Post by fishstick11 on Oct 1, 2011 21:34:07 GMT -5
I've been getting ready to start a science fair project. I'm going to use 2 baby Northern pike in one tank each, but i still not 100% on what I'm using. I think that I'm going to use different foods or some tip of water additive. I'm going to get the northern pike from a fish hatchery if at all possible.
Does anyone have an idea of what i could to for this project, please help if you can.
I'll take any suggestion, but i might not use them.
I have an aquarium and I have begun to take note of fish interactions for quite a while now. I am always suspicious of this Moon phase stuff, like fish will bite best on this day at this time. You can usually find these calenders in an Ohio game and fish magazine, or on-line.
One experiment that I have been thinking about doing goes something like this:
"Obtain" a couple catfish that are aquarium size. Bullheads or channels. Then put some structure in the tank for them to hide under. This will help eliminate your variables. Then feed them night-crawlers/whatever at different moon phases and times of the day. Record how long it takes for the fish to find the food. Then compare the best, good, and poor phases to the average times it takes for the fish to find the food. Then determine if moon phases have any coincidence with feeding activity of your aquarium fish. Your hypothesis could be that, "You believe that your aquarium fish will find the food faster during periods of "best" moon phases in comparison to "Poor" moon phases.
Just an idea. Good luck with whatever you do. Glad to see you taking your school work and applying it to your passion.
I've tried pike twice and neither lasted more than nine months and got bigger than 10 inches. Both were caught while ice fishing on waxies and were about 6 inches when caught. They were in a 75 gallon aquarium they shared with 3 perch 2 years old, a bullhead 3 years old, and a 3 year old bass. All were smaller than the pike when I got the pike. Now I have 2 tanks, the 75 and a 60. The perch and a walleye are in the 60 and 2 channels, the bullhead, a small stone cat and a gar are in the 75. I use 3 40 gallon filters on the 75 and 2 40 gallon filters on the 60. I only change one at a time and keep the good bacteria going while it is getting re established in the new filter. The only time I need to change any water is if I get a lot of big minnows in for them to eat and the fish don't feed for a few days, build up a lot of nitrates in the water. Other than that I have to add some to make up for evaporation, about 20-25 gallons a week between the 2 tanks. For food I try to always keep minnows in the tanks. I give them nightcrawlers sometimes when I don't have time to get minnows. I use an umbrella net or seine to get my minnows and have a cooler set up to keep them alive in. I have found that when my fish are active it is usually a good time to hit the river.
Post by fishstick11 on Oct 3, 2011 16:45:18 GMT -5
;Dthanks guys i was thinking using different food like minnow and goldfish. your ideas are great too.... I've also got other ideas just i love pike and catfish and i wanted to do an experiment with feeding habits. ;D
Post by Skyline1506 on Oct 4, 2011 10:56:52 GMT -5
you know what would be awesome. if you could get 2 small flatheads one in each tank, feed one only live bait and one only cutbait and see which one feeds more often. would be great for the live vs cut arguments those baby flats arent easy to come by though
I have multiple fish tanks. Majoring in fisheries management and aquaculture
I have mainly kept cichlids but i have had 1 channel cat. He lived from 3inches to 14inches. Ate anything and everything.
Only thing i will suggest anout feeding fish...after about a month...most fish will assoiate you with food and begin to come beg for food when you come close to the tank. If i go to my tank right now all the fish would come up to the top and wait for food.
A good fish for you to try would be...israeli carp. They are hardy and cheap. You can get them at a bait shop. I had 2 left over from a fishing trip last year. They lasted 6 hrs in the bait bucket by the river a hour drive home and now a year in my tank. They never stop swimming. They are non-stop moving. They are dumb. They run into things...they are funny to watch.
Here is a video of what they look like....similar to a goldfish i guess but much more active
Last Edit: Oct 4, 2011 14:53:58 GMT -5 by booshwacka
Lil sharpy that is an amazing idea! I never even considered that...maybe bring water temp up to a steady 80 degrees in one tank using an aquarium heater and leave other one at room temp...love the idea man...I was pushing for moon phase but wasn't real sure how much it'd matter indoors but water temp is going to give Mikey a for sure guarantee result...I like it
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