Tadpole Madtom Tank!

[nvcichlids]

Well I have finally gotten around to setting up my tadpole madtom tank. In the past month I have been granted the permit to go out and collect, and right off the bat I have 4 fish, 1 definate female, and 3 juvies, one of which I am sure will be a male. I am hoping to get 3-4 more definate adults to get the breeding going. The tank is a 33 gallon XL (48x12x12) and has a few rocks, few pieces of wood and some plants (waiting til the local plants really start growing before bringing more.)

They currently are living with 20 blackstriped topminnows and a central mudminnow.

will have pictures of the tank shortly!

[Richard B]

Cool! Get some pics on here soon for us all to enjoy!!!

[nvcichlids]

Madtom Juvie #1

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Madtom Juvie #2

RSCN4552.JPG (31.99 KiB) Viewed 7689 times

Mudminnow (central mudminnow)

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Lets see if they all worked, the Video is of the tank in general, the madtoms are hard to get pictures of, and as of yet, I don't feel comfortable holding them for rivers edge shots... I am working on it though!

[Richard B]

Really nice - madtoms are such cool fish

[nvcichlids]

I am reducing my pleco numbers, so this tank became available. Then I did some research, finding out that they are in a river I drive by quite frequently, so I got my permit and my dipnet and went out.. I think the whole "catching your own fish" really makes you appreciate them more. I mean I really appreciate my other fish, but these US native fish I take the time and the whelts of gathering them (hit poison ivy, bruised my tailbone, dislocated my finger all happened while collecting them myself!!)

I cannot wait to get more madtom species.. my black and tadpoles are soo interesting, it makes me want more (or every species I can keep that stays under 8")

[racoll]

Cool madtoms!

What kind of temps will they be kept at?

[Birger]

I cannot wait to get more madtom species.. my black and tadpoles are soo interesting, it makes me want more

I couldn't agree more, my five quickly became favorites of mine...I was lucky enough to get some that were collected by others on this trip http://www.planetcatfish.com/shanesworl ... cting+Trip

I don't feel comfortable holding them for rivers edge shots... I am working on it though!

Hmm, I will pick up with my hand any of my syno's, will let my

Liosomadoras oncinus

try to crush my finger by their pectoral spines or pick up any of my other fish but I have yet to pick up any of my

Noturus gyrinus

with my hand...I just don't think this is a good move. You let me know how it goes I may be just being too careful.

Birger

[Shane]

I think the whole "catching your own fish" really makes you appreciate them more. I mean I really appreciate my other fish, but these US native fish I take the time and the whelts of gathering them (hit poison ivy, bruised my tailbone, dislocated my finger all happened while collecting them myself!!)

It is my favorite part of this wide and wonderful hobby. Funny how a "free" fish you collected yourself becomes more valuable than something you paid $50 for at a pet store.
-Shane

[Richard B]

If only we had some worthwhile species in the UK...actually we do have ,but not many that can be realistically kept. (& no cats)

Bullhead, gudgeon, stone loach have all proved interesting

[MatsP]

(& no cats)

Ehm, there are rivers/lakes with

Silurus glanis

- they do grow way too big and are not legal to keep, but they are "available" in the country.

--
mats

[Birger]

Bullhead, gudgeon, stone loach have all proved interesting

On a side note what is it you are referring to as Bullheads....European bullhead, Cottus gobio?
Here it could be a catfish or on the west coast a sculpin.

Birger

[MatsP]

Cottus gobio would be my interpretation - and we discussed those at the PC day out a few days ago...

--
Mats

[nvcichlids]

Cool madtoms!

What kind of temps will they be kept at?

They are kept in a portion of my appartment I keep the windows open 24/7. Right now the temp ranges from 69 in the morning to 74 by mid afternoon. I am still trying to find things to lure them out of hiding.

Bullhead, gudgeon, stone loach

I like gudgeons! They are fun to keep.


My wife and I are going out tomorrow in hunt of northern longear sunfish, orange spott sunfish and more tadpole madtoms. We are going to a river I have never been too, so I hope I will be able to locate the correct areas for each.

[bronzefry]

Congrats on your Madtoms! Enjoy them!
Amanda

[Richard B]

(& no cats)

Ehm, there are rivers/lakes with

Silurus glanis

- they do grow way too big and are not legal to keep, but they are "available" in the country. --
mats

No native cats - i am very much aware that Wels have been introduced as have A Nebulosus & Wels have maintained a foothold in our waters - not sure about the nebulosus though

[nvcichlids]

went to a new local today, and didn't find anything catfish related, but did catch some other neat fish! Just wanted to sshare them with you guys (and an amphibian for ID if anyone is good with them....)

Rockbass

Fantail Darter male

Another darter

[nvcichlids]

and this is that unknown amphibian we found.

unknown amphibian

unknown?

anyone from the US or good with amphibians willing to take a stab?

[apistomaster]

I have been "stung" by one of the species of Madtoms accidentally introduced to the Columbia River drainage when they introduced Channel, Flathead and Bullhead Catfish to the system in the late 19th century and it hurts.
Pretty much like the sting a Corydoras sterbai can deliver. They are really hard to find as they only have been able to maintain a marginal population and only in certain places.
I used to collect and keep a lot of the local fish as a kid but mainly introduced species like the young catfish, introduced Lepomis spp like pumpkin seeds, large and small mouth bass. Our true natives can't handle water as warm as that found in an unheated indoor aquarium. These naturalized species make interesting and as you pointed out, free aquarium specimens and catching your own is a lot of the fun.
I have been able to keep and even had some Cottus bairdi breed in an outdoor aquarium. We have several species of freshwater Cottus species but most require very cool water like the common Torrent Sculpins. These are all native fish in the Columbia River drainage. I caught all mine from the larger tributaries like the Snake and Clearwater Rivers which have their confluence here in town.
The term bullhead is loosely applied here to both sculpins and Amerius catfish. It depends on who you are talking to which fish is called what.
I just call Cottus spp sculpins and tie a big fly which resembles them to catch larger Trout and Small Mouth Bass.

I'm not familiar with any of the mid western salamanders but based on the broad and flat tail it appears to me to be the larger larval stage of one of the Ambystoma species, one of the Tiger Salamander species is my guess.
They are commonly used as Large mouth Bass bait sold in many areas as "Mud Puppies".

[Marc van Arc]

It resembles a Mud Puppy, but afaik MP's never lose their external gills. I don't see these on the picture?

[nvcichlids]

Marc, it had small gills, but they weren't feathery as you would expect, which the tiger salamander larve seems to be close, but it should have started with the spots by this point I would think.

Anyways, I will be going back to the same spot tomorrow, if I find antoehr, I will get much better images, and hopefully some madtom images and madtoms to bring home!

[apistomaster]

In the USA, there is one animal which is the "true" mud puppy and it does retain gills for life.
However, the Bass fishermen who use large salamander larvae for bait call all large larval salamanders "mud puppies". Remember these are the same fisher folk who call very large, large mouth bass, "Hawgs". The vernacular is not always scientifically correct.

[bronzefry]

I would also think that's a juvenile salamander/newt/skink of some kind. Almost looks like a Slimy Salamander. The adults emit a musky odor. The Red-Back Salamander is closer to your area and it's also known to have populations without the red stripe and some populations are all black. Around here, most of the attention goes to the salamanders with the yellow spots.
Amanda

[nvcichlids]

Thanks for that guys, I have gone back searching for more several times and haven't found anymore, but the water gets quite deep in this little stream (15' or so) and I cannot get downt here... YET to check. I hope to get a waterproof camera and new free diving gear soon.