Re: NANFA-- keeping pygmy sunnies alive?
R. W. Wolff (choupiqu_at_wctc.net)
Tue, 11 Feb 2003 12:39:09 -0600
My set ups are similar as well. 2.5 gallons for pairs, and tens for
colonies. All are gravel bottom ( dark brown to mimic natural conditions),
java moss, crypts, water sprite are favorite plants, foam filter to disturb
the surface more than anything. I age water in barrels and put a peat/oak
leaf tea ( looks more like strong coffee) in to darken the water. I feed
anything alive they will eat, and have had luck with acclimated fish taking
frozen foods of all kinds, especially if they recognize eating a live
version before. The easiest live food to culture for them is grindal and
white worms. This with baby brine, black worms, and seasonal things like
mosquito larvae and daphnia too. And snails! Ramshorns and some pond snails.
Water changes are important, and aged water may help. Another thing I did
this winter, more lazy than anything, is just left them in the ice cream
pails I harvested them from the tubs. In the pail is a ball of java moss. I
set it on the sill of my pond in the sunroom, and diffused light on the side
of the pail helps the moss grow great. The fish have not been fed , finding
enough to eat in the ball of moss that was in the tub pond all year outside
with them. I have had similar experiecnes with long lived elassoma. Getting
some adult everglades pymies years ago, one male lived three years after I
recieved him. To go out on a limb, I would say most of the elassoma would
live three years in captivity, possibly more - but not too much more.
Ray
> Jan writes -
>
> My setup for E. zonatum is almost identical - 5 gal tank, moss, sponge
> filter, frozen brine shrimp and frozen bloodworms, lots of snails.
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