Tiny SAL

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MonsterMinis

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 28, 2009
6,048
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Wisconsin
So the lfs got in some sals.. I am not kidding are about 1" and 1/2 again as thin as a soda straw or more... they look like red worms... How hard are they to keep at that size? I almost got one but they just looked so fragile ( there was already 1 dead one in the tank) If I decided to get one what type of set-up would I need to go with? I've been lookign fro a SAL for monthes now.. Just wondering if this is worth it.
 
They are pretty fragile at that size, so you'll have to take extra good care of it if you get one; if the price is right, then it might be worth trying to grow one out..

Set it up in a 10 gallon with maybe 6" of water or so with a sand substrate and give it a bunch of floating plants that it can use to rest on at or near the surface. It can drown, so the low water level and plants are very important. Make sure that it can't rest on the heater in order to prevent burns; avoid having too much current as well. Feed it as you would an adult SAL and give it pellets (crushed), algae wafers (crushed), shrimp, fish, and so on; it might also take bloodworms and other small worms.
 
Thanks Ryan.. we're suppose to finalize our new tank there in the next few days.. so I'll see if they have any left by then. I'm thinking I have a small goldfish like bowl that would work good on my bedside table.. change out 50% water daily and he'd be good? and I have tons of free floating plants from another tank I could use. I was thinking thats along the lines of what he'd need. How warm does he need?
 
Thanks Ryan.. we're suppose to finalize our new tank there in the next few days.. so I'll see if they have any left by then. I'm thinking I have a small goldfish like bowl that would work good on my bedside table.. change out 50% water daily and he'd be good? and I have tons of free floating plants from another tank I could use. I was thinking thats along the lines of what he'd need. How warm does he need?

That should work pretty well for a little bit. It will need to be kept around 78°F.
 
If I pick one up I will... at first I thought they where strings of poop!
 
Sounds very cool , one of my SAL was about 4 inches and thin as a pencil when I bought it 1.5 years ago. I kept mine for months in a critter keeper with a few inches of water , bare bottom and a few plant stems. I changed the water out every time I fed it since there was no filteration. I personaly did not feel comfortable in putting it in a small aquarium with running filter, I felt with the lack of size and strength, it was too fragile. I like to take that extra step and making sure the fish is eating , gaining weight , no stress from too much current ,etc which is another reason I kept mine in a critter keeper. At 1 1/2 or 2 inches , I can only imagine they are about as strong as European Nightcrawlers so I would go with the 2-5 gallon container/tank route with no current. Perhaps I'm way too careful and I'm sure there are other ways to baby/juvie lungfish husbandry but it's always worked for me. Good luck and please show pictures. I would imagine these still have gills and maybe look Axolotlish ...
 
They had 1 left and he didn't look good.. So I'll see if they get anymore in the next week or 2. Must be that time of year?
 
Monster, I got one, grew it out to 8 inches, put out in my ray rank, which has other fish to, it was murdered in a day. Don't plan on it going in three big tank until its huge.

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