Hey guys, I recently got my hands on a 250 Gallon Tank. I have kept New World Cichlids my whole life and bein an avid fisherman(mostly saltwater with a new freshwater obsession) i want to turn this into a native tank. I am leaning towards keeping the bigger predators such as LMB, SMB, esox family, perch, walleye, gar and if possibly trout. I realize most of these fish will outgrow the enclosure eventually, luckily my father has a 500 gallon koi tank in the basement. My family also owns house in the New York Catskill Mountains that has a 1 acre private pond where they could be released. My question to you guys is what would be the best way to go about aquiring these fish. I am located on Long Island which has several ponds and lakes that several of these species live in. I know that taking them from the wild is illegal and i would much rather aquire them legally from Hatcheries or private vendors/breeders. Can anyone point me in the direction of a local hatchery that would be willing to sell me individual specimens not for stocking purposes. Aquaculture.com has various pickerel but are all sold out, and cannot ship black bass to states bordering the GreatLlakes thanks to VHS and Zimmermans fish only has small darters and such. Anyways all answers and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
250 Gallon Native Project
- Thread starter p2daj21
- Start date
keeping our native fish is so undervalued as a serious hobby. When I was in northern alberta and rural Ontario I learned more by keeping natives. The nearest hobby shop was, literally, a 1,000 miles away!
Keeping native should be much more respected that it is. Can you still get a permit to get what you need? It used to be that a wildlife permit was required, easy to get (no one ever asked) but that was a long,long time ago. I'm not up on U.S. state by state procedures.
Keeping native should be much more respected that it is. Can you still get a permit to get what you need? It used to be that a wildlife permit was required, easy to get (no one ever asked) but that was a long,long time ago. I'm not up on U.S. state by state procedures.
Check on the NANFA website (North American Native Fish Assoc.) for the local laws concerning native fishkeeping and collecting in New York and you can ask them about the required permits. Ponderosa Farms, 816 Blakesley Rd., Afton, NY 13730 Panus, Edward J. (607) 693-2867 LM Bass, Trout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow) Channel catfish, Crappie, Crayfish, Fathead minnows, Golden Shiners, Perch, Small Mouth Bass, Walleye, Northern pike, Redfin shiners, suckers
This was the only hatchery (private) in New York I could find for big cats and pike.
This was the only hatchery (private) in New York I could find for big cats and pike.