I saw a small one for sale at a lfs quite a bit far. First time I've been there and first time I have seen one. I know some get big. Are they cold water and how are they compatability wise?
Siren in aquaria?
- Thread starter Jox
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Yes, the siren (Siren lacertina) grows big at about 38" max. Yes, they prefer cool slow moving water. And, yes, they'll eat any fish put in with them. They feed primarily on insect larvae but, will also eat crayfish, snails, amphibian/fish eggs, amphibians (including young of their own kind), and fish. Sirens hunt by scent which makes aquarium care very difficult. In a small vessel (aquarium) the odor from foods will permeate the entire water column which makes the food extremely difficult for a siren to zero in on.
It's a salamander! That's what I was guessing, though didn't know about the smell thing. It might be a lesser Siren. Would be neat to have an amphibian coexisting with your fish (African Dwarf Frogs could but in my tank they would get eaten, they are in something else for now). Maybe good for a pond Critter.
I wonder if Oddball has ever even kept a siren....My mom had a greater siren (S. lacertina) for eight or nine years so I've learned a thing or two about them. First, you can keep them with larger fish; John lived with some five- and six-inch goldfish but I'd be careful with anything less than two inches long.
Second, feeding them is not hard. John never had any trouble finding his food, which was mostly various kinds of cichlid, goldfish, and reptile pellets as well as spirulina wafers, with occasional worms and live algea thrown in. Don't worry about a siren not being able to find its food.
Third, as with any amphibian, they prefer cooler water, but seeing as you can catch these things in roadside ditches in lower South Carolina, warm water is not going to kill them.
Second, feeding them is not hard. John never had any trouble finding his food, which was mostly various kinds of cichlid, goldfish, and reptile pellets as well as spirulina wafers, with occasional worms and live algea thrown in. Don't worry about a siren not being able to find its food.
Third, as with any amphibian, they prefer cooler water, but seeing as you can catch these things in roadside ditches in lower South Carolina, warm water is not going to kill them.
Yes, I have kept them. And, like any animal, individual personalities differ. I had a trio (male/2 female) that considered anything going into their tank as food. Including fish larger than 2" (my sirens were 28-30") and smaller individuals of their own species. They had trouble finding food in their 110 gallon. Oh, they'd chance on it eventually but, there was never any head-on charge or appearance of recognition when food was put into the tank. It looked more like an easter egg hunt when they fed.
Also, note that I posted "they prefer cooler water". I'm sure they can survive for a time in an 85 degree roadside ditch. Heck, I work in conditions where the temp can be over 140 degrees. It's not going to kill me either but, It doesn't mean I enjoy or prefer it.
You might want to do some actual research on the animals you keep. That's how I found out about the "hunt by smell" characteristic. When a large number of different care sheets or university studies note an identical trait in their write ups, I tend to side with their research and experience when I decide to set up a new system for that species.
Also, note that I posted "they prefer cooler water". I'm sure they can survive for a time in an 85 degree roadside ditch. Heck, I work in conditions where the temp can be over 140 degrees. It's not going to kill me either but, It doesn't mean I enjoy or prefer it.
You might want to do some actual research on the animals you keep. That's how I found out about the "hunt by smell" characteristic. When a large number of different care sheets or university studies note an identical trait in their write ups, I tend to side with their research and experience when I decide to set up a new system for that species.
