Jim, Is the temperature the only factor effecting growth of the brood in inside compared to outside? What is optimal water temperature?? Mid 70's of what? Are both tanks getting the same forage?
Would love to see a video of the little guys. Do they stay in a ball or do they separate from one another at this stage?
Thanks for keeping us in the loop!! Was wondering yesterday how it was going.
Temperature, photoperiod, stocking density, water column characteristics and forage all differ between groups. Optimal temperature range for larval thru fry stages not worked out to my knowledge. Extrapolating from adult Northern BG may not be wise. We shot for mid to upper 70'S F when rearing fish for research purposes where rapid growth desired.
I have been having trouble making videos. Most of the fish were culled so as to reduce labor and needs for brine shrimp indoors. Camera does not focus on them well from above and underwater camera is on drugs when used for very small fish.
The larval through fry stages do form a large school although is not as tight as you would see with larval LMB. It is nothing like the schools you see with the larger catfish species that appear to roll as a ball while feeding. In cylindrical tanks when well fed, the small fish form a polarized torus (donut). When hungry they move about with a more random directions they face as looking for eats. After first feeding indoors, the torus is maintained for the balance of the work day. The fish in the outdoor tank are seldom so well fed to more constantly moving about. Distribution still not random.
Larval stages differ markedly between sunfish species and even between subspecies. Differences I think are critical to why some species are particular to some habitats and not others. A huge area of research possible with this.
The behavior discussion could go on for a very long time so will stop.
