cold saltwater ideas

N

nmrsco

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Jan 6, 2007
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rhode island
I have never kept a SW tank before, but I always wondered if it was possible to keep different fish/inverts I catch(I live close to SW and do alot of fishing and collecting of fish) in a cold SW tank. would the fish be too delicate? how could I go about doing it? here are some fish/inverts considered(sorry about the names, theyare local names I grew up with):
silversides, hermit crabs, sea robins(not the large type, Im not sure the actual species its just a local name), mummies(mummichog), possibly small striper(probably not though, I catch 40+ inch ones), pipefish, killifish(NOT FW), many,many others. again this is just an idea I have had all my life- not something I plan on really doing. I was just wondering if it was possible
 
You could probably get a ton of starfish and hermits just by walking some of Naragansett at low tide. The only thing is you'd need a really good chiller and they can fetch quite a pretty penny.
 
you know narragansett? thats where I live. I dont go to the town beach often though- theres way better stuff in the pt. jude salt pond
 
I wish I was that close to the ocean,and some good freebe's,You guys are really lucky to have the resource right in your back yard.
 
silversides, hermit crabs, sea robins(not the large type, Im not sure the actual species its just a local name), mummies(mummichog), possibly small striper(probably not though, I catch 40+ inch ones), pipefish, killifish(NOT FW), many,many others. again this is just an idea I have had all my life- not something I plan on really doing. I was just wondering if it was possible


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Hmmmn. Well, most of the organisms, (stripers, silversides, sea robbins) would most likely get too large for practical keeping (think 40" fish.) and would potentially be difficult ot maintain due to movement, feeding, and acclimation. pipefish might be possible, but they're up there with seahorses in terms of difficulty..daily feedings and pristine, stable water, and a specialized diet would be needed. Reefcentral and Aquarium Board have a good collection of Seahorse and pipefish folks, RC even has a specific forum for them. I'm not sure about the killifish or the mummies, as i don't know exactly what species you are talking about here; try looking for a poster on local fish (regulations and similar stuff), as they sometimes have the latin names, if unavailible online. Once you've got the latin names, it makes things trememdously easier to find.

Like others said, you've got a ton of chilling to do, and in any tank it just might cost you a fortune (running as well, not just startup). If you opted for a "less fishy" setup, i would try and stick with tidal critters, as they may be better used to swings in temperature and other water concerns.

Keep in mind, you might be jumping around in a lot of comlicated food webs, so be aware you may never be able to replicate a balanced habitat, even under the largest tanks and bidget.

Also, i belive there may be some laws in our area that boil down to certain game species (stripers) only being allowed ot be kept in captivity for as long as the season, but check with your local fish and wildlife.

and, there's the whole shpiel about parasites and contaminants, so be careful and get a different set of equipment for the system and don't plan on using it for other stuff for sure.

Good luck, and be sure to do your research. send pics!

B.W.
 
thanks blackwolf for the info. I definitely don't have the time, space, or money to undertake this, but possibly later on in my life. thanks again
Nick
 
Yeah I spent 5 years there myself. I loved going down to Black Point on weekends and walking around checking out the tidal pools. I used to rescue horsheshoe crabs at Scarborough too, they'd get all caught up in dry seaweed at low tide. I miss living next to the beach...
 
thats cool I always thought it was kind of out-of-the-way here. I like blackpoint, but the saltpond is still better
 
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