I can honestly say I am constantly learning from The Crud Tank. I am learning about aquascaping, biotopes, co-existence of various species, algae, lighting, recording videos, photography, the discrimination against natives and lots of patience.
I am still learning about the life cycle of algae, how to grow it, control it and let it choose where it wants to grow on the wood.
I saw some older pictures of my smaller bluegills, green sunfish and catfish and every fish has grown and dramatically changed in personality. I have watched bosses lose and sometimes regain power.
Both the fish and I have both learned this rule: Just because you caught the food first and have it in your mouth doesn't mean you keep it. The fish that wants the food that's hanging out of the mouth of another, will simply go mouth to mouth and whoever can hold on gets the food.
Big Blue is the second largest bluegill, it's docile except at feeding time. During this time, it will aggressively defend and area about 15 inches wide and high. It will not allow any fish(except the catfish) to enter this area to feed. Yes, Big Blue loses meals to chasing a fish, while another fish comes from behind and eats it.
I have another favorite, it is the largest bluegill. In less than 2 weeks after catching this fish, it has trained me to feed it in the upper right hand corner. It waits quietly, waiting for me to drop in food.
The green sunfishes are all a riot. One constantly tries to hold on to it's boss title. It is only boss to the smaller group. Pipsqueak is the smallest but is growing rapidly and by far the most colorful and unique. The first week, Pipsqueak was scared to take food around the others because it knew they would rush in and snatch it too. So it would wait until the others were feeding somewhere else or too full and then take the food. Now, he is the very first one to eat.
The fastest strikers goes to the warmouths. The largest bluegill that waits for me to drop food, has to do this: I have to wait until the bluegill looks up and has it's mouth pointed to the top of the water, then I can drop it in. If the fish does not have it's mouth up and is looking straight, the warmouths come and snatch and swallow the food before the bluegill can open it's mouth 2mm
. I mean the warmouths will be six inches away and still snatch the bluegills food. The speed and strike quickness is even faster than the green sunfish.
The catfish is truly the BOSS of the tank and fish. When this fish swims all the fish move that are in the way. When it's feeing time they know to swim fast before the cat reaches them and some will even drop the food.
Look at the Boss green sunfish in this video around 1:22 drop the worm when the cat swims toward it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCF77fJ4j70
I don't think I will ever look at Natives in lakes, ponds, etc... the same ever again.
I am still learning about the life cycle of algae, how to grow it, control it and let it choose where it wants to grow on the wood.
I saw some older pictures of my smaller bluegills, green sunfish and catfish and every fish has grown and dramatically changed in personality. I have watched bosses lose and sometimes regain power.
Both the fish and I have both learned this rule: Just because you caught the food first and have it in your mouth doesn't mean you keep it. The fish that wants the food that's hanging out of the mouth of another, will simply go mouth to mouth and whoever can hold on gets the food.
Big Blue is the second largest bluegill, it's docile except at feeding time. During this time, it will aggressively defend and area about 15 inches wide and high. It will not allow any fish(except the catfish) to enter this area to feed. Yes, Big Blue loses meals to chasing a fish, while another fish comes from behind and eats it.
I have another favorite, it is the largest bluegill. In less than 2 weeks after catching this fish, it has trained me to feed it in the upper right hand corner. It waits quietly, waiting for me to drop in food.
The green sunfishes are all a riot. One constantly tries to hold on to it's boss title. It is only boss to the smaller group. Pipsqueak is the smallest but is growing rapidly and by far the most colorful and unique. The first week, Pipsqueak was scared to take food around the others because it knew they would rush in and snatch it too. So it would wait until the others were feeding somewhere else or too full and then take the food. Now, he is the very first one to eat.
The fastest strikers goes to the warmouths. The largest bluegill that waits for me to drop food, has to do this: I have to wait until the bluegill looks up and has it's mouth pointed to the top of the water, then I can drop it in. If the fish does not have it's mouth up and is looking straight, the warmouths come and snatch and swallow the food before the bluegill can open it's mouth 2mm
. I mean the warmouths will be six inches away and still snatch the bluegills food. The speed and strike quickness is even faster than the green sunfish. The catfish is truly the BOSS of the tank and fish. When this fish swims all the fish move that are in the way. When it's feeing time they know to swim fast before the cat reaches them and some will even drop the food.
Look at the Boss green sunfish in this video around 1:22 drop the worm when the cat swims toward it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCF77fJ4j70
I don't think I will ever look at Natives in lakes, ponds, etc... the same ever again.
