[Killietalk] Re: Killietalk Digest, Vol 10, Issue 37

["Lloyd Colvin" <lhcolvin at earthlink_net>]

Greetings Jason,

For your outdoor water garden, I would recommend some other choices rather
than Lucania Goodei (Bluefin Killie).  With the Gold Coast Aquarium Society,
we collect numerous Bluefins in the local canals and lakes here in Southeast
Florida.  I find them less hardy than others and are somewhat nondescript.

A better choice would be Golden Killies (Aplocheilus Lineatus) available at
many LFS or Seminole Killies (Fundulus Crysotus) which we also get from the
local canals.  I have all three types in my pond (formerly hot tub) and the
Golden Killies seem to be the most enjoyable.  They are top swimmers and
voracious feeders on any type of insect.  The Goldens are sprinters, sitting
stationary one moment and gone the next. Both the Goldens and Seminole
Killies are larger fish, about 2 to 4 inches long, with the Bluefins about
half that.  The Crysotus are very handsome in a pond with an irridescent
silver color and speckled sides.

The Goldens tame easily and will take food from your hand.  They have a
white dot on their head, which I believe is a light detector of some kind.
Cast a shadow over them and they are gone.

Whatever you decide, DO NOT add Gambusia, often sold as Mosquito Fish, to
your pond.  They are prolific livebearers and you will never get rid of
them.  The pond stores often push them on unsuspecting victims.

Sorry, but I have no means of shipping either Aplocheilus Lineatus or
Fundulus Crysotus, but I have seen both types for sale at various times at
the LFS.

Cheers,
Larry Colvin
Hollywood, Florida
--------------------------------
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 11 May 2004 17:17:44 -0400
> From: "Jason P. Stanford" <jps3 at lehigh_edu>
> Subject: [Killietalk] Killies for a container water garden?
> To: killietalk at aka_org
>
> I am setting up my first container water garden for the side
> yard/walkway outside my apartment. It is one of the typical whisky
> barrels with a plastic liner. I'll be putting in a fair number of
> plants (oxygenators like anachris and eleocharis, lotus', floating
> plants, marginals, etc). I will not be using a pump or filter, as there
> is not easy or convenient way to do that (no outside outlets). This
> should not be a problem as the plants will take care of the water
> environment and I can do partial water changes as necessary. It is
> roughly 25g, but a little space will be taken up with bricks and blocks
> to hold up the marginals. My guess is somewhere between 15-20gal final.
>
> I was thinking of putting in some hardy killies to keep in there, to
> eat the insects and enjoy the outdoors. :-)
>
> AZGardents.com has one listed, Lucania goodei (Bluefin?), that sounds
> interesting. Would this type of fish, or killies in general, be a good
> choice for this type of outdoor setup?
>
> If these would work well, are there any local breeders of them? Thanks!
>
> -- 
> Jason P. Stanford
> Manager, Wilbur Computer Facility
> Wilbur Powerhouse, 204
> Lehigh University
> (610) 758-5845 office phone
> (610) 758-5072 office fax



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