There's A Gold Mine In Your Backyard

[juhason]

I'm back with more native American fish! They are my absolute favorite fish EVER, I just have to share. 
*Disclaimer* If you decide you are interested and want to collect native fish MAKE SURE YOU CHECK YOUR STATE LAWS on collecting and taking home fish. 
 
Shiners/Dace:
Warpaint Shiner

Striped Shiner (Big rainbow fish on the bottom)

Fiery Black Shiner

Whitetail Shiner

Sailfin Shiner

Russetfin Topminnow

Bluefin Kilifish

Darters:
Greenfin Darter

Gilt Darter

Sunfish/Bass:
Redbreast Juvenile

Shadow Bass

Florida Bluegill (The only golden bluegills)

 
 
Keep in mind that all these fish are in breeding coloration. Maybe if someone selectively breeds them long enough we can get them to retain these colors (obviously not as bright though) year round? I can only dream 

 

[star4]

Boy I want so bad to move to the states!!!

 

[orangegecko]

wow very nice looking fish!

 

[*pete*]

Great photo's and fish... likey the Minnow and surprised we don't see them in the hobby !
 
Are they cold water or tropical ?

 

[Ninjouzata]

Such beautiful fish! Do you happen to know their sizes and such? If not that's fine.

I do hope to have a native tank some day.

 

[sawickib]

WHERE THE HECK DO YOU LIVE??!!??! Ive lived in Ohio and visited michigan a lot and never once seen any of these awesome fish!!! Im in florida now so no way its in my back yard haha

 

[Weiro792]

Those are some great looking fish! I have 3 swamp darters in my community tank and they are active and lots of fun to watch. Not as colorful as the green fin, but still very curious and fun little fish!

 

[DreamertK]

They're definitely not in my backyard - our entire state is dried up.

 

[juhason]

Great photo's and fish... likey the Minnow and surprised we don't see them in the hobby !
 
Are they cold water or tropical ?

They are temperate fish so they prefer an unheated tank, but can still thrive in warmer water (as long as its still in the 70's)
Any sunfish kept in warmer waters though will be in constant breeding mode and extremely aggressive. 
 

Such beautiful fish! Do you happen to know their sizes and such? If not that's fine.

I do hope to have a native tank some day.

The shiners most likely top out around 3" other than the striped shiner, which is more around 5" but can reach 7"
Darters are very small and probably no more than 2"
Sunfish are generally in the 6-8" range
This is a general guideline, of course there are a few species that are smaller or larger. 
 

WHERE THE HECK DO YOU LIVE??!!??! Ive lived in Ohio and visited michigan a lot and never once seen any of these awesome fish!!! Im in florida now so no way its in my back yard haha

I live in Illinois and don't have any of the fish I posted up there (except the redbreast) but you'd be surprised what kinds of fish you have in your state! The fish I posted were mostly from South Carolina/ Tennessee area and Florida. Florida has SO MANY species! Take a look! 
 

Those are some great looking fish! I have 3 swamp darters in my community tank and they are active and lots of fun to watch. Not as colorful as 
the green fin, but still very curious and fun little fish!

Darters are neat for sure! I have 2 johnny darters in mine, and they are like little puppies, following me everywhere. 
 

They're definitely not in my backyard - our entire state is dried up.

Oops, sorry! 

 

[BenVernon]

Wow nice photos and great looking fish. Always wanted to live in the US.

 

[gh74]

Excellent looking fish very unique looking,but not sure if there 9/18/24 carat

 

[Neil_Clark]

That second picture, stunning looking fish!!!

 

[juhason]

Excellent looking fish very unique looking,but not sure if there 9/18/24 carat

Haha maybe not, but I still think they're worth as much!
 

That second picture, stunning looking fish!!!

Yes it is! 

 

[Gvilleguy]

Yep - those fish are my neck on the woods! South Carolina has a lot of nice waterways and fish.