recreating local stream in fishtank

[slimecoat]

Hi,

I was talking here a few weeks ago, about catching some local fish for my fish tank, and the advice was to set up a quarantine tank to put them in initially. Well, I started thinking about this, and thought I'd dedicate a tank to the locals. I had this old 3 foot tank gathering dust, so I set it up in our pergola. It is sitting where it gets indirect natural light through shadecloth, and even a bit of direct sun (through shadecloth) just after midday.

I don't plan to put a light on it, and will add filtration later as I get more fish. Basically it's a semi-outdoor pond, with glass sides

I set it up and it looks good, so today I went to a local stream and caught a few fish, and collected a few plants. I have a local water lilly, some elodea (not native) and a local plant, similar to cabomba. The native fish I got were 'hardyheads', gudgeons, and 3 rainbows. Along with them, some introduced species - livebearers - swordtails and mosquito fish. The swords are green (natural coloured) although I did see one red one swimming around in the creek. They all look quite happy.

I am now planning some trips to other local creeks to get various different species, particularly rainbows. This could be a fun tank...

 

[Mr Miagi]

It may be fun, but is it legal. Taking fish from a river or stream whether natural or introduced may be illegal and if caught you may get a summons to court or a fine.
Are those gudgeons a protected or indangered species? If so, it would be far better of leaving tham in the stream.

It sounds ok, but what about the climate your area is used too. Outside tanks are prone too extreme temperature fluctuations and may crack if temps reach a low level. Plus this may seriously damage or even kill your fish. Rivers and streams do not cool down or warm up as much as a 3ft tank does.

I would not advise the use of outside tanks but if you think its alright, go for it.

 

[fufanu360]

sounds cool, thats wicked u can catch those fish in one of ur rivers

 

[DannyBoy17]

Damn you. The most interesting fish I can catch locally is a mutant sunfish from lake Ontario...aka the Swamp (I live near Hamilton )

DB

 

[littlefishie]

That's nothing.. you haven't seen the ones in Lake Erie!

 

[FrAnK3333]

Even if it is illegal Id still get the fish. Just be sneaky.

 

[steelhealr]

OOOPS:

http/www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au/thr/specie...y-hardyhead.htm

http/images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt...6lr%3D%26sa%3DN

 

[Ben]

sounds fun

so i take it you live in Australia?

DD

 

[FrAnK3333]

He does.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

lucky s.o.b. -- australia has all the cool gobies.

i'd love to one day have an australian biotope tank. but you just don't see many australian fish available in the stores around here. i think i saw a *legal* purple gudgeon once, but then again it could have just been mislabled. i so have to move to civilisation.

 

[Mr Miagi]

OOOPS:

http/www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au/thr/specie...y-hardyhead.htm

http/images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt...6lr%3D%26sa%3DN

Yay, someone helped me.......lol thanks!

 

[slimecoat]

It may be fun, but is it legal. Taking fish from a river or stream whether natural or introduced may be illegal and if caught you may get a summons to court or a fine.
Are those gudgeons a protected or indangered species? If so, it would be far better of leaving tham in the stream.

It sounds ok, but what about the climate your area is used too. Outside tanks are prone too extreme temperature fluctuations and may crack if temps reach a low level. Plus this may seriously damage or even kill your fish. Rivers and streams do not cool down or warm up as much as a 3ft tank does.

I would not advise the use of outside tanks but if you think its alright, go for it.

1. It's completely legal. We have not destroyed our local fish to the point where they need protecting (in general).

2. As above, those gudgeons are not protected. In fact, local stores sell them as feeder fish.

3. It's summer, and it's sub-tropical climate. In a few months, when it cools a little, I will add a heater. Not however, it doesn't get very cold here anyway. We don't even get frost in winter.

4. Friends have kept outside tanks very successfully. They say even a heater isn't necessary for the local fish, BUT I will use one anyway, just to be sure.

 

[slimecoat]

OOOPS:

http/www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au/thr/specie...y-hardyhead.htm

http/images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt...6lr%3D%26sa%3DN

Different gudgeon, and different hardyhead. I don't live anywhere near the Murray, and because Australia is so big, we have many many different species. Local names may be similar, but they are different fish in nearly every locality.

It is sad, the state of the Murray Darling ecosystem, with salination problems, and blue-green algae problems. Governments and farmers have a lot to answer for in that part of the world - but let's skip the politics.

 

[slimecoat]

OOOPS:

http/www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au/thr/specie...y-hardyhead.htm

http/images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt...6lr%3D%26sa%3DN

Yay, someone helped me.......lol thanks!

Not really. As I said, different part of the Australia, different fish.

Guys lighten up. Noone is threatening any endangered species.

just for information, here's a list of the very few protected species here

http/www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb/2772.html