Stickleback

[PereguineFalcon]

I went LFS cruising today, my fav thing to do anytime, and i happened to come across some Sticklebacks. It was a rather small one and was the only one left. I have no idea what the husbandry of sticklebacks are, i know they are a native american fish that is almost like cichlids in a way that they make nests and guard their eggs...i don't know if they guard their fry though. This one had a little bit of red on its belly so i was assuming that it was a male. I'm kinda iffy on my stickleback knowledge. Just thought it was kinda odd that they were trying to sell a fish that most people could just go out and catch yourself. And ripping people off for that matter, they were tring to sell a 1 1/2" stickleback for $22. Anywho, anyone who knows anything about these fish lemme know. It would go good in a predatory fish tank right? They grow about 5 to 6" or so i believe, correct me if i am wrong which i often am. Anywho, thankz
PF

 

[ryan]

Sticklebacks are a great little fish. They are a small fish which live in fresh, brakish, and marine waters. Two species make good inhabitants of a cool water aquarium. These are Pungitius Pungitius (ten spined stickleback) and Gasterosteus aculeatus (three spined stickleback). In general it is best to house these species separately from each other in a single species aquarium about 24" in length. Although they are schooling species, males become terriotoral during breeding season and will fight and badly injure each other if the tank is to small. It is therefore wise to keep only one male and a group of females. The water should be soft. Aeration is needed to maintain the oxygen level during warmer wheather, and ideally the aquarium should be sited where the temperature will fall as low as possible (without freezing) during winter. This helps to stimulate the fishes to spawn in spring. Once settled they will spend most of their time looking for food, wild caught species only except live food. If you plan on keeping these fish there is more info you will need to know concerning breeding and tank set-up.

 

[PereguineFalcon]

Thankz for the info ryan. The interest is there but the desire to get it is not, nor is my availibility of tank space. Still wouldn't mind finding out all there is to know about them. Those spines on their backs are wicked kewl, almost remind me of triggerfish...except they are missing the spine on the abdomone. I figured they were rather territorial during breeding since i have read about them a bit. The male builds a nest i believe, kinda like a hollow tube or something and then i guess lures the female in correct? Normally after breeding the female leaves the male to tend to the eggs. So in too small of a tank if the female can't get away there could be slight potential to her getting beat to death. They are a cold water fish? Hmm, thats interesting. I'm in Washington right now, but I live in Nebraska and i remember seeing stickleback and bluegills in some of the lakes and streams. Lemme tell yaz, it gets pretty hot up there, and the water doesn't feel much cooler. But i suppose the deeper the pond/lake the cooler its gonna get. So you pretty much have to keep them in a tank with no heater? Would keeping the temperature around 70-72 be too high for them? What about aquarium lighting? Would that raise the temperature too much? As long as i aereate the water enough with oxygen they should be able to survive most temps correct? Its just the cooler the water the better the ability to absorb and hold oxygen. Thats so kewl, thankz for filling me in about them, any more info will be greedly consumed lemme assure you! lol! Thankz again,
PF