grunt skulpin Rhamphocottus richardsoni

[Petstorejunkie]

has anyone had any experience with this species? they seem to be a cold water species liking it around 66 degrees. the georgia aquarium has a tank with them and catalina gobies together. this was my first encounter with this cute little sculpins, and would be interested in doing a species tank for them if it is possible to recreate their environemtn in a home setting.

 

[steveweast]

Here's mine.....I keep him in my cold water reef at 58 -60 F. I collected him from Puget Sound. He just scurries about on those front fins looking for little left-overs.

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[Lordhelmet]

paitently waiting for an update on your cold water reef.

 

[Petstorejunkie]

how cute! i have never seen one on a wholesale availability list, so i am guessing that if i want to keep one i will have to go collect my own too. thanks for the great pic!

 

[steveweast]

There's not alot to update on my cold system......but, I have decided to keep temperate seahorses along with my grunt sculpins in the smaller cold tank.

If you're interested in obtaining a grunt sculpin, I know a former local cold water collector (who is returning to the trade) who can get and ship some to you in Ga. I think that I have his number around here somewhere.

 

[Jeff Kruse]

Here is mine http://www.seanet.com/~katrinakruse/

I haven't updated the tank pictures in a while though. I love my grunts. They have a personality also. They can turn their heads and look at you! When a fish can turn it's head I think that is cool.

Petstore junkie, do you work for the Atlanta Aquarium? I think there are direct flights from Seattle to Atlanta. Maybe we could work something out, but they are not for sale because I think that is probably illegal.

 

[Petstorejunkie]

[violation] i just visited the aquarium and encountered these cold water wonders an dfell in love. i probably wont be able to afford a proper set up for them for some time (at least 6 months) but figured i should do my research in the meantime.
i am glad to see that hobbiests are able to keep these guys sucessfully. what would be the ideal tank size for one and what tempereature? what are some of their favorite foods? is there any additional information i need about these guys?...

 

[Jeff Kruse]

Pet stores make me mad.

Pet stores make me mad.

Oh, ok, I wasn't paying to much attention. To many boards and people to keep up with. I only saw this board because of Steve.

Grunt Sculpins have been really easy to keep. I have had mine for years and I don't keep the tank clean or feed often. I have a 75 Gallon but you could keep them in a 30 gallon just fine. I keep my tank at 54 degrees. You might get away with 60 degrees but I wouldn't go any warmer. Frozen plankton works great but it should look good and not all munched up.

In the past couple of years I have had a hard time finding good frozen food. I like to by the 16/32 oz packages of frozen brine, plankton, and krill. Now I can only find frozen krill and its in the small 16 oz size. The frozen brine is all smooshed and doesn't represent the real animal. Same with the frozen plankton. I can only find it in cubes. Frozen food needs to look like the live animal or the fish I catch may not eat it.

Just madding. I hate going into pet stores now, there is just no service any more. I gave up on dive shops a few years ago and bought my own compressor. These pet stores are going to force me to just collect my own food!