Florida Freshwater Flounder Questions??

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pmtuneman13

pmtuneman13

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 15, 2007
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Florida
When I was in high school my aquaculture teacher took me on a collecting trip for freshwater flounder in the Peace River. Of course back then I didn't think to ask him about the conditions they need to thrive. I am seriously thinking about going on a collecting trip in the near future to see what I can find. Does anyone have any pointers about keeping these fragile little fish? They do require a permit to collect so I am looking into that as well. These guys were collected over 100 miles away from saltwater... so I don't believe brackish would be their label.. any help is appreciated as I know very little about these guys, but would love to keep some. Thanks...

Clint
 
ddyerfamily;1074978; said:
lots of interesting fish for sale everywhere.........why take from wild?
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As far as I know, flounder do not breed well in captivity. So most all of them are wild caught. And collecting your own fish is very rewarding. I am not for taking endangered or protected species by any means.
 
It way more exciting and interesting to be able to go out and see what you catch. You never know what you'll get! One day I plan to do something like that, and have a native tank
 
kntrygrl4lyfe;1081559; said:
It way more exciting and interesting to be able to go out and see what you catch. You never know what you'll get! One day I plan to do something like that, and have a native tank
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If you're in Florida, find the little town of Wauchula on a map. Follow the Peace river south from there and pick a spot where there is a little speed to the river with a soft bottom and get a seine ready down river. Have someone else flip the sand and check the net for fishies. I usually make a day out of it. This is also the best place in Florida for sharks teeth.
 
Do you have pics? I see to likely canidates. one is the lined sole (Achirus lineatus) or the hogchocker (Trinectus maculatus), both can get to 8-9" but are usually smaller. Both prefer a little salt but can go from heavy brackish to pure fresh. They both seem to prefer sand or silt bottoms as they like to sit just under the substrate surface with their eyes showing. Also both prefer water temps fairly low, compared to tropicals, low to mid 70s is recomended. They eat lots of amphipods, small crustaceans, and inverts such as ghost shrimp, brine shrimp, black worms,and small earth worms. They will also take chopped shellfish and small live fish. They are pretty hardy.
 
guppy;1094526; said:
Do you have pics? I see to likely canidates. one is the lined sole (Achirus lineatus) or the hogchocker (Trinectus maculatus), both can get to 8-9" but are usually smaller. Both prefer a little salt but can go from heavy brackish to pure fresh. They both seem to prefer sand or silt bottoms as they like to sit just under the substrate surface with their eyes showing. Also both prefer water temps fairly low, compared to tropicals, low to mid 70s is recomended. They eat lots of amphipods, small crustaceans, and inverts such as ghost shrimp, brine shrimp, black worms,and small earth worms. They will also take chopped shellfish and small live fish. They are pretty hardy.
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guppy- ive always wanted one. would it be safe to add one to a tank with the following: C. frontosas, N. leleupi, N. brevis, N. caudopunctatus, A. calvus, J. marlieri, J. ornatus, J. dickfeldi, C. borleyi Redfin, L. careoleus, Clown Loach, Madtom Catfish. smaller fish are are 1-2"
 
I do not have pics, unfortunately.. I will whenever I make the trip to collect. I have only ever seen small ones so I have no idea how large they actually get. But I heard they do not breed well in captivity... hence wild caught only around here.
 
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