The picture above is of a 1994 Faroe Islands postage stamp with three-spined stickleback. Its Scientific name: Gasterosteus aculaeatus. A diminutive but aggressive predator, the three-spined stickleback hunts tadpoles and small fish. It is also known for fiercely protecting its nest of eggs until they hatch. Look for it in ponds, lakes, and rivers.
It can be a freshwater fish that is about: 4-7cm. It weighs about 1g and has an average lifespan of 3 to 5 years. It can be seen throughout the year. The three-spined stickleback is a small fish found in ponds, lakes, ditches, and rivers. It is an aggressive predator, feeding on invertebrates and other small animals, including tadpoles and smaller fish. In the spring, the male develops a bright red throat and belly and performs a courtship dance to attract a mate. He builds a sheltered nest out of vegetation, under which the female will lay up to 400 eggs. The male then defends the nest from other fish until the young hatch up to four weeks later. The three-spined stickleback is the fish that is most likely to be caught when pond-dipping.
PLEASE remember to put them back when you have finished looking at them. The stream is their home…
You might find the video link below more intriguing as a learning resource as it is a laboratory-based study and observation, much better than taking live specimens home. Watch the video at this link https://youtu.be/cBX8hWuiHTk and you will see what I mean. The stickleback partnership is fascinating and it would be wrong to separate life-long individuals.
In the river video, they are a very inquisitive species and some individuals even stopped to pose in front of the camera. What it a couple of times and you will see what I mean.
Sometimes called baggie minnow, barstickle and other local curious names, this lively species is a curious character who has a complicated life cycle just as exciting as a Salmon. The other little know fact is they are voracious predators and takes up to three years to mature.
Follow these links below to find more information but in the meantime as FOSP vice-chair, I would like to thank and credit mrkphotography for the material – enjoy!!!
https://www.pondlife.me.uk/otherfish/stickleback.php
