New to MFK and new to natives

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S

stockfool

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 29, 2012
60
0
6
East Tennessee
Hello guys,
I am a tropical veteran and fairly experienced with saltwater. I have several tanks ranging from 1100-55 gallons. I like planted tanks, but they are not acceptable for most of my current species. I typically keep discus, African cichlids (various), and lion fish.

I have browsed MFK for a while, but came on board to look for help and share my experiences with a new project I was drafted into. I am the manager (by default I think) of a few native species tanks for a school sponsored museum. We are currently keeping a muskie, three bluegill, two large mouth bass, and brown bullhead catfish in separate tanks. I am new to native tanks and look forward to learning from all of you and sharing my experiences.

On a more personal note I am a chemical engineer who changed careers to teach a pre-engineering program a few years ago. I propagate several carnivorous plants and orchids and am an avid fowl and small game hunter.
 
WELCOME! sounds like you're a perfect mfk candidate. ive got a a 3 inch largemouth and a 5 inch brown bullhead myself ive had since 3/4 inches. im no expert at all and my fish have been fine with my basic fishkeeping skills. i can tell you the largemouth is the meaner than an oscar and will bully anything i put in with him bigger or smaller, an the bullhead hides constantly coming out for a second to grab food and quickly returns to hiding. the bullhead was even going after the bass, overnight i would notice the bass' fins frayed, catching them in low ligt i watched the catfish chase and nip fins. they have both been eating hikari carnisticks and massivore pellets, took to them no problem after 2 days of having them, the bass will practically jump out of the water to grab them from my fingers.
 
Yes, I have found the bass to be very aggressive. I was surprised by how forward they are. Ours will follow your finger at the glass, like Lake Malawi cichlids commonly do, and bite your fingers if stuck in the tank. I was concerned that they would not adapt well, but so far so good. All the natives are much more resilient and much less shy than I expected. The Muskie is the major attraction for us and unfortunately the one I know the least about, but so far everything seems to be going well. All fish are eating and show no signs of stress or disease at this point.
 
Originally it was one 6” and one 8” bass in a 55 gallon tank with a Penguin 350 HOB. When they brought me in on the project I noticed that one bass had established dominance and divided the pair for fear of the second being bullied to death. Surprisingly it was the smaller one that was dominating and really giving the larger one a rough time. Now that they are in separate tanks both are doing well. I am currently gathering resources to go from HOB to canister filters (I was not on the original design). I hope to eventually be able to install sump systems on all tanks over 55 gallons, but it is one step at a time. The tanks are behind a wooden wall with only the front visible and the back blacked out. Ambient temp in the room is 68 degrees with no tank heater. PH is 7.4 and moderately soft water (I can’t remember the PPM now). Lighting is fairly dim coming from one 4’ T8 standard and the room is dark for effect. So far live food (local bait fish) has been used, but I am trying to get a frozen diet started from locally sourced minnows.
 
By the way the biology department has advised the museum curator that I am over filtering the tanks. I replied that in short of the fish being in a whirl pool, there was no such thing.:D Thoughts or suggestions welcome.
 
welcome to mfk............ have fun!
 
sounds great, u could put on a show for kids and feed in the most busy hours, ppl would like that.
 
welcome to mfk! i love keeping natives they are awesome your project sounds pretty cool it would be awesome to get a huge tank and have a community native if you have all aggresive big fish they should be okay together
 
Welcome to MFK :)

Natives are just like any other fish. They'll settle right in and learn to recognize the people that come around most often, especially those that feed them. :D

Even my sculpins and darters come up to me for food, and several will handfeed.

I don't currently feed any of my natives primarily live, just small bugs and worms as treats. They're all wildcaught, were started on frozen (other than one shadow bass who I started on live crawfish) and most will flake or pellets now. But they are much easier to get on prepared if you have a group of fish. Alone they're not triggered to get food before it's gone like in the presence of others, so they are more picky.
 
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