Predator fish for classroom

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mriversinco

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 15, 2008
102
0
0
Caledonia, Michigan
Hi all,

I'm a 6th grade science teacher and I was wondering what options I'd have for fish in the classroom. I currently have a small tank with Guppies that have bred. The kids loved them so much that I'd like to get another tank with some type of predator fish in it.

I was given a 29 gallon tank to start with, and been offered a 125 from a parent. I have the 29 set up right now and am cycling it. I haven't kept fish since college (15 years ago), and used to have a pirahna and then a snakehead, but I see they're illegal now.

I'd like to get something that would show the kids the whole predator prey cycle. I'd feed the fish pellets or whatever, but would like to be able to throw a feeder in to show the students. I'd rather have something that would aggressively go get the fish and not use ambush techniques. I also need something that isn't shy because it'll have 60 kids walking by and watching at various times. The other thing is that I'd rather not have to set up the 125 until the summer, but I could earlier if I had to.

Lastly, this is a public school, so I'd be taking the tank down and bringing it home every summer so it would be nice to have something fairly hardy. I've been looking at some, and some Dovii, or buttikoferi, or datoids look good. The local pet store person said they have orange pike cichlids that would work fine.

Geez, basically I'm pretty confused so I'd like to see what all of you have in mind. I'd like to have 2 fish, but could be talked into more, or just 1.

Thanks
 
Oscars makes for a pretty good hunt since they'r not really good hunters, and tends to stay in front begging for food
 
One thing you might want to consider is having a second tank at your house that you can keep your fish in for the summer. Moving a tank that big and recycling it twice a year is going to be a chore.

If your school isn't too far you can just cut back to a twice a week feeding schedule - that's what I do.

Take a look at this thread, there are pictures of quite a few teachers' tanks.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=187951
 
some jack demseys would be good.the male and female stay together alot. the breed quite often. and they are aggesive so they would eat pellets or feeders. plus they are very colorfull when mature. they grow pretty fast too. so the 125 would be plenty room. or you could go with some oscars like mentioned above. thats pretty sweet that a parent would give you a 125g tank.
 
a single oscar in a 29 sounds good plus you could show the kids water changes and explain y theyre important........ and scare the crap out of em when the oscar hits a feeder after not being fed for the weekend
 
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