Description
Blackside Darter – Percina maculata – to 4″ (10.16 cm)
The native range of this species in the wild is primarily east-central United States and Canada. There, they prefer the quieter waters of rivers and streams.
In the aquarium, they make inquisitive inhabitants, coming to recognize their keeper and “begging” for food when the keeper is around!
As Blackside Darters have more well-developed swim bladders than other native darters, they will sometimes occupy mid-waters of the aquarium, in addition to the bottom!
Great community fishes, they are also not aggressive. They can be kept in groups ranging from all males to all females, and any combination in between! They can also be kept peacefully with just about any other fish in the aquarium, including other darters, small catfish, minnows and many, many tropical aquarium fishes!
Care Requirements:
Temperature Tolerance Range: 32-80°F (0-26.7°C.)
Preferred Temperature Range: 72-76°F (22.2-24.4°C) (room temperature water.)
Water Hardness: Medium to Hard.
Type of Tank Setup: Freshwater (cold) or Freshwater (tropical) / Species or Community.
Food: Live or Frozen, and occasionally flake.
Swimming Level: Mid- to Bottom.
Parasite Pre-Treated?: All wild-collected fish have been parasite pre-treated for internal and external parasites.
Special Requirements: Blackside Darters need good water circulation / aeration. These fish feed off the bottom and may feed slowly, so be sure that sufficient food gets to the bottom of the tank. Blackside Darters also eat small meals and do best when fed twice daily. They also do best when kept in groups of two or more.
