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Fundulus Cingulatus as an Aquarium Species
Robert Rice
2213 Prytania Circle
Navarre Fl 32566
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. The young
are very durable as a matter of fact in my main tank the
trio 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. If you are interested in trading for some of this
exceptional temperate fish or any other temperate species I
recommend you check out the NANFA web site at WWW.NANFA.ORG
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