Re: NANFA-- mummichogs in freshwater

Christopher Scharpf (ichthos_at_charm.net)
Thu, 21 Feb 2002 07:46:59 -0400

Bob Bock said:

> I'd recommend adding some rift lake salt to the water though--they
> won't do well at a low pH. Or maybe a half teaspoon per gallon of marine
> salt. (That will also harden your water and keep it at a high pH.

I agree with Bob. Years ago I rescued a bunch of bait mummichogs, which I
kept outdoors in an unfiltered, and leaking, 30-gallon aquarium. Since the
tank leaked, I had to add hose water to it everyday. The mummichogs
flourished, and the males developed the brightest blues and yellows I've
seen in any fish. The key here is that Baltimore city hose water -- pH 7.4
-- kept the water slightly hard and alkaline. Mummichog, which are
notoriously pollution tolerant, decline quickly in acidic water. So, keep
the pH up, and they should do fine in freshwater.

Chris Scharpf
Baltimore

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