The Hidden World Of The Tessellated Darter

Stunning footage of a male Tessellated Darter in the wild as it protects its eggs from a Fathead Minnow as well as other male Tessellated Darters.
With lots of information about how these fish breed and care for their eggs. There's also interesting information about the fathead minnow.
I also mention other beautiful darter species such as the Rainbow Darter, the Tangerine darter, and the Bluemask Darter.

[@audrameyer9558]

This was fantastic! The footage is quite amazing. I recently purchased a male and a female Rainbow Darters and my goodness are they enjoyable to watch scoot around the tank! Believe it or not, I have seen mine eat some Dr. Bassleer foods that I drop in the tank for the Pygmy Corydoras. They of course prefer black worms, grindle worms, live brine shrimp and any frozen foods 😊

[@Chompchompyerded]

I too have rainbow darters, and I just love them! Mine tend to shoal up and stick together, usually near inlet or outflow tubes for the aquarium they're in, which has a pretty good flow in most parts of it. There are so many other North American species I'd like to keep, but unfortunately, in the state I live in, most are illegal to keep. Rainbow shiners are one of the few species which are excepted. There are so many cool little shiners, darters, and minnows which are pretty, or have interesting behaviours, but which are not allowed. And let's not even get into oddballs like skulpins. Most of our sunfish are worth keeping too. Pumpkin seeds are as pretty as any cichlid is, and bluegills and long ears aren't to shabby either. I really don't understand though, why if people are allowed to kill them in large numbers for eating or mounting, why taking one or two out to be pets is so much worse, especially since once you have two or three, you probably won't be going back for more or the life of the fish. It's not as if we are going to put some sort of stress on the population that they won't be able to come back from. When most people think of North American freshwater fish species, they mostly think of trout, char, bass, and some catfish. They aren't thinking of the small, beautiful fish which could easily be kept in aquarium, yet we have plenty of species, some of which may not continue to exist without some sort of intervention. Keeping and breeding these so that they will be around for future generations, or for the possibility that their niche may someday be rehabilitated seems like a no brainer to me.

[@TheDave333]

Thanks for watching another video and taking the time to leave a comment. I hope to get some rainbow darters at some point in the future. The spawning males are so pretty! I'm a little jealous. . . It would be so great if you could get your Darters to spawn. Your Blue Gularis are on my list too! You have some really nice fish. 🤗 .

[@Staggo_L]

Utterly fascinating fish and a quality video. 😀

[@TheDave333]

Thank you so much! 😁

[@svengalt9546]

I love watching the little man turn upside down and then right side up again! Lovely fish, I always enjoyed watching them at the lake as a kid.

[@TheDave333]

Thanks for watching the video! I love to see them turn upside down as well, very cute. ❤

[@chisaquaticvibe6524]

Wow!

[@TheDave333]

Exactly Wow!

[@tamarrajames3590]

This is fascinating, and as always filled with information and exquisite filming. I’m sorry I have been absent for some months, but everything hit me at once, and I had to completely change my life patterns, and allow myself to grieve. I have missed your wonderful presentations, and will be catching up on those I missed. Yours is the first I have visited since dropping out for awhile, and you did not let me down…not that you ever have.✨🖤🇨🇦

[@TheDave333]

I'm so happy that you are able to rejoin me on these little trips into Mother Nature. Your absence was noticed, and I often thought of reaching out to you through your channel, but I felt that I might be over-stepping the bounds of our digital relationship a little bit so I held back. I have a son named Richard, and as I understand it your Richard has crossed the veil. I am truly sorry for your loss, and I really wish nothing but the best for you. 🌻🌼🐝❤🐠🦈

[@ByronGiant]

I intentionally changed my settings to 240p and I will now complain unreasonably...

[@TheDave333]

What a rebel! That's just what the world needs man more people complaining. . . 🤗

[@Hmongboi228]

My bro, the fat head minnow went out for a six pack and a pack of smokes. Upon coming back after a quick 10 min trip the corner gas station, he had lost everything.. 😞😮‍💨😓 🤣

[@TheDave333]

That happens, my Dad went out for a pack of smokes one day. . . Haven't seen him since. 😁

[@thequackyest3604]

:O

[@TheDave333]

That say it all right there! Thanks! :-D

[@davethebeard2706]

Great information, thank you! For ut i want to have native species in my pond. Im just not sure what species will do well in Oklahoman.

[@TheDave333]

Thanks for watching the video. It really depends on how cold it gets in the pond each winter. Species that are native to your area would be best. Wading birds such as Great Blue Herons might be a concern. They do love their fish!

[@periplanetamissionary]

I do love native fish, people sleep on them, and not all need super cold water, unless you want to breed them.

[@TheDave333]

So true my friend! Did you know that your Sauger and the darters are in the same family? (Percidae)

[@periplanetamissionary]

@@TheDave333 yup. Percidae are generally great fish

[@yashtapase3821]

National geographic of aquarium industry for sure 😂👌❤ Your videos has full packed valuable information thanks for taking time to make these video for us 😀 Gratitude 🙏🙏

[@TheDave333]

Thank you so much for the kind words. 🤗

[@butterfish-g9f]

Are gobies and darters related or is the appearance and movement just a convergent evolution type of thing?

[@TheDave333]

Good thinking! They're not closely related, but there's definitely some evolutionary convergence happening. Their pectoral fins are very similar, their method of locomotion, and body design, lack of or tiny swim bladders are all similar adaptations for a benthic lifestyle. But the darters are more close related to Perches, Saugers, and Walleyes.

[@chevyfish4028]

Busy, busy little jewels. The video footage is absolutely clear and amazing.

[@TheDave333]

Thank you very much!

[@itsnotakuma]

what cute little fish! thanks for filming and narrating!

[@TheDave333]

Thanks for watching! ❤

[@duv1544]

Amazing🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@TheDave333]

Thanks!

[@moonpleco5083]

At first I thought that they are gobies not minnows 😆

[@TheDave333]

They look and act a lot like gobies, so it's understandable. 🐠🦈🐟

[@twasbrillig33]

Gorgeous fish the male Tessellated Darter is

[@TheDave333]

So true!

[@unknownerorr2740]

Cool!

[@TheDave333]

Thanks!

[@Chompchompyerded]

I have a small group of rainbow darters which have been absolutely a blast to keep. I haven't a clue where to get any other darter species, or for that matter, any other species of North American fish. I would also like to keep sunfish as, though they are quite common, they also exhibit some interesting behaviour if kept in a large enough aquarium. The thing is, any fish which is classified as a game fish or a bait fish is illegal to possess, except for the express purposes for which they are generally sought. That means you can only keep game fish i you intend to eat them or mount them, and you can only keep bait fish if you intend to use them as bait to catch other fish. The sole exception is goldfish, which may either be kept as pets or as bait fish, even though they are invasive. So, unless I can find a source to get some of these kinds of fish from, and some people who are knowledgeable about how to best keep them, I will probably never get the opportunity work with these wonderful and vanishing species.

[@TheDave333]

I highly recommend that you check out a website called N.A.N.F.A ( North American Native Fishes Association ). They're a wonderful group of people with lots of information about native species. It's also a good place to find people who have permits to sell native species legally.

[@butterfish-g9f]

They may be smaller than what you want, but I've found blue spotted sunfish popping up more often for sale in stores and online. Also, everglades pygmy sunfish.

[@TheDave333]

Those Everglades Pygmy Sunfish are stunning natives!

[@PaulsFishroom]

Fascinating and educational Dave - as usual 🤓👍

[@TheDave333]

Thanks Paul! You're the best! 🤗

[@PaulsFishroom]

@@TheDave333 😂

[@sibashishpaul6681]

Lovely

[@TheDave333]

Thank you 🤗

[@blakebardossy124]

Great vide

[@TheDave333]

Thanks

[@vicgonzales9409]

love it ❤

[@TheDave333]

Awesome thanks! 🤗

[@alf9638]

Beautiful introduction to the species.

[@TheDave333]

Thanks. . . more footage and information coming soon! I really love these fish.

[@alf9638]

@@TheDave333they are rather majestic in stature and coloration… I knew nothing of them till today. Thank you.

[@TheDave333]

Well, I'm happy to introduce you to a new fish species.

[@nian60]

Those are very cute fish. Thanks for filming them. 😊

[@TheDave333]

My pleasure! It's a lot of fun and I really love what I do. 🤗

[@tomneeb5474]

Another excellent video. Thank you

[@TheDave333]

My pleasure! They're so much fun to make.

[@robyn6521]

Awesome video as always! Thank you 🤩

[@TheDave333]

You're very welcome! I love spending time by the river. It's my home away from home. ❤❤❤

[@moonpleco5083]

Amazing video showing moments in life of those little, cute fish. This particular rock seems to be desired residence with panoramic view 😄. When watching this I feel like I'm pipping through keyhole to their home. Thanks for sharing with us this beautiful underworld.

[@TheDave333]

You're very welcome my friend. Thanks for watching the video and leaving a comment. I have a lot more video of these fish, so you can expect more videos in the near future.

[@moonpleco5083]

​@@TheDave333 good news, I'll watch! By the way, what's about video with Bertha the guppy? Were you success catching on camera when she decided to give birth to her fry ?

[@TheDave333]

It's a long story, but no babies. . . She's just really fat and not giving birth. She's still alive and healthy eating and going to the bathroom like she should, but she's still really fat. No pineconing of the scales / no signs of dropsy or illness. I stopped feeding her for a week to see if that would help, but no change. I've put salt in her water to see if that would bring down the swelling, but no change! I should just make a video about this situation. . . She's in a tank all by herself. I'm afraid to put her with males, it might be too stressful. . .

[@chisaquaticvibe6524]

@@TheDave333 Dave, I'm already looking forward to more darter vids. 😁

[@moonpleco5083]

​​@@TheDave333she needs veterinary consultation... She may have slowly developing internal inflammation or even bacterial infection, scales may look normal at this stage. Or she is simply fat, always finding something to eat. I had one female, she toke food like vacuum cleaner. And no males definitely!

[@weldereiss7289]

Your vids RAWK

[@TheDave333]

Thank you!

[@weldereiss7289]

@@TheDave333 Always a pleasure n Thank YOU!