Re: [Killietalk] Fundulus Cingulatus as an Aquarium Species

["Allen Newkirk" <awnewkirk at comcast_net>]

Any chance of posting some pics? I'd like to see them.

Thanks.

Allen

-----Original Message-----
From: killietalk-bounces at aka_org [mailto:killietalk-bounces at aka_org] On
Behalf Of margaret collins
Sent: Sunday, March 02, 2008 2:55 PM
To: killifish discussion list
Subject: Re: [Killietalk] Fundulus Cingulatus as an Aquarium Species


How much fun is this= pink lemonade killie.  A true US killie that is
colorful and available.  I am in Baltimore, MD.  Any chance you might be
coming thru here and bring me 7 or so young... Later, Marge



> From: Tarmack at clarityconnect_com> To: killietalk at aka_org> Date: Sun, 2

> Mar 2008 14:43:05 -0500> Subject: [Killietalk] Fundulus Cingulatus as
an Aquarium Species> > Forwarded from Robert Rice> >
robertrice at juno_com> > funny how time passes she named a few of my fish
and now is looking at> colleges... > > Fundulus Cingulatus as an
Aquarium Species> Robert Rice> robertrice at juno.com > > Deep in the
secluded creeks, ditches and pools in the far> Southeastern United
States lives a forgotten relic. A> discarded Uncle of sorts, the "pink
lemonade" killie fish.> He is small (less than 5 inches) beautiful
,durable and the> premiere of the Fundulus Clan. Yet he is a total
unknown . A> few odd ball fisheries personnel know him, and even fewer>
collectors keep him. They and no one else know this star of> the heavens
that is the glorious killie fish I call the pink> lemonade killie. Which
is a shame because he like many North> American species deserves a place
in home aquariums. For !
 a> variety of reasons American Aquarist always seem to look> overseas
befor they look here at home. Until public> awareness increases this
small fish will have little support> in the conservation community or
with Aquarist.> > His colors can be described as intense. His fins
radiate> deep pink while his body holds deep stripes of the same> color.
All wrapped up in a golden background. Wow you say ,> what's the
downside of this little gem ? There is but only> one. It's that North
America's co habitators have virtually> ignored this little fish. Thus
it remains a life history> and ecological mystery. While ichthyologist
ponder it's> supposed proper genus and species it remains a total
recluse> in the aquarist, fisherman and general publics eye.> > If there
ever was an easy to reproduce, easy to acquire> unloved species this guy
is it. There are NO life histories> published anywhere. This little top
minnow lives in total> ambiguity. He is tough ,colorful and unloved. I
know of!
  no> one outside myself who has bred this fish ! Which if you> know me
is a pretty sad indictment of things. I keep a dozen> tanks or so most
of them in my garage with no filters,> heaters or power toys of any
kind. Inspite of my many short> comings as an Aquarist F. Cingulatus did
the deed and bred> in my nasty ole garage tank. So if a yutz like me
can> successfully breed this species imagine what would happen if>
Serious Aquarist took up the torch !> > I typically collect F. Cingultus
in small ditches and> swamps with regular water flow. In locations with
an erratic> flow they don't exist. I believe that they can take turbity>
and temperature extremes but can not stand stagnant water.> With just a
small flow the water remains fresh enough to> support the pink lemonade
killie. In it's range there is a> huge diversity in color. It goes from
a almost colorless> green to the radiant pink lemonade version I
collect> locally. I have noticed that in locations with a red algae> you
will find the pink version. In locations with darker> water you get !
the green version. Obviously this adaptation> helps them avoid
predation. For the Aquarist this range of> color promises to lead to
other color morphs with just a bit> of selective breeding. In many
locations I find them the> most common species . So if you are near the
Gulf Coast you> are within driving distance of the pink lemonade
killie.> > Once in the tank they are very easy to care for. Being top>
minnows they spend the bulk of their time ducking in and out> of
floating vegetation. Chasing each other around ,> basically
disinterested in the other inhabitants of their> tank. So with their top
minnow habits they make an excellent> community tank species. They feed
eagerly on flake and> frozen foods. They are vegetation spawners with
the males> pushing the females into the weeds where a few eggs are laid>
in the roots of floating plants. Watersprite, Nitella and> Java Moss
make excellent choices for the job. You can also> try the tried and true
artificial spawning mop. T!  he young> are very durable as a matter of
fact in my main tank the> tr io I have has produced young. I know have a
handful of> half inch Cingulatus tussling with my juvenile Dollar>
Sunfish for food.> > Thanks to my 7 year daughter Erin who named the
local> variety . Her name stuck with the local children and then> their
parents as they set up tanks for their children and> wanted local
species. Now all my collecting buddies are> calling it the pink lemonade
killie so it looks like> Cingulatus now has a common name. Go figure
from the mouths> of Babes.> > > > Join the AKA at
http://www.aka.org/aka/modules/content/index.php?id=9.> Archives are at
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