Stickleback

[KevinM]

hi, im just wondering if i can keep stickleback in a fairly large tank. i was thinking of using plants from where id get the fish (a public park) and gravel and river water....if this is can be done would it be wise? if not i wont do it....but thought it would be an enjoyable, and what would i feed them?

cheers,

 

[Matthew5664]

As a child I would always net a cople of sticklebacks in the streem by my house and keep them in a large ice cream tub! As i grew up I realised that this was kinda crule and the grasshoppers I kept in my aquarium came out and the sticklebacks went in! all I had was rocks and stone from the river including lots of moss looking stuff and water from the garden pond! they kept for a while. feed them something my dads friend gave prop brine shrimp or something.

So I would go with a yes to keeping them

Yes use the plants

Go with tap water (use declor. in it)

Try feed them everything untill you finds something that works

(Min 100l size for about 5 or 6 and as always over filter)

(could use streem water to cycle the filter if new?)

 

[KevinM]

thanks, ill be out next week, getting them...but im only going to get 2 or 3 with some other river fish, Can i really use dechlorinted water? this will be quite different from river water, will it harm them? now i have a cold water fish tank, tropical tank, and river fish tank.
B)

 

[Fella]

thanks, ill be out next week, getting them...but im only going to get 2 or 3 with some other river fish, Can i really use dechlorinted water? this will be quite different from river water, will it harm them? now i have a cold water fish tank, tropical tank, and river fish tank.
B)

Yeah, dechlorinated water is the way to go, as rivers don't contain chlorine!

Sticklebacks as far as I know will need some attention regarding the sexes you choose to keep. I remember as a kid one of the sexes (male I think) chasing the females beyond stress.

The males make nests out of decor so it would be worth leaving in small clumps of Java Moss or whatever for them to carry around and prepare make territory with.

I wouldn't use river water as it might contain natural diseases. I'd just use dechlorinated standard water, just like in your other tanks.


Be sure to take photos!

 

[The-Wolf]

IMO
it is wrong to take threatened species out of the wild, just for your pleasure.
the sticklebacks are becomming more and more rare in the UK
and you taking fish from thier natural enviroment will not help the species numbers at all.

 

[Fella]

IMO
it is wrong to take threatened species out of the wild, just for your pleasure.
the sticklebacks are becomming more and more rare in the UK
and you taking fish from thier natural enviroment will not help the species numbers at all.

Wow I had no idea they were endangered. When did that come about? There were always tons about when we were kids, and we returned what we caught.

 

[The-Wolf]

in recent years in the UK it has been affected by pollution of its habitats and also drainage of ponds and ditches. although not seriously threatened, it is still becomming more and more rare.
the rivers local to me no longer have them, or have them in extramly low numbers.
I too used to catch them in nets as a child but that sadly will not happen for my children(if i have any)

If you are lucky enough to have them in your area be content with that and leave them there.

 

[Fella]

I've seen them for sale in the last year as well, thats not great news.


Cheers for the heads up wolf.

 

[KevinM]

OOPS! i didnt know their rare! anyway i alredy got 4 little ones....there were loads....and one sort of kind of pleco like yellow-ish scavenger...i got moss...plants and rocks...they seem happy...i used half dechlorinated water...with half river water...they like it! sorry, i havnt got a digital camera....but ill get some of my camera phone....Laters

and i did the stickle backs a favour...i got them from a river where people dump their rubbish...i helped the fish