"I got a bunch of creepy, crawly, little bug looking things, I'm not even going to put my hand in and pick up." LOL, good call and I'm with ya on that choice. Really want to do this when the water unhardens in the Spring!
I used to bring these back home after camping trips in Oklahoma and put them in my aquarium. I never had them for long before my friends talked me into selling them. 😁 They change color according to the water and mood. I would bring the water from Sulphur back home too.
I like your technique on catching them. Ive been looking for some darters for my native tank too...and as a kid id catch them just by flipping rocks and grabbing by hand. Well im too old and slow to do that now days so havent had any luck. Going out to try your method tomorrow!
Super fun creek tomorrow Dan....hopefully if there are new folks in the menacing gate house they will be cool with you continuing your adventures there👍👍
Took the kids to the river yesterday And there were Sculpins everywhere So we caught some I put the smallest one in my 55g Seems to like it 🤷 hope he survives 👍
This is amazing. Just got a pair of Rainbow Darters. Had I known it was literally this easy . . . probably would have gone down the street and gotten them in our waterways!
@@KevenGraves Rainbow Darters are doing fine. Putting on weight and size. I'm getting another pair so that the males will display. I'm also ordering two pairs of Etheostoma zonale - Banded Darters. Really nice Green striped darters.
it's funny I am emotionally attached to those sculpin. i guess it's because they're not here where i live . so they seem rare and to be protected , but now i see they are prolific where you live . i would love to get 5 to 10 of them! i feel pretty much the same way you about the naturalness of the tank though . you should put some ghost shrimp in this tank , they too are native to the U.S. you inspire me Dan ! i've got an empty 75 i'm going to set up like this.
I hope there are no state- or federally-protected darters or sculpins where you collected. FYI for those watching: harvesting fish without knowing the species can lead to accidentally taking fish that are illegal to harvest.
Absolutely! I love the concept of catching fish for a native tank but it's irresponsible (and possibly illegal - depends on which you're more concerned about) to do so without being able to ID or even attempting to ID the species before you take them home.
I just got farm-raised juvenile rainbow darters (about 2" long). My research says to feed them freeze-dried bloodworms, but I'm not convinced that is the best choice. Any suggestions you can give would be great! Thank you!
Do you ever get worried about those little insects or Worms that are under they rocks or any parasites that might get inside you, because I do I can’t stand seeing those little weird creatures I get scared😂
Some of em do have a creepy look to them! I can understand the discomfort. I like them anyways tho. Bugs and stuff are a good sign of a healthy ecosystem, especially mayfly larvae! In terms of accidentally bringing any of those critters home, I'd just scoop the fish out careful and do a proactive parasite treatment. I would do that anyways to avoid potential internal parasites too.
