I have never had any trouble transporting F. diaphanous. I don't think
your problem was because of temperature, but judging from your description
of the living fish, they have been subjected to some kind of stress. You
should find some information about the pond water. The place I collect can
have very differ water chemistry from year to year. One year it was so
salty, you could taste it. Now it is so fresh and clear you could drink
it. If you are moving the fish from water with considerably different
chemistry than what is in your tank, a one or two hour acclimation process
isn't going to work. Take a big cooler with you next time and bring home
as much water as you can. Use that water in your tank and replace 10 per
cent of it with fresh de chlorinated water every day.
These fish will settle down and eat just about anything. They are
jumpers however so make sure the tank is covered. The larger mature fish
are spookier which is why you haven't caught any. The younger fish adjust
to aquarium easy and don't seem to bother fish of different species.
Bill Martin
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