natives for a 10 gallon aquarium

[gar man]

I have a 10 gallon aquarium that is room tempature,internal filter, and 2 large (5 and 6") red crayfish i got at the store but they will be going out into my 300 gallon pond when it gets set up this weekend. anyway im going to make it a native tank (as well as my 20 gallon long tank but thats another thread ) im just a little curious on what to put in it. I live in Council Bluffs,Iowa(southwest corner). I would preferably catch the fish in the wild and not order anything. I like to catch my natives. Here is what i have at my disposal: Cast net, minnow seine, minnow/crayfish trap, and fishing poles with tiny,tiny hooks. I will want crayfish and fish if possible. Any suggestions?

 

[gar man]

Oh and also i would like the fish to be able to live in the tank for life.

 

[Noto]

Crayfish and fish= not possible. Pick one or the other.

There are several small attractive darter species in Iowa. Most will be in small streams, but at least one (Iowa darter) can be found in ponds and slack water areas. Tadpole madtoms, banded killifish, smaller shiner species, and southern red-bellied dace are other good options.

Take a seine or dipnet to a small stream, photograph and release your catches, then put up your pics here for ID. We can give you advice on which species are suitable for your tank, so you'll know what to look for next time.

 

[sandtiger]

Here is a link with information regarding the fishes in Iowa.
http://www.iowadnr.gov/fish/iafish/iafish.html

This link has a clickable map that you can use to find whatever watershed you collect in and get a list of the fish found there.
http://www.natureserve.org/getData/dataSets/watershedHucs/master.htm

For a 10g I would look into your state's killifish, madtom and darter species.

 

[gar man]

i think ill go with fish. and im going to start looking around for a small stream. would i be able to put a creek chub in it?

 

[gt1009]

I would say no to the creek chub. They grow close to a foot in length and would not do well in a ten gallon tank.

 

[WattaMelon]

I'd say no on the creek chub. They can get around 10 inches in length.

I'd put in some top minnows, maybe a darter or two. Pygmy sunnies or smaller sunnies.

 

[Louie]

Pretty sure Iowa has swamp darters.
They are very easy to care for . Imagine easiest darter there is as far as temp goes but like all darters require live food .

They arent colorful but they develop "speckled" pattern. They stay about 2 inches . 3 would do well in a 10 gallon.

I have 2 with brown darters in a 30 long and they thrive but never mated .

 

[Noto]

There are no swamp darters, pygmy sunfish, or small sunfish in Iowa.

 

[gar man]

would redhorses work in a 10? theres a dam i go to and fish and when i dipnet out some small bullhead i get some every now and then. along with some other unidentified shiners and minnows. last year i caught a channel catfish that was 1/4" long!!! i put in a 10 gallon growout by itself but it smal into the large pea gravel and got stuck and died their i wish the little guy lived