fishfreak2009

Does anyone know a good tankmate for bluntnosed minnows? Right now I have two of them in a 5 gallon tank with some rocks, a strong water flow like the stream they came from, arrow head, some kind of native rush plant, a cat tail, and some bladderwort. They are all going into a ten gallon paludarium that I am currently building. I was just wondering if anyone knew of some other fish, native to the michigan area that can live in about 6 gallons of water. If not, I guess I will just catch a couple more of these.

Regal

That's a cool idea. When walking with the kids by a river near me that was really low, we found a little puddle where the water had receded and stranded several different types of fish. I thought it would be neat to create a native Ohio river tank. I had no idea what the fish were though. There was a school of really pretty gold colored fish swimming back and forth and little pleco looking fish under all the rocks.

Sorry I can't help you with your actual question but I hope you'll post some pics of your tank. Maybe see what else is living near where you caught them. I'm trying to picture a big cat tail sticking out of a little 10 gallon lol

fishfreak2009

They were the only fish in the creek where I caught them, although there are some crayfish, water snakes, frogs, muskrats, and lots of water striders. In the subdivision drainage pond, however, there are other frog types, other waterbugs, crayfish, bluegill, goldfish, some plecos, some african cichlids someone let go, and a bass (?peacock bass?) that someone let go. Lots of exotic fish show up every year in there, but the tropicals die every winter. I even found a fire eel in there one time. Right now, over half the pond is bluegill nest pits swarming with fry.

fishfreak2009

In the nearby lake we have carp, some catfish (I think madtoms and bullheads), shiners, large and small mouth bass, pike, bluegill, sunfish, rattlesnakes, lots of snapping turtles, other turtles, and lots of water snakes. In the subdivision pond there are also some painted turtles that showed up last year in the spring.

Regal

Wow that's some drainage pond. A frog would be good for a paludarium. Maybe you should go bigger since it will probably be a lot of work building it.

fishfreak2009

It's built! I know that's some interesting fish but people in my subdivision dump fish tanks quite often. The tropicals die every year though. I think maybe some more minnows would look good (they look like penguin tetras). I can't keep frogs only because it has an open top for the plants (especially the cat tail) to grow up. It's on a plant stand next to the door of our walkout basement. I might put some toad tadpoles in though, and then release them back into the drainage pond were I got them.

fishfreak2009

That's a bummer. My dad said the plant stand wasn't strong enough for the ten gallon, so I had to downgrade back to the five. Oh well, I have some baby bromeliads and peace lilies that will need a new tank soon anyway.

jamesg1993

i'm sorry i cant offer any suggestions but i'd love to do a native species tank jealous :P lol

this might be a silly question and i arent trying to hijack but does every state in the USA have different species of native fish?

fishfreak2009

most states have some kind of indigenous fish. Anyway I am very happy now. I got to set up the larger tank again because I know have 4 tadpoles, 4 creek chubs, and 4 pearl dace in with my 2 blunt nosed minnows! I also found a native potamogeton plant and I still have the bladderwort. I might get some arrowleaf to put in too.