forgot about cycling the tank. I just put water from my pond in the tank, added some elodia and duckweed, and put some minnows and a blue spotted sunfish in. Do y'all think they will do in the tank.? The blue spot and minnows are fine. My tank
looks awesome though. It looks like a swamp because the lighting is very dim and you can see the duckweed roots coming down. It looks soooo cool. Any other tips?