Small MI natives

[MultispeciesTamer]

what kind of small natives can i find in MI or can i buy that live in MI LOoking for darters, any madtom/stonecats. I know about most them minnows but what about topminnows and or killifish?

 

[sandtiger]

Nice to see you looking towards some of the smaller species.

Check out this link
http://www.natureserve.org/getData/dataSets/watershedHucs/index.jsp
There you can get a species list for whatever watershed you live/collect in.

 

[MultispeciesTamer]

yeah so far ive aquired 2 different species of crayfish, and a creek chub

 

[Noto]

If you're setting up a community tank for small species, keep the crayfish and creek chub out of it- they're killers! Also avoid sticklebacks and stonecats in community tanks.

Pretty much any darters will coexist well, though males of the same or similar species can show some territoriality. Most kinds of minnows (other than the creek chub) are also good in community tanks. The various dace (Clinostomus, Phoxinus, and Rhinichthys species) are especialy good in smaller tanks, as they are a bit less flighty than shiners. The tadpole madtom is the common small madtom up there; it does well in low-current tanks.

 

[MultispeciesTamer]

kk thanks for the info looks like ill but my cray in a different tank and the chub will be bait

 

[sandtiger]

I don't know what watershed you live in but if you do a search through NatureServe go ahead and post the list here, we'll be able to tell you which species are best for a native community.

 

[MultispeciesTamer]

kk well iam sick right now so it might be a few days till i get around to it

 

[sandtiger]

Its no more difficult than logging in and starting a thread here but to each their own.

 

[redchaser]

Nice to see you looking towards some of the smaller species.

Check out this link
http://www.natureserve.org/getData/dataSets/watershedHucs/index.jsp
There you can get a species list for whatever watershed you live/collect in.

Sandtiger,

Thanks for posting that link, I've been looking for just such a resource. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find any kind of comprehensive list published by or about my states waters, and want to maintain my native tank with fish that are found in my local watershed. That natureserve link gives me a target list. I've been especially curious about what species of darters are native to my local river.

Again, thanks.

Ron

 

[redchaser]

...........til I got tired of it and used them for LMB bait! How ya like that one?...amazing how quick I caught a 4.5 lb LMB with a 8 inch Oscar! The color must have attracted him...barely fit in its mout too.........

You know, using exotics for bait is worse than re-releasing captive caught natives. Fish used as bait OFTEN come unbuttoned from the hook and survive. Using an Oscar for bait is a good way to introduce an un needed invasive into a watershed.