Thank you Alex for helping the Critically Endangered Native US Fish. Bless you.

You got some super cool little fish Alex, thanks for sharing..

@Fishtory

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks my friend! I wish i had money and or space for some cool big fish...but small is pretty cool for now

Gawd, your next most-requested video is gonna be a nail instruction video, based on the number of questions you got about them herein! LOL

@Fishtory

4 жыл бұрын

Hahahahah

This is the video I was looking for!

Another amazing video my man!

I can't wait to see these fish develop and grow. Fantastic!

@Fishtory

4 жыл бұрын

It's been the only good thing about coronavirus lockdown hah

@jenay6586

4 жыл бұрын

@@Fishtory I'm really excited that there are people (one or two at least) breeding them. I couldn't find a seller inside the US to order from.... Which is more than a little ridiculous considering they're native to the US. 😜

@Fishtory

4 жыл бұрын

Technically it's illegal to sell wildlife in many states, so it's kind of odd... even though a majority in the trade are bred by hobbyists... some species like blue banded and alabama pygmy sunfish are super endangered

Im so blown away right now. Been watching ur channel for a while. Always loved the Scarlett's. Had no idea they could change from female to male if they had to. My fish are my hobby/ life. Lol

@Fishtory

4 жыл бұрын

Right on. The wonders of the natural world never cease to amaze me. The more i learn about fish, the less i realize that i know still.

@patientlydormantinpassion

2 жыл бұрын

She taught me a thing or two. Aswell

@patientlydormantinpassion

2 жыл бұрын

Oh. I thought you meant scarlett

Elassoma gilberti... Keeping these are definitely on my bucket list.

@Fishtory

Жыл бұрын

100% (I'm going to try and bring like 20 home from Florida haha)

Dude awesome video. Just came across your channel. Love the great info all tied in with the history. Love that little set up too. Where did you get those bowls? My LFS accidentally gave me a scarlet badis that was in their tetra tank. I wound up ordering a bunch more. I absolutely love all of the micro species. Just learned about the sunfish today I’m definitely going to build myself a tank for them. If I recall correctly the badis is the smallest species of perch. Or it’s a cousin to the perch or something along those lines.

@Fishtory

Жыл бұрын

Correct! I love scarlet badis too. I got the bowls at an antique shop actually heh

Just got a pair from zen! And here you are with the perfect video for me

@Fishtory

3 жыл бұрын

:) I know... I know... magic ;)

thats crazy, i would never have thought any fish would rather have a smaller habitat than a larger one

@Fishtory

4 жыл бұрын

They are a very unique case

Love those sunfish. Really want some

@Fishtory

4 жыл бұрын

They color up beautifully

@steventhompson5554

4 жыл бұрын

I don’t have a small tank for them though. I put a post in your Facebook group too

Check out aphanius mento. It's a killifish from around Turkey that looks very similar to elassoma. They have so many similarities in behavior to elassoma with the exception of they like hard water. For some reason, they are not as common as many other killis in the US, but they are actually way more easy to maintain than most and eggs only take about 10 days to hatch. So no need to go through the long hatching process that is common with many killifish species.

@Fishtory

4 жыл бұрын

Very cool! Thank you

@patientlydormantinpassion

2 жыл бұрын

I never bred them but have caught some interesting varieties along the Escatawpa. It's strange that the same forms prevail all over the world where niche permits. Like guppies Molly's kills, and cats. And so much mixed breeding at the end of the creek.

Cool fish! I love no tech setups!

@Fishtory

4 жыл бұрын

Simple and straightforward

@patientlydormantinpassion

2 жыл бұрын

And they feed theirs elves If right

Dude, you deserve more subscribers and views for the content you put out! it makes me sad because this is a reflection of what most people are after, and its not knowledge.

@Fishtory

Жыл бұрын

Well thank you for saying so... but alas im afraid you are correct. 6 years into this, im used to it unfortunately.

I catch mine in Miss. But their much blander in color, possibly zondera? Small iridescent spots on male gills. They don't get around much and only eat hubris as far as I can see. Who would swap me some gilberti, for the Mississippi variety? I also catch ghost shrimp and nice and active rainbow shiners. Lots of nice plants too. Check out my tube on the syren I caught, he's really strange. Peace from dwn sth.

ace vid thank you for fasinating imfor

@Fishtory

2 жыл бұрын

No problem! Glad you enjoyed it

Pygmy Sunfish are definitely on my list. I would be concerned about them jumping out of such a small container. Re size: aren't Least killifish smaller?

@Fishtory

4 жыл бұрын

Maybbbbe in mass but not length. Ive had adult badis also never get more than half an inch! Sometimes i think nano fish get stunted and maybe even don't mature, due to a lack of food 24/7...they need food all day, in tiny bits at a time and even feeding 3 or 4 times a day isnt enough if they are a runt or shy

@VyvienneEaux

4 жыл бұрын

@@Fishtory I've long thought about culturing daphnia and vernal pool organisms with fish with an in-tank refugium to provide 24/7 food.

Wooow! I literally just picked up two pairs, 3 hours ago

@Fishtory

4 жыл бұрын

Sweet! Where are you located and what did they cost you?

can i mix the scarlett badis with the pygmy sunfish in a 20-30 gallon planted tank?

I'm trying to get a pair for my 7 gallon! I hope they do well!

Just wondering but aren’t least killifish smaller? Would really like a group of those lil Pygmy sunfish. They are beautiful. Thanks

@Fishtory

4 жыл бұрын

That's been a big arguement for years. But the short answer is no. The females in sunfish can rarely get larger than gambusia / least killis... but on average pygmy sunfish species only grow to .5 -.8 inches , but if conditions are perfect for nonstop food the females sometimes reach an inch or 1.25 max... but some species/ arguably subspecies actually- like Elassoma alabamea stay .8 or smaller ...with some adults never crossing .5 inches.... and even though they are classified as separate species, many people think there is really more of a spectrum with some overlapping, since they can all spawn together Here is a long answer- forum.nanfa.org/index.php/topic/11086-whats-the-smallest-fish/

@chefrarestones1960

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for the info!!! Can’t wait to read about all these tiny nano fish!!! New worm hole!!! Lol 🤣

@patientlydormantinpassion

2 жыл бұрын

@@Fishtory did you mention an alabamae?

I really wanna get a mug with your logo on it to put on one of my fish tanks but your art doesn't have your channel name on it. Can you post a design that says "Secret history living in your aquarium" so that if people see your merch in my fish room they know how to find your channel?

@Fishtory

2 жыл бұрын

Okay this is the straw that breaks the camel's back! Haha 😄 I'll have to get that and those towels made up shortly!

@ADHDAquatics

2 жыл бұрын

@@Fishtory yea just upload your design you already have to a different product. I like Redbubble. Lol sorry I'm so needy but how cool would it be to have a secret history living in your aquarium mug living in my aquarium?! 😁 Can't wait to see what you come up with

Very interesting! But what was that at 6:39? Also, I wish my fish would "tell me what they want to eat"! Now I want blue badis and the sunfish!

@Fishtory

4 жыл бұрын

I dont know what you were seeing at 639 D.S. BUT they eat then stuff i listed... seed shrimp, infusoria, baby daphnia, brine shrimp hatchlings, microworms and baby planera

@Handygrrl

4 жыл бұрын

You stated at one point that your fish tell you what they want to eat...lol

The scarlet badis are so cute! Any ideas on finding a female one? I've had Scarlet Badis and Chamelon blue Badis. I can't find females recently so i keep looking around for them. I haven't had scuds, what do you feed these fish, i read they just about require live foods.

@Fishtory

Жыл бұрын

Yeah scuds, black worms, some frozen bloodworms, mosquito larvae, brine shrimp and daphnia

@Fishtory

Жыл бұрын

The females are just very rare in the hobby...one due to dull color and 2 due to how they are collected from the wild..the female runs and hides, while the male quards his nest and turns bright red lol

Hey, I'm wondering what shop or person did you get these pygmy sunfish from? I also live near Seattle.

@Fishtory

3 жыл бұрын

Joanahs aquatics online :) Elassoma Gilberti

@Fishtory

3 жыл бұрын

Come to think of it, aquarium zen has pairs for 40 each....which seems like a high price...I think I paid 7.50 each plus shipping

Putting traps out tomorrow 🤞

@Fishtory

4 жыл бұрын

Ooo let us know how that goes.... when ive visited the region ive used kids style nets and buckets and caught a couple females...but lots of florida killies... flagfish and lots of gambusia (mosquito fish)...however im dying to see someone with serious gear try it

@joeinpg

4 жыл бұрын

Got the traps made for us Martie

@patientlydormantinpassion

2 жыл бұрын

Traps never work as well for me as bait nets. But the ones on the market aren't the best either.

What about Elassoma evergladei? I just bought some from father fish and that's what he called it and it looks the same as your thumbnail and I'm confused now.

@ADHDAquatics

2 жыл бұрын

After watching I realized they are collected from different regions and water ways

@Fishtory

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah they are super similar...same care info for sure. Evergladei is more striped/banded when not in spawning glue colors... usually... all the collection points do overlap in looks a bit honestly

I work in a chemical plant in Southeast Texas. May sound nuts but I have seen and caught these in a puddle in the plant before.

On Aquatic Arts they have the Everglades Pygmy, and they say the tolerated is Temperature 50° - 86° F (10° - 30° C). That seems like a big range! But you say they seem to like the colder side?

@Fishtory

3 жыл бұрын

They keep them warm...because half the year they are warm and they color up/ grow most when warm, but also live 1 or 2 years instead of 3 or 4 if you keep em that warm...but honestly they can handle a lot of water variations. Ideally 68-74 id say is best... when you get up to 80ish their kidneys start needing to work in overdrive also

@KimbiW

3 жыл бұрын

@@Fishtory Awesome. Thank you for the reply. Sounds like they certainly are a good low tech fish! Super beautiful

@patientlydormantinpassion

2 жыл бұрын

I know for a fact that they'll live through the winter froze over in a bucket.

Alex, where did you get your pygmy sunfish from?

@Fishtory

2 жыл бұрын

Jonah's Aquarium

I'd love to have a pair of this sunfish. Where can get this specie specie specific

@Fishtory

4 жыл бұрын

The Facebook group and sometime aquabjd

Would it be possible to mix the pygmy sunfish and the scarlet badis in the same 10 gallon tank?

@Fishtory

4 жыл бұрын

Im not sure actually. I would be curious to try in a 15 or 20 gallon first (it could be a 10 gallon water source as long as the square footage was large enough for each male fish and their little range of control. When i get these little fellas to spawn, ill likely try it out with some of them. But currently i have only 5 fish

@thomasashe2681

4 жыл бұрын

@@Fishtory the footprint of a 10 gallon is 20 inches long by 10 inches wide and it has a height of 12 inches.

@patientlydormantinpassion

2 жыл бұрын

I'm no expert but have good luck in pickle jars, 5 gallery. Buckets and kiddie pools. For decades

@patientlydormantinpassion

2 жыл бұрын

Amazes me how they live through the freeze. And the shrimp pop. live through complete dry spells

Does it work the other way around if all of them were males, would one turn into a female? Great video as usual Alex.

@Fishtory

4 жыл бұрын

I don't think so? But i don't know. There isn't a ton of info on it. But usually there are like 3 or 4 females to males if you have a natural spawn...so maybe they all default female and only one (the biggest) gets a cue to shift hormones

👍

Where did you find Badis females!?!?!?

@Fishtory

2 жыл бұрын

9 months of checking all the local stores and buying about 8 sneaker males before I found a female ...then i bred them in 74 degree water which seemed to lead me to more females than males

I've been looking for these fish for years if you have any for sale please don't hesitate to contact me this is a must have fish for me its native, beautiful, and the males dance i love them please help thanks

@Fishtory

Жыл бұрын

So I'm going down to Florida to get some in December. I'll let folks know when I have them back to Seattle. I plan on bringing back my limit of 5 a day (10 day trip)

Nice video. Surprised to see you got your nails painted.

@Fishtory

4 жыл бұрын

Haha i bet my wife i could do a better job than her ...and "won" (i guess) lol

@tykahler8088

4 жыл бұрын

@@Fishtory haha that's awesome. I let my daughter paint my nails all the time. Shes 5 and needs the practice haha

Know if these eat small snails? I was recommended Pygmy sunfish and I keep a lot of animals that love eating snails.

@Fishtory

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, they'll eat the newly hatched ramshorn snails all day if you don't feed them other foods

I with I could put these in my planted fish bowl but suddenly I'm plagued with green water. T-T

@Fishtory

4 жыл бұрын

They wouldnt mind green water at all, in fact their fry need it

I’ve been looking for gulf coast Pygmy sun fish and I can’t seem to find any. Can you recommend someone I can buy from?

@Fishtory

2 жыл бұрын

Certainly either aquatic arts (probably out this time of year).. or jonah's aquarium in (Georgia ?)b

@patientlydormantinpassion

2 жыл бұрын

@@Fishtory is it illegal to give them away. Or sell without a fish resale lisc?

@patientlydormantinpassion

2 жыл бұрын

I'd love to take folks to catch their own.

Do you have the contact info for the lady that sold you the Gilberti? Does she ship?

@Fishtory

2 жыл бұрын

Jonahs aquarium online... is where she got hers

How has it gone keeping shrimp with the Pygmy Sunfish?

@Fishtory

3 жыл бұрын

Um they eat the babies here and there but with 5 elassomas and starting with 12 shrimp in a 10 gallon lowboy tank, the shrimp are now at 30 or 40 adults 2 years later....so it actually evens out fairly well

@patientlydormantinpassion

2 жыл бұрын

Mine do well. The pygmy are really small Thier mouths are tiny too. A week old shrimp is too big for mine to eat

Why are your nails painted? I kind of like it. It fits your personality.

@Fishtory

4 жыл бұрын

Well it started when my wife and i were bored on quarantine...i made fun of how she did her nails and she said "i bet you , you cant do any better"...so i showed her! (And then she laughed and said "i win, have fun with the nail polish remover"... but so as to be an annoying husband, i didnt take it off for like 2 weeks... and then ive redone them 2x because people online have literally left the channel saying " Are you gay or somrthing? I thought you were cool"....and stupid comments like that...so 1. I figure all those people can GTFO of this community....we are not about intolerance towards anyone who isn't harming or harassing anyone else. But 2. I notice i watch my hands way way more when my nails are painted...so i think about not touching my face, or scratching my nose etc. During all this mask and glove business....and lastly... 3. It's an attention grabber and people definently notice where im pointing on my videos hehe

@sageoblouk6782

4 жыл бұрын

@@Fishtory I think if someone wants to do something and it doesn't hurt anyone else then let them do it. The freedom to choose what you do to your body is what is important.

@rolandrees6965

3 жыл бұрын

Well I like your nails, I think they maybe need a touch-up. I have no idea where one finds Pypmy Sunfish, except on line. I am not a fan of receiving shipped fish.

They get nearly 1 inch. Max size is 0.96 inch.

@Fishtory

4 жыл бұрын

Mine never have gotten that large in the past. Probably due to feeding brine shrimp and blood worms...where as this round they're eating a very diverse selection of things...maybe theyll grow more

@thomasashe2681

4 жыл бұрын

@@Fishtory might have something to do with the size of the container too.

Where might I buy them?

@Fishtory

2 жыл бұрын

Jonah's aquarium online :)

@socomarylandaqua2549

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@patientlydormantinpassion

2 жыл бұрын

I'll sell you some. Leave a message in my. Pygmy sunfish vid.

Are they still alive?

@Fishtory

4 жыл бұрын

Yup yup

These guys are very hard to come across. I spent several hours with a net, reaching under grass mats in waist deep 70 degree water and only found 3. It was fun but chilly.

@Fishtory

Жыл бұрын

Yeah depending on the location, they are sneaaaaky! I went a week and didnt see any once and another visit to the same area and got 12