Three Spinned Sticklebacks

[Bazouteast]

Thank you. I set up a brine shrimp culture this evening. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[Back in the fold]

With the teeth on them I think they could eat almost anything . Scuds spring to mind first and even other fish . I have guppy fry that tear into frozen brine shrimp that are bigger than they are and manage to wolf it down . Maybe chopped krill too .

 

[Bazouteast]

The Sticklebacks have settled in nicely. First thing I noticed was their lack of fear. Having kept Angels for so long, which could sometimes be skittish if you made a loud noise, a sudden movement, or approached the tank too quickly. The Sticklebacks show none of that behaviour. This may be because they have such a ravenous appetite and are constantly foraging. They show zero interest in flake or pellet food, but will happily take brine shrimp, frozen bloodworm, dried tubifex and white worms, though as they get bigger they are losing interest in the tiny white worms. They are just begining to show signs of a heirarchy, and they do this interesting move where their bodies take on a 'Z' shape and they stay dead still for a few seconds. It appears to be a 'Don't come any closer' signal. I expected them to prefer still water, but it is clear they prefer the current when the power filter is on. The source said these fish came from the Thames Estuary near Canvey Island. Having spent my childhood catching Sticklebacks in lakes and small streams, I was amazed they lived also in the Thames Estuary where there will be raging currents, very murky water and big temperature differentials. If anyone is interested, I can maintain this feed with info/observations as these little guys progress.

 

[MattW]

Great to hear the little guys are doing well! That is interesting about them being found in the Thames estuary. I always associated them with smaller bodies of water.

I would be interested . I've never kept native species before, so it would be cool to see how they behave, and possibly future breeding.

 

[Bazouteast]

A short vid of the little guys. Until I can get a more intense light, I can't do much better!

 

[Bazouteast]

 

[GaryE]

We used to get sticklebacks in the St Laurent river, a major river many times the width and volume of the Thames. They were also caught downstream from significant riffles in the river beside where I spent part of my childhood, in the same region around Montreal, Quebec.

 

[Bazouteast]

We used to get sticklebacks in the St Laurent river, a major river many times the width and volume of the Thames. They were also caught downstream from significant riffles in the river beside where I spent part of my childhood, in the same region around Montreal, Quebec.

Thanks for this feedback. St Laurent - that's one hell of a river! Was the part you collected stickleback near the estuary, and possibly brackish water? On the map Quebec certainly looks as if it will be tidal and brackish, and I am fascinated that these little fish that I once collected from a tiny stream as a kid, can live in brackish water, with rapid estuarine tidal currents, and probably massive temperature and saltwater (and possibly pollution) variations. What a brilliant little fish!

 

[GaryE]

My experience catching them was in freshwater. By Montreal, there's is no more tidal influence, and the water is relatively soft. I don't know how far down the river they're found.

I now live along the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick, in Atlantic Canada. There are four stickleback species here, according to what I've read. I haven't looked for them here.

 

[Bazouteast]

I think I spolied these fish from the get-go with loads of brine shrimp. I eventually got them to take frozen blood worm, and now they now rush to the front ofthe tank when they see a figure approaching. They sure love their blood worm. But I'm now looking for an occassional 'convenience' food. They won't even look at flake or pellets, and are moderately interested in freeze-dried tubifex, but I think they would appreciate a dried, meat-based, floating food of some kind. Has anyone tried the Fluval Bug Bites (probably the Cichlid formula type), and do you know if it sinks or floats?

 

[MattW]

I use the tropical bug bites. They do float if I turn off anything agitating the water's surface, but they do usually sink when my Sawbwa strike the surface.

 

[Bazouteast]

Thanks, pal. I shall get a tub and see how it goes.

 

[Bazouteast]

Well, here's a thing. One of my Sticklebacks has turned white!
WHILEY ONLINE LIBRARY says “A male three spined stickleback may turn white during the breeding season as part of a specialized eco-type found in some regions of Nova Scotia. The White Ecotype which also exhibits different breeding behavior, is reproductively isolated from the more common, brightly colored sticklebacks. The white coloration is not due to disease or injury, but rather a distinct breeding coloration evolved through sexual selection or possibly to deter predators.”

These guys are full of surprises!

 

[MattW]

Very interesting! Glad to also see they are thriving