Catching wild fish for the tank.

[Kris P Bacon]

Every thing in my tank is wild caught, I use several methods. Small dip net, homemade fish trap, micro fishing with tiny hooks with no barb, cast net. I have mosquito fish, mollies (had a jewel cichlid) and grass shrimp.

Today, I finally used the small dip net to catch a baby (barely over an inch) pleco. Where the creek runs under the RR tracks to the river, there is a pile of big, busted up concrete for erosion control. Lots of baby pleco, finally corralled one in my net. I bet it has not been a week since it hatched. Should be good in my 29 gallon for at least a year?

Anyone else catch their stock, wild? Here is pic of my fish trap, I used a hot glue gun for construction. Only mosquito fish and cichlids have entered it, thus far. I bait it with a bit of dry, cat food.

 

[imabot]

What kind of pleco did you get?

 

[Kris P Bacon]

What kind of pleco did you get?

Not sure, but all the adults in the river (tons of them) all look like this. More or less

 

[imabot]

You got a common most likely. Be warned, you have to eventually put it in a 75 gallon or larger aquarium. They also like to suck on other fish scales.

 

[AnthonyFish20]

You got a common most likely. Be warned, you have to eventually put it in a 75 gallon or larger aquarium. They also like to suck on other fish scales.

really ive had one never seen it do tht unless a fish died I got rid of him thouhh

 

[Kris P Bacon]

You got a common most likely. Be warned, you have to eventually put it in a 75 gallon or larger aquarium. They also like to suck on other fish scales.

Gets to be a problem, I will toss him back and catch another baby.
Wonder what it would cost in a pet store? 5-10$

 

[Wailua Boy]

Nice catch but I would suggest its better to give the fish to a pet store or CL, if they will accept. Releasing back into wild risks transmitting aquarium bacteria and//or parasites, not worth the risk IMHO.

 

[Kris P Bacon]

Nice catch but I would suggest its better to give the fish to a pet store or CL, if they will accept. Releasing back into wild risks transmitting aquarium bacteria and//or parasites, not worth the risk IMHO.

Or just put it in the compost pile. I see your point, but I bet my tank is much cleaner than the peace river (106 miles long, surrounded by runoff from phosphate mining and Agricultural land) Just compost him, if I cant find a home. The nitrogen cycle, continues.

Plus, everything in the tank, came from said river.

 

[Jexnell]

I thought it would be sorta cool if I lived in Florida and could have a big pond, I would go catch a mess of then aquarium trade cichlds you see people catching in the rivers down there on YouTube.

 

[Kris P Bacon]

I thought it would be sorta cool if I lived in Florida and could have a big pond, I would go catch a mess of then aquarium trade cichlds you see people catching in the rivers down there on YouTube.

Been thinking about that, at least a kiddy pool, don't have much disposable income. Using a small (maybe 6 gallon) fiberglass pool, for a grow out tank, a molly gave birth in, no filtration/aeration. They are growing. If you go another 100 miles south, way more invasives. I am here.