Sculpin Care? Please Help

[KenzieVu]

Hi, I caught 10 to 15 young sculpin at a lake yesterday (the biggest sculpin being about an inch long) and I was wondering the ideal conditions for them. I currently have them in a 10 to 15 gallon tank, with a filter, gravel/small rocks, with plants and decoration peices to hide in. They are in room temp. water(I was wondering if they need a chiller or something like that)
As they grow, I am planning on putting a few in my 40 gallon tank that houses 2 young bluegill and I know some people who would want the rest, so they all have homes as they grow. I have been feeding them freezed blood worms and most, if not all of the Sculpin have been eating the worms (if I get them to look alive.) I was also wondering what else they will eat without me having to make sure they all eat?

Thanks!

 

[Grinch]

Many freshwater sculpins are considered non-game species. You should check your state's laws regarding non-game fish as it may not be legal for you to catch/keep these fish even if you have a valid fishing license.

The next step is to identify the species. Some sculpins are considered endangered species on a local basis, so again, you should check on this for your locality.

Knowing the species will greatly help you determine how to care for these fish. In the absence of any additional information, try to mimic the water parameters where the fish were collected.... temperature (at the bottom, where most sculpins are found) and pH are probably the water parameters that you will want to match. Expect these fish to be more sensitive to pH swings and the N cycle (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate) issues. I would aggressively aerate the tank.

Sculpins often (but not always) eat benthic invertebrates. You might have luck feeding them live worms to start with and work toward pellet training.