Fish skulls and Skeletons....fish anatomy and random other skulls

[necrocanis]

Another Bowfin skull I worked on Amia calva

I also included a reference picture for those who don't know what a Bowfin or Grinnel is. Native to North America. Does anyone actually keep these in home aquaria?

 

[necrocanis]

I did find some pics of a Spotted Gar skull I worked on also. I like using the reference pics of the live fish. Keep in mind the live fish are not my pics just borrowing them for reference.

 

[Hendre]

Super interesting! Ever worked on polypterus?

 

[necrocanis]

Super interesting! Ever worked on polypterus?

No I haven't. . I wish to someday though. I've worked on maybe 150 or so different species of fish over the last 20+ years. Hope to drastically increase that number this year. For me even if I can't keep them doing this work eases the urge although I'm finding it tough being back here. Getting all kinds of crazy ideas for how I could get or keep fish right now lol.

 

[BIG-G]

I'm finding it tough being back here. Getting all kinds of crazy ideas for how I could get or keep fish right now lol.

It’s an addiction! You may stop, but it’s always there. Tempting you! Lol

 

[necrocanis]

It’s an addiction! You may stop, but it’s always there. Tempting you! Lol

Very true. Luckily there's no good dealers around me . Lol. Only shops are Petco and PetSmart. They suck

 

[BIG-G]

Very true. Luckily there's no good dealers around me . Lol. Only shops are Petco and PetSmart. They suck

I hear ya.
I go in those stores but the ones near me only keep certain species and it never changes, so I never buy anything because it’s nothing I want to keep.

Stay away from the internet vendors and maybe you can resist.

 

[AaronKWolfe]

Another Bowfin skull I worked on Amia calva

I also included a reference picture for those who don't know what a Bowfin or Grinnel is. Native to North America. Does anyone actually keep these in home aquaria?
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I have HEARD of people keeping them, but I haven't seen any kept in person. I think it's probably a mix of people not wanting them (they aren't as sought after as Esox and Bass) and people not having tanks large enough for them. They get 20+ inches, so a tank of 6'x2'2' would be the minimum, but an 8'x3'x2 would be a much better bet. Ontop of that, I've heard ambush predator native fish (ie esox, walleye, bowfin, etc.) are very hard to get onto prepared food, most of the people I've heard about keeping them claim to feed them minnows/shiners they catch. A few people said they could get them to eat frozen fish if they tied line to it and made it look like the fish is swimming.

 

[necrocanis]

I have HEARD of people keeping them, but I haven't seen any kept in person. I think it's probably a mix of people not wanting them (they aren't as sought after as Esox and Bass) and people not having tanks large enough for them. They get 20+ inches, so a tank of 6'x2'2' would be the minimum, but an 8'x3'x2 would be a much better bet. Ontop of that, I've heard ambush predator native fish (ie esox, walleye, bowfin, etc.) are very hard to get onto prepared food, most of the people I've heard about keeping them claim to feed them minnows/shiners they catch. A few people said they could get them to eat frozen fish if they tied line to it and made it look like the fish is swimming.

Maybe so. I think if I had to choose a native fish other than catfish species I'd probably love to try a bowfin.

 

[necrocanis]

This is a Red Belly Pacu skull I'm about to send to the beetles soon. It was my pet 20 years ago when it was maybe 13" it jumped out of my tank while I was at school and I came home to a dead fish. It's been preserved in alcohol that entire time. I took it out the other day and dried it. Now soon it will be a skull. I'll post pics up as I finish it.