Common Sticklebacks (UK)

pictus_man_77 · Post by **pictus_man_77** » 17 Apr 2006, 14:18

has anyone evr had these in a tank? im thinking of catching some from the brook at the bottom of my garden and keeping them, but im not sure if a 60X30X30cm tank is big enough. I suppose if i only caught a few it would, but they like to shoal!

I have a spare tank, filter, and a heater, although i dont think a heater will be needed!

Cornuta · Post by **Cornuta** » 17 Apr 2006, 15:39

Hi

For a tank that size you could keep one male and up to 3 or 4 females. The males are very aggressive, especially at this time of year but very interesting to watch as the male build build a nest out of plants etc...

what species is it? 3 or 9 spines?

You wont need the heater and the filtration should be very very slow, possibly not needed.

It takes a long time to get them to take dried foods so you will need a good source of small worms and daphnia

great fun to keep and amazing wee fish... they can even be found out at sea!

cheers
Colin

pictus_man_77 · Post by **pictus_man_77** » 17 Apr 2006, 15:41

i think its the 5 spined version, but it could be three, i cant remember, i havent seen them for about 1 year in the brook!

What kind of substrate should i use, Gravel from the brook? or sand that theyve never seen before

eupterus · Post by **eupterus** » 17 Apr 2006, 16:13

If they are in the brook they are very likely to be the three spined - Gasterosteus acculeatas. I have tried to keep them in tanks before with little success. In the wild they are highly succeptable to a tapeworm infection called Schistocephalus solidus , This causes major behavioural changes and can be noticed by bloating of the belly and the fish appears to be silver when viewed from above. In collection keep away from these individuals. The other thing to consider is the temperature and oxygen levels. These come from fast moving streams and like the water cool and high in oxygen. This is not meant to put you off, they are faccinating little fish and bahve very much like little cichlids. Live food is essential daphnia bloodworm and tubi.
Good luck

Cornuta · Post by **Cornuta** » 17 Apr 2006, 16:26

A good way to get rid of many of their parasites is a bit of a hassle but can be done by aclimatising them first to sea water and then back again... takes time and as i said, hassle. Not sure how well it would work with internal parasites though???

eupterus · Post by **eupterus** » 17 Apr 2006, 17:08

The smaller internal parasites maybe affected by this method but the schistocephalus would need to be caught very early. This tapeworm needs to stay in the stickleback to complete the life cycle. The change in beahaviour involves swimming towards the light at the surface to encourage birds to eat the fish and complete the worms life cycle in the gut of the bird. My degree was parasitology at aberdeen uni and we spent a week in pitlochrie ( appologies for spellings ) and one of the studies we did was on this relationship. In severe cases the worm burden inside the stickleback outweighs the fish by 2 to 1. Amazing to study ( unless you are the stickleback )

pictus_man_77 · Post by **pictus_man_77** » 17 Apr 2006, 19:55

i think ill put a bit of my fish food into the brook near some (when i find some), and see how they react, you never know, they might go for it. If not, i cna always feed them live food