Hey, I was just wondering how big do bowfins get/ water requirements/ tank size...feeding...all that jazz. Gimme the works.
how big do bowfins get?
- Thread starter pufferfish123
- Start date
Amia calva
Bowfin
Amia calva Linnaeus, 1766
Family: Amiidae (Bowfins) picture (Amcal_j0.jpg) by The Native Fish Conservancy
Order: Amiiformes (bowfins)
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
FishBase name: Bowfin
Max. size: 109 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 5723); max. published weight: 9,750 g (Ref. 4699); max. reported age: 12 years
Environment: demersal; freshwater
Climate: temperate; 15 ? 20°C; 47°N - 25°N
Importance: fisheries: of no interest; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years(K=0.14; tm=3-5; tmax=12; Fec=23,600)
Distribution: North America: St. Lawrence River, Lake Champlain drainage of Quebec and Vermont west across southern Ontario to the Mississippi drainage in Minnesota.
Morphology: Dorsal spines (total): 0 - 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 42 ? 53; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 9 ? 12; Vertebrae : 80 ? 90. Branchiostegal rays: 10-12. Body is long and robust. Head is conic, mouth large, with maxillary extending well past eye; jaws wit strong, conical teeth; anterior nostrils at base of short barbels. Dorsal fin origin at 1/3 of total length; anal fin origin at midpoint of dorsal base; pelvic fins inserted at midpoint of body. Pigmentation: Dark olive above combines with lighter color on sides to form reticulated pattern; venter cream or greenish; head yellow to brown with darker horizontal bars; lower fins vivid green; caudal light olive with irregular darker vertical bars. Adult males with prominent yellow to orange bordered black spot at upper caudal base, less intense or absent in females.
Biology: Found in swampy, vegetated lakes and rivers. Air-breather that can withstand high temperatures, which enables it to survive in stagnant areas; even known to aestivate; lethal temperature is 35.2C (Ref. 46234). A voracious and opportunist feeder, it subsists on fishes including other sport fishes, frogs, crayfish, insects, and shrimps. It uses scent as much as sight and captures food by means of gulping water. Males are always smaller than females which live longer. Apparently somewhat migratory during spawning season (Ref. 4639). Eggs are adhesive, attached to decaying vegetation and upright weeds (Ref. 4639). Larvae are found in nest, remaining attached to roots or lying on bottom until adhesive organ is absorbed, thereafter in tight "swarm" guarded by male parent outside nest (Ref. 4639). A 'living fossil' and lone survivor species of Family Amiidae.
Red List Status: Not in IUCN Red List (Ref. 53964)
Dangerous: harmless
Main Ref: Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr. 1991. (Ref. 5723)
Bowfin
AKA: Mudfish
Amia calva (Linnaeus, 1766)
Temperment Sociability Min. Tank Availability Area
Aggressive Solitary 150 gallons Common Bottom-Middle
Bowfins are ancient fish. Their skeleton is composed of bone and cartilage, yet they also have certain features that are more characteristic of modern bony fishes like concaved vertebrae, thin bony plates on the head, and a rounded tail. The body color is almost like that of an Anaconda snake, with blotches of various shades of brown. The fins are olive green and the belly is a creamy color.
In captivity the Bowfin requires a large tank with a good filtration system to keep the water clean, just like their natural environment. When oxygen levels become low, the fish uses its swim bladder as an accessory breathing organ. However, if the Bowfin is kept in normal aquarium temperatures, the oxygen level can become too thin for it to handle, so some sort of extra aeration must be provided from a spray bar, powerhead, or similar device. If the temperature becomes too low, the fish will become less active and its growth will be stunted. Bowfins can be kept in outdoor pools so long as the water doesn't freeze solid to the ground in the winter.
Bowfins can become quite tame and, with patience, can be encouraged to take food from the your hand. They readily accept a large variety of meaty foods, although they may need to become accustomed to prepared foods, as they prefer live foods.
As previously stated, the Bowfin must be kept in well-aerated, clean water. The pH should be neutral or slightly on the acidic side; between 6.6-7.2.
Bowfin
Amia calva Linnaeus, 1766
Family: Amiidae (Bowfins) picture (Amcal_j0.jpg) by The Native Fish Conservancy
Order: Amiiformes (bowfins)
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
FishBase name: Bowfin
Max. size: 109 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 5723); max. published weight: 9,750 g (Ref. 4699); max. reported age: 12 years
Environment: demersal; freshwater
Climate: temperate; 15 ? 20°C; 47°N - 25°N
Importance: fisheries: of no interest; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years(K=0.14; tm=3-5; tmax=12; Fec=23,600)
Distribution: North America: St. Lawrence River, Lake Champlain drainage of Quebec and Vermont west across southern Ontario to the Mississippi drainage in Minnesota.
Morphology: Dorsal spines (total): 0 - 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 42 ? 53; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 9 ? 12; Vertebrae : 80 ? 90. Branchiostegal rays: 10-12. Body is long and robust. Head is conic, mouth large, with maxillary extending well past eye; jaws wit strong, conical teeth; anterior nostrils at base of short barbels. Dorsal fin origin at 1/3 of total length; anal fin origin at midpoint of dorsal base; pelvic fins inserted at midpoint of body. Pigmentation: Dark olive above combines with lighter color on sides to form reticulated pattern; venter cream or greenish; head yellow to brown with darker horizontal bars; lower fins vivid green; caudal light olive with irregular darker vertical bars. Adult males with prominent yellow to orange bordered black spot at upper caudal base, less intense or absent in females.
Biology: Found in swampy, vegetated lakes and rivers. Air-breather that can withstand high temperatures, which enables it to survive in stagnant areas; even known to aestivate; lethal temperature is 35.2C (Ref. 46234). A voracious and opportunist feeder, it subsists on fishes including other sport fishes, frogs, crayfish, insects, and shrimps. It uses scent as much as sight and captures food by means of gulping water. Males are always smaller than females which live longer. Apparently somewhat migratory during spawning season (Ref. 4639). Eggs are adhesive, attached to decaying vegetation and upright weeds (Ref. 4639). Larvae are found in nest, remaining attached to roots or lying on bottom until adhesive organ is absorbed, thereafter in tight "swarm" guarded by male parent outside nest (Ref. 4639). A 'living fossil' and lone survivor species of Family Amiidae.
Red List Status: Not in IUCN Red List (Ref. 53964)
Dangerous: harmless
Main Ref: Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr. 1991. (Ref. 5723)
Bowfin
AKA: Mudfish
Amia calva (Linnaeus, 1766)
Temperment Sociability Min. Tank Availability Area
Aggressive Solitary 150 gallons Common Bottom-Middle
Bowfins are ancient fish. Their skeleton is composed of bone and cartilage, yet they also have certain features that are more characteristic of modern bony fishes like concaved vertebrae, thin bony plates on the head, and a rounded tail. The body color is almost like that of an Anaconda snake, with blotches of various shades of brown. The fins are olive green and the belly is a creamy color.
In captivity the Bowfin requires a large tank with a good filtration system to keep the water clean, just like their natural environment. When oxygen levels become low, the fish uses its swim bladder as an accessory breathing organ. However, if the Bowfin is kept in normal aquarium temperatures, the oxygen level can become too thin for it to handle, so some sort of extra aeration must be provided from a spray bar, powerhead, or similar device. If the temperature becomes too low, the fish will become less active and its growth will be stunted. Bowfins can be kept in outdoor pools so long as the water doesn't freeze solid to the ground in the winter.
Bowfins can become quite tame and, with patience, can be encouraged to take food from the your hand. They readily accept a large variety of meaty foods, although they may need to become accustomed to prepared foods, as they prefer live foods.
As previously stated, the Bowfin must be kept in well-aerated, clean water. The pH should be neutral or slightly on the acidic side; between 6.6-7.2.
About this big,
actually a bit bigger than this but this one was 16lb 8oz and holds the stare record for Virginia.
Pictures always mean more to me than written numbers.
actually a bit bigger than this but this one was 16lb 8oz and holds the stare record for Virginia.
Pictures always mean more to me than written numbers.
Looks alot like a snakehead, acts like a snakehead, bites like a snakehead, not related to them at all.