Stickleback.

[Paradise3]

Just some stickleback keeping Q's.
What is the best way to catch them?
What size tank would you recommend to breed 1 male and 2-3 female sticklebacks?
Would 2-3ft be ok?
Would sand be better or gravel?

I know they won't need a heater but will need a filter and lot's of plants.
I am basically looking for personal research or experience.
There is a lake near by me that i can legally catch and keep some sticklebacks from.
I can also get some minnows if they don't get away but i'm mainly aiming for sticklebacks.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Alessa x.

 

[Ryefish]

the male needs to be able to make a nest within the tank. Im not sure what size tank you will need, or if they will survive in a tank. If you put them in with any other fish prepare for deaths because the males get very defensive and territorial when there is a nest in the water, and if they are in a tank i dont think i'd risk it (less chance of escape for the other fish, etc.).

As for catching them, you just need to be really fast with a net. I think you might have just missed the season for breeding this year aswell, i saw a lot of stickleback fry in the local pond near me last week

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

When I was 6 or 7, 30 years ago (

), we lived at a farm that had a lake full of Sticklebacks. They were so easy to catch...

Place a container such as a washed out ice cream tub at the water edge where you know there are Sticklebacks. Within a few minutes, curiosity will get the better of them and they will venture into the container. Job done!

 

[Paradise3]

That's why i mentioned a 2ft-3ft tank for 4 fish and with lot's of plants. I would need to wait till next year anyway so that i can get the tank set up and cycled first.
Really? Just put a tub in the water's edge and they will be too curious to resist?

Alessa x.

 

[kizno1]

Rod and real. You could get away with just using some line tied to a stick or pole and use a weight and a small stick or cork for float if you cant get a rod. You wont be able to get any out of the river yet unless you want to risk getting a £2000 fine for fishing in the close season.

 

[Paradise3]

Like i said i would have to wait till next year anyway.
And i would probably get them in the breeding season if i can so i know which are males and which are females.

Alessa x.

 

[kizno1]

And i would probably get them in the breeding season if i can so i know which are males and which are females.

Alessa x.

you might want to check you can first because like i said most places that arnt privatly owned are closed from about 15 march to 15 july or somethink like that and evan some privatly owned lakes still have close season.

 

[Paradise3]

Yeah i will check first. It's just my mum and my uncle used to go catching them during the breeding season but i don't know if it has changed or not. You can still get them because it's not privately owned but i don't know if there is a close season.

Alessa x.

 

[kizno1]

Yeah i will check first. It's just my mum and my uncle used to go catching them during the breeding season but i don't know if it has changed or not. You can still get them because it's not privately owned but i don't know if there is a close season.

Alessa x.

if its not privately owned they there will properly be a close season.

 

[Paradise3]

That's why i'm gonna check if there is or not. See i don't rush into things like normal 13 year olds do.

Alessa x.

 

[nurglespuss]

LOL sticklebacks? just grab a cheap long handled fishing net and a cube of frozen blood worms, 'close season' doesn't apply to sticklebacks as they aren't a sport/food fish. You would have a hard time catching them with rod and reel as their mouths are so tiny!

The only problem I forsee is feeding, they are very very fussy feeders!! and will almost always only take live foods. The male will also chase away the females after breeding and you would have to remove them to a seperate tank after this.

 

[Paradise3]

I might be getting a 3ft tank very soon so i will be able to set it up and cycle it till next breeding season. I have a 2ft tank that will be emptied if i get the 3ft because i will be selling my guppies and setting them up like this.
2ft tank for the male and 1 female till they have spawned then put the female back with the other fish in the 3ft tank.
Does this sound ok?

Alessa x.

 

[nurglespuss]

Hi

I would say give the male a choice of females (say 3) he may even take eggs off all of them - or he'll just take one and chase the others off.

Yep sounds good to me

 

[Paradise3]

Thanks.

Alessa x.

 

[Paradise3]

So i hopefully can get my mum to pay £30 of the £40 for the 3ft tank while i earn the other £10 to pay.
If i have to wait for another couple of weeks to get pokemon soul silver so that she can pay £30 then fine i'll do that.

Alessa x.