Sticklebacks

[yoovee]

Last year we rescued four tiny sticklebacks from a drying up pool and put them in our pond. We saw no sign of them for ages and thought they'd perished, but we now have LOADS of very robust, active babies mingling with our other fish. They can't all grow up in our pond as they are territorial, so if anyone wants to collect some from Wiltshire, get in touch.

[Cazzie]

I'd have some if I lived nearer and even had a pond lol!

I love sticklebacks they're so fascinating to watch, especially the males when they're in their breeding colours, making their nests and caring for the fry - such a shame you didn't get to witness it We had some at our old house in a 8-4ft pond and each male had a corner each for it's territory. Watching them trying to lure a girlie over to their cleverly constructed debris nests was great fun lol!

I hope you find some takers for your babies!

[Ukwildlifeo]

One word of warning though. I was once informed by a group of experience fishkeepers that every wild stickleback (yes every) carries some sort of disease.
Im yet to see an adult without some small tumour or something. Though they usually seem ok otherwise. So basically dont put them in with your other fish and your be fine

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

One word of warning though. I was once informed by a group of experience fishkeepers that every wild stickleback (yes every) carries some sort of disease.
Im yet to see an adult without some small tumour or something. Though they usually seem ok otherwise. So basically dont put them in with your other fish and your be fine

Probably get eaten anyway with other fish although they have spines they don't seem to have a massive use. Yes i agree you do get some lumpy bumpy specimens although not all they breed like Rabbits. Think a big reason for the tumors etc is inbreeding, like you have all these fish from four, so that is a very small gene pool for so many fish. bound to get some oddballs

[Dan Salter]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Probably get eaten anyway with other fish although they have spines they don't seem to have a massive use. Yes i agree you do get some lumpy bumpy specimens although not all they breed like Rabbits. Think a big reason for the tumors etc is inbreeding, like you have all these fish from four, so that is a very small gene pool for so many fish. bound to get some oddballs

Yes we have a local island near us with the same problem !

[Gill Osborne]

I used to always have an aquarium set up every Spring when I was younger and watched the breeding behaviour of Sticklebacks and reared tadpoles (not at the same time obviously ) until they turned into frogs/toads but haven't done this for a few years now.
I had hoped to set one up this year but didn't bother as we thought we would be moving house. However the move has been switched to Spring 2008 so hopefully I'll be able to set up my tank in 2009!!!

Perhaps when I do I should obtain my sticklebacks from a number of different ponds so as to avoid inbred specimens and see if having a wider gene pool that has any bearing on them avoiding genetic & fungal diseases etc (I used to catch them in Paddy Freemans Pond when I was a child and they nearly always had a white cotton-wooley type fungus growing on them).

[woj]

Hi Yoovee

saw your message whilst trying to purchase sticklebacks for Jude & Ethan's pond.They are six and a half and mad about wildlife.

Do you have any left and whereabouts in Wiltshire are you? We live in Bradford on Avon.

Look forward to your reply.

Woj

[yoovee]

The sticklebacks are still thriving one year on, they are over an inch long and luckily have shown no sign of disease. They quite happily elbow 9 inch koi and goldfish out of the way at feeding (frenzy) time. They don't hide in the depths, so its easy to study their fascinating behaviour...fish with attitude! There seems to be a good ratio of males and females. I'd like to thin out the numbers as there must be about 30. I'm in Calne, Wiltshire on 07853798914.
Strictly by collection only... no posting.
cheers, Moira

[Dan Salter]

I still cant get over how many they must have killed while filming blue peter...


every week it was.."Hold the toilet roll in place with some stickleback plastic"...

[galanthus]

Originally Posted by dan Salter

i Still Cant Get Over How Many They Must Have Killed While Filming Blue Peter...


Every Week It Was.."hold The Toilet Roll In Place With Some Stickleback Plastic"...

:d :d :d

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

One word of warning though. I was once informed by a group of experience fishkeepers that every wild stickleback (yes every) carries some sort of disease.

I understand that they become infected with tapeworm, and that the males will display to a female infected to the extent of having a distended abdomen, thinking it was carrying eggs.

Jim