keeping wild fish

[makhcd]

has anyone kept a tank with northern pike, small mouth bass, or some blue gill. If any one has could you let me know. I am thinking about it for my next tank. Is this legal to take fish out and put them in your tank like this?

 

[azrednex]

I kept a largemouth for a few months years ago. I now know that that was highly illegal, without the appropriate permits and licsenses. the problem with these fish is that they need huge volumes of water to thrive and when they outgrow hobbiest systems they are released back into the wild carrying God knows what back into the ecosystem (kind of like natives and smallpox) this causes very BAD things.

 

[hmt321]

there are many people who keep north American natives in tanks. The legality of this often depends on the actual collecting of the fish, and it varies from state to state.

Some things you should know,

Releasing fish (native or exotic) into natural water sheds is illegal in pretty much every state. So if you get a native fish you cannot simply release it later.

Northern Pike, get huge, like 5' long, a redfin pickerel (Esox americanus) look very smiler but only get about 12" or so are better suited to aquariums. I have heard that they are picky eaters.

Small Mouth and Large Mouth bass, do well but require a large (500 gal) tank to keep adult specimens in. Rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris), Shadow Bass (Ambloplites ariommus) or Warmouth (Lepomis gulosus) are all "bass" like but only get 11" to 12", Rock Bass and Shadow Bass are picky eaters (i currently have a shadow bass and a warmouth in a 75 gal tank, the warmouth eats anything, where the shadow bass will only eat live, frozen, or dried foods, no pellets)

Bluegill, make great aquarium fish, you should also look into other sunfish. Longears, pumpkinseeds, bantiums, and orange spots are very colorful fish and easy to keep.

there are several other forums that have good native fish sections and there is at least one forum that is solely dedicated to native fish. send me a PM for my lists

Get your self some natives you will not regret it.

 

[LOK]

I put a blue gill in my tank a couple years back, just by himself, but.. he was not eating so I put him back in the lake

 

[Yankee Dog]

native fish are cool. They take a while to recognize flake as food. When they get hungry enough they will eat it. In the mean time you can feed them crickets.

Yankee dog

 

[Weezer]

Our local FS sells those type of fish here in Minnesota, I have never kept any tho.....

 

[polypterus101]

I read somewhare that it's illegal to sell native fish

 

[hmt321]

I put a blue gill in my tank a couple years back, just by himself, but.. he was not eating so I put him back in the lake

I have done the same thing, BEFORE I KNEW ANY BETTER

The main reason for this is that you could potentially spread a disease, or aquatic parasite into a native fish population that has no resistance to it. The impact could be huge. Also it is illegal in most all states (for the above reason)

 

[hmt321]

I read somewhare that it's illegal to sell native fish

Most states require some sort of license or permits to collect native fish. Same thing with selling fish, it varies from state to state

when in doubt check it out, logg on to the DNR web sight for your state and read the regulations for yourself. Calling someone in the DNR to get a verbal clarification of the law is also a good idea.

bait shops are a great place to find interesting natives

they commonly sell several different types of shiner, mummichugs, fathead minnows, ect. there are often several different types of sunfish, and killie fish mixed in with shiners and the like.

bait shop finds are often disease and parasite ridden, quarantine is a must!!!
I have only once found a parasite on a wild caught fish, and it was easily removed.

 

[LOK]

I have done the same thing, BEFORE I KNEW ANY BETTER

The main reason for this is that you could potentially spread a disease, or aquatic parasite into a native fish population that has no resistance to it. The impact could be huge. Also it is illegal in most all states (for the above reason)

I didnt know better either but considering he was the only one in a 180gal I think he and the lake will be fine