I keep all of my pygmies in 2-5 gal tanks with no filtration. I have them
all heavily planted with either java moss or hornwort. Some of the tanks
are so thick that I rarely see the fish. I have had luck feeding frozen
bloodworms, but only if the fish can see the food as it is released into the
water. If it becomes stationary before they get a chance to see it move,
they'll usually ignore it. I feed blackworms primarily, and supplement with
mosquito larvae and daphnia in the summer months. I used to use sponge
filters for filtration but decided they were needed elsewhere, and the fish
have not suffered any for their removal. I keep them by themselves, mostly
because I am interested in getting them to breed. Most other fish would
relish a quick snack of Elassoma fry. I do have my E. zonatum with some
very small black banded sunfish and some Savannah darters. You just have to
be sure to provide plenty of vegetation for them to hide out in. I have
kept them in the past with Heterandria, though I never saw any fry while
they were there. Another good idea to keep in the pygmy tanks are snails.
The adults and the fry pick at the baby snails and eggs.
----Original Message Follows----
From: Prizma_at_aol.com
Reply-To: nanfa_at_aquaria.net
To: nanfa_at_aquaria.net
Subject: NANFA-- keeping pygmy sunnies alive?
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 11:12:03 EST
what is the best and most simple way to keep pygmy sunnies alive and
productive?
live food only? can they be converted to frozen or dried?
power filtration or...
i would think a heavily vegetated tank w/ no or very minimal flow. using
plants for comfort and filtration.
tank mates... or loners.
ive read quite a bit on them in several books but im interested in some
actual long term experiences.
one thing of real interest is the 1 gallon pickle jar desk top aquarium.
ive returned w/ some very nice banded pygmy sunfish from se arkansas. ive
spread them to 3 tanks... but im mostly worried about feedings. i just
ordered some live glass worms from ray k.
casper
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/"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily
/ reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
/ Association"
/ This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association
/ nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word
/ subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to
/ nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to
/ nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead.
/ For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org
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