Fish Folk Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 So I stopped by my LFS this week for sundry items. My friend, an employee, beckons me back. “Hey! You’re into curiosities! Check this thing out. It came in from Florida with the crystal grass shrimp. It looks like some kind of Goby.” Lo and behold! It was a Darter. Definitely some Etheostoma. Now, I’m not sure exact species. If a female, they can look alike. But my initial guess is… maybe a Johnny Darter, Tessellated Darter, or Fantail Darter. Anyway, they gave (her?) to me… I put her into the Dace & Darter tank at home. I noticed one of my young male Rainbow Darters got very colorful today! (Sorry for bad photo) Love these U.S. Natives! 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PineSong Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 How fun, and how nice to have people at your LFS know what you like. Lucky fish, that she gets to enjoy life at your place, too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted March 22, 2022 Author Share Posted March 22, 2022 (edited) Better photos this morning of my hound male Rainbow Darter in this aquarium… And here’s the new kid on the block, lurking… Edited March 22, 2022 by Fish Folk 5 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted March 22, 2022 Author Share Posted March 22, 2022 Better shot of newby… 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griznatch Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 Very cool!, Your boy is sure showing off some nice colors, a little spring romance is in the air I'm thinking... 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 (edited) Isn't their a risk of hybridisation between the rainbow darters and the new edition Edited March 22, 2022 by Colu 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted March 22, 2022 Author Share Posted March 22, 2022 On 3/22/2022 at 2:55 PM, Colu said: Isn't their a risk of hybridisation between the rainbow darters and the new edition Yes, that is possible. However, the set up is temporary. I haven't had any Darters spawn yet anyway. Furthermore, I won't be letting any fry out from these unless they're proven species. In the wild, some hybridization some occur naturally. But the caution is certainly a fair one! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jawjagrrl Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 Very cool! I've often wondered why we don't see more north american native species in the hobby given how big the market is and what a variety there must be. No lack of color either if my childhood fishing trips were any indication! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted March 22, 2022 Author Share Posted March 22, 2022 On 3/22/2022 at 5:05 PM, Jawjagrrl said: Very cool! I've often wondered why we don't see more north american native species in the hobby given how big the market is and what a variety there must be. No lack of color either if my childhood fishing trips were any indication! Many states have strict laws about sale of natives at local stores. Only dealers with special bait licenses can sell them, abs that only in (and to) certain states. The Hydrophlox Shiners are just out of this world gorgeous, abs could easily become mainstays if people got interested in temperate fishkeeping (vs. tropical). 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted March 22, 2022 Author Share Posted March 22, 2022 And then there’s the wild colors that Darters sport… 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jawjagrrl Posted March 23, 2022 Share Posted March 23, 2022 On 3/22/2022 at 5:16 PM, Fish Folk said: Many states have strict laws about sale of natives at local stores. Only dealers with special bait licenses can sell them, abs that only in (and to) certain states. The Hydrophlox Shiners are just out of this world gorgeous, abs could easily become mainstays if people got interested in temperate fishkeeping (vs. tropical) Interesting you mention the bait license. A video series that has gone a but viral of late features a lobster purchased from a grocery store and kept in an aquarium - named Leon now. Initially he had killifish roommates for Leon that he purchased from a bait shop. They are quite lovely actually. Leon's owner turns out to be quite close by me in NE GA and also has a koi farm. But it's had me thinking more about a future tank being a Georgia biotope setup and deciding what part of Georgia that means. Lots of cool mountain streams up here, but then you have a very eco diverse coastal region and swampy parts too. These images of darters are incredible! Would love to try them one day too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotope Biologist Posted March 23, 2022 Share Posted March 23, 2022 On 3/22/2022 at 2:05 PM, Jawjagrrl said: Very cool! I've often wondered why we don't see more north american native species in the hobby given how big the market is and what a variety there must be. No lack of color either if my childhood fishing trips were any indication! The government is concerned about weakening genetic pools of the wild species by reintroduction of domesticated fish species. Yet we allow alien species that arguably do far more harm- I’m looking at you dojo loach. We have some very beautiful species here. Washington state has one of the strictest codes for natives though. Look up olympic mudminnow. A few of us on the forum wanted to keep them as pond fish but it’s very much illegal. Also @Fish Folk what a cool hitchhiker! We usually got minnows but not a darter will you update both the journals with this little guy or gal? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted March 23, 2022 Author Share Posted March 23, 2022 On 3/23/2022 at 11:20 AM, Biotope Biologist said: will you update both the journals with this little guy or gal? Sure will! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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