ID my minnows

[Wulfonce]

I know you've only had the fish for a little while, but it's still a risky endeavor to return any of them to the wild. Much better to let the p'seeds eat any smaller fish, or feed them off to other fish you have.

Any minnows that are too large to be eaten will do just fine with the pumpkinseeds. I have river chub, striped shiners (very similar to common shiners), and several other minnow species with dollar and redspotted sunfish; there is some interspecific aggression, but it's initiated by the minnows as often as by the sunfish, and has yet to end in injury. The minnows are actually more aggressive feeders, but the sunfish have learned that they have to push their way into the frenzy if they want to eat.

Are you saying I shouldn't return them to the wild? If so why not?

Also I just moved here and don't have any fish other then these minnows (yet) so feeding them to larger fish isn't an option.

 

[Noto]

The first and most important reason for not returning fish to the wild is the possibility of the fish picking up some exotic pathogen while in captivity. Now, in your situation that risk is minimized (limited time in captivity, no other fish present) but not eliminated. I personally never return an animal once I have left the collection site; that is, I may plop it in a bucket or photo tank to ID it or photograph it and then release it, but once I take it home it's mine forever.

The second reason is that a fish maintained in captivity for some time with steady temperatures and reliable food source is likely to suffer shock when reintroduced to the harsh conditions of the wild. Obviously that is not an issue in your case.

The third reason is that it is illegal in most places to return fish to the wild without a stocking permit. That is the case in all US states; I don't know about Canada but I expect the laws are similar there.

If you do not wish to keep the fish, I suggest you give them away or euthanize them.

 

[WattaMelon]

The black striped fish are creek chubs. The silvery fish are common shiners. I mean, probably.

 

[Noto]

Close, but creek chubs won't have reddish caudal fins. That's a dead giveaway for Nocomis chubs.

 

[WattaMelon]

Close, but creek chubs won't have reddish caudal fins. That's a dead giveaway for Nocomis chubs.

Son of a gun.

I netted a bunch of the exact same fish a few weeks back, posted a picture of them on aquabid's forum asking for help on the the ID. I was told by Lotsoffish (Pete Mang), that they were creek chubs....and I thought he knew his stuff.

It's now confirmed. He's full of it. I hope he sees this.

 

[WahooWillie]

Agreed with Notho..
Never release any fish into the wild unless it is immediate (still on site) release. Nothing wrong with setting up photo/observing tanks on site, but never release back into the wild. Like Notho said, you may not know it, but there is a chance of introducing microscopic critters/algaes that exist in aquaria, but not in the wild.
It is well worth the lives of a few netted fish than risking harming the stream you release them in.
Fish caught and brought into aquaria have a sealed fate - never returned to the wild.

Also, WattaMelon,
for IDing creek chubs, the spot on the dorsal fin is a dead give-away. Hence the name Semotilus atromaculatus - 'spotted banner. black spotted'. The Nocomis will not have this.

 

[WattaMelon]

Thanks guys.