Looking for another native, suggestions?!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Racersk

Racersk

Piranha
MFK Member
Apr 22, 2010
1,153
42
81
Covington
I have a 90g native tank that in the morning when I look in, it first normally appears empty. I am looking for another fish or possibly some dithers that won't get eaten... Current list.

Bowfin ~9"
Green Sunfish ~5"
blue Gourami ~5" (will be moving to a warmer tank this weekend)
highfin Pleco ~8" (I know-not a native, but I needed a bottom cleaner while attempting to pellet train the bowfin)

Besides the 2 obvious non natives that are/will be moving, what are some options for natives that-

a-won't get eaten by the bowfin
b-won't get completely bullied by the sunfish
c-will poke around the bottom for food


I was thinking a bullhead, but anything that is big enough to fit a) and b) will also get ginormous! Madtoms seam close, but I already tried to keep my dojo loaches in with the other cold water fish and I started to see fin damage on them-same with my 5" shubunkin. (believed to be caused by the green sunfish)

My other thought while searching aquaculturestore.com was a lake chubsucker, but I know nothing about them-except that the dig in the substrate looking for food-meeting criteria c). Another thought was getting a schooling fish, like the rainbow shiner. Like 5 or 6 of them, dithers are great to distribute aggressions of other (sun)fish. If they are big enough, my bowfin won't be able to catch them, he has a difficult enough time getting any feeder goldfish treats unless the lights are out.

Any thought about these fish or any other ideas would be great. Eventually I want to get(or make) a 180+ and get only natives, warm water fish in the garage during the winter time gets expensive, plus I can't see them when I put up insulation to help stabilize the temps...:irked:

:popcorn:
 
suckers or chubs maybe? they both get prety big and eat off the bottom. the rainbow shiners look realy cool and ive seen some massive shinners... they should work
 
Go down to a local bait shop and get some minnows to put in it. Mine were actually spotfin shiners and love watching them school around. They are too big for my bluegill eat right now. I would also quarantine them before adding.

A few crappie may also be an idea.
 
I say more green sunfish, get 'em breedin' this summer...if they all don't get eated by the bowfin (I just saw a bowfin the other day, gorgeous fish).
 
Won't shinners and minnows become food for my bowfin? Or will they be at the 'right size' or just too quick to stay off the menu? Any species suggestions that I can research?

Crappie are sunfish, right? My quick google search didn't mention how big they get...Anyone have these in with mean 'greens'? Having beat up fish never looks good. ;)

Also, "suckers" seems like a broad group of fish, not a specific species...I am really trying to research this to make a good choice. ;)

BTW anyone wanna trade a pleco (or 2) for a native(s)? I also have an albino chocolate that I really should rehome too.
 
Racersk;4763311;4763311 said:
Won't shinners and minnows become food for my bowfin? Or will they be at the 'right size' or just too quick to stay off the menu? Any species suggestions that I can research?

Crappie are sunfish, right? My quick google search didn't mention how big they get...Anyone have these in with mean 'greens'? Having beat up fish never looks good. ;)

Also, "suckers" seems like a broad group of fish, not a specific species...I am really trying to research this to make a good choice. ;)

BTW anyone wanna trade a pleco (or 2) for a native(s)? I also have an albino chocolate that I really should rehome too.
Click to expand...
Darters, Shiners and minnows will all end up being snacks for the Bowfin.....as will the Green Sunfish later on; Fisher is totally correct, you will need at least a 180g later on and then the Bowfins tankmates should be limited to large hardy NA natives (Catfish, Bass, Drum,Gar etc).
 
I dunno, unless there is a complete 180 in my bowfins attitude, I just don't see the aggression towards the bigger sunfish species, right now my sunfish bullies my bowfin. The sunfish stays on his side of the tank and the bowfin stays on the other, the 2 only cross when pellets enter the tank, then the sunfish comes over to eat-then goes back to his side...Maybe a nip or 2 on/at the bowfin before he goes back... The bowfin doesn't even give the gourami a second look at the moment btw and it stays on the same side as the bowfin(away from the sunfish..).

It has been this way since I first got them about the same time 6 moths ago...I'm sure that I will need a bigger tank, just not immediately due to the current size and growth rate of both fish. I am actively searching for a bigger tank right now, and if when the time comes and I still haven't found one, I will be building a plywood tank this summer.

Thanks all for your inputs, I am listening and learning.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom