I have really wanted to create a 'Local Species' tank, and I finally did.
This tank is the future home of some young Bluegill. Within a few weeks our lakes will be frozen over and I will be out Ice fishing for some juveniles. Bluegills are quite adaptable to many parameters, though this tank mimics there natural waters almost perfectly. The tank will be slightly warmer then they are used to in Utah, though this species lives in warmer waters in other states.
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My wife took some pictures of my Bluegill Aquarium last night.
The are doing well and eating like pigs. I have even hand fed them meal-worms and they are starting to eat soft pellets now.
I hope soon to supplement their diet with feeders.
This tank is harder water, about 7.8 ph, and temp is kept at 73F.
Before they were transferred into this tank, they underwent some special treatment:
I gave them a salt bath, about 45 seconds in some very uncomfortable, very salty water. I realize this was unpleasant for them but it was necessary to aid in the removal of the fish leeches that were all over them. The salt loosened the hold of the leeches on the fins, allowing them to be removed manually with tweezers without tearing the fins.
I gave them a salt bath, about 45 seconds in some very uncomfortable, very salty water. I realize this was unpleasant for them but it was necessary to aid in the removal of the fish leeches that were all over them. The salt loosened the hold of the leeches on the fins, allowing them to be removed manually with tweezers without tearing the fins.
The fish were then placed into the aquarium, with tonic salt to help heal the bites. An External Parasite Treatment was used to kill any other potential parasites. An Internal Parasite Treatment was used shortly after as well.
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These fish grew quickly and needed a much larger Aquarium then I currently had, so I gave two of them to another local hobbyist and kept a single Bluegill in a 20 gallon. The scape is essentially the same.
Eventually, he also out grew his home and was given to a local hobbyist.
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These fish grew quickly and needed a much larger Aquarium then I currently had, so I gave two of them to another local hobbyist and kept a single Bluegill in a 20 gallon. The scape is essentially the same.
Eventually, he also out grew his home and was given to a local hobbyist.
