Description
Stonecat – Noturus flavus – to 12″ (30.48cm)
The native range of this species in the wild is loosely the northern 2/3 of the continental U.S., east of the Rocky Mountains. There, they are found primarily in clear streams and rivers, and in association with rock rubble.
In the aquarium, they are retiring inhabitants. They will hide much of the time during the day, but may be trained to come out of hiding for food.
These are semi-community fishes. They can be kept in groups ranging from all males to all females, and any combination in between! Please note, though, that they do have large mouths for their size and will not hesitate to make sure nearby small fishes end up there! They can be kept peacefully with just about any other fish in the aquarium, including: darters, small catfish, other minnows and many, many tropical and cool-water aquarium fishes, provided they are not small enough to be eaten!
Care Requirements:
Temperature Tolerance Range: 32-78°F (0-25.6°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 (may acclimate to flake).
Swimming Level: Bottom.
Parasite Pre-Treated?: Yes. All wild-collected fish have been parasite pre-treated for internal and external parasites.
Special Requirements: None. Treat as you would any standard tropical fish.
Notes: Be cautious if keeping Stonecats with darters. Because stonecats and darters both feed off the tank bottom and stonecats feed faster than darters, there is a risk that the darters may not get sufficient food. Also, again, Stonecats are OK to keep with other community fishes, provided they are not small enough to be eaten.
