Lithia Springs Freshwater Flounder (Tampa FL)

[jarrodrandel]

I live near Lithia Springs and snorkel the springs frequently.
I discovered some flounder near the mouth of the spring (entirely freshwater)
about 4 inches in length (biggest) and maybe 3 inches across.

If these were to be caught, would they eventually need brackish water? Or are they already in their adult phases and completely adapted to the freshwater through many generations of being isolated in the freshwater springs and through evolution?

Is this a unique species?

Anyone live in Tampa?

Lots of questions...lol

thanks.

 

[fishcatch22]

got a pic? if you could get one, we could identify it for you. probably a hogchoker.

there are many species of flounder that can live in either SW, BW or FW without much trouble.

 

[fballguy]

They are probably a true FW flounder. In the columbia river there are a couple of species of full freshwater flounder, so I know they exist

 

[jarrodrandel]

... think so...

I did a search for "Lithia+Hogchoker" and it came up in some documents online... so I think you were right. All the pictures I found looked a little too dark (the skin color of the fish in the pictures was too dark). I remember them almost completely blending in with the almost purely white sand.

So they may just be a subspecies or color variant of the hogchoker - something like that.

But this is the freshest of fresh water - straight from the florida aquifer!!



curious

 

[fishcatch22]

I did a search for "Lithia+Hogchoker" and it came up in some documents online... so I think you were right. All the pictures I found looked a little too dark (the skin color of the fish in the pictures was too dark). I remember them almost completely blending in with the almost purely white sand.

So they may just be a subspecies or color variant of the hogchoker - something like that.

But this is the freshest of fresh water - straight from the florida aquifer!!



curious

hogchokers can live in BW or FW fine.

if you decide to catch one, keep it in a 30G aquarium with a sandy bottom. make sure to keep the water VERY clean.

 

[BucJason]

I live near Lithia Springs and snorkel the springs frequently.
I discovered some flounder near the mouth of the spring (entirely freshwater)
about 4 inches in length (biggest) and maybe 3 inches across.

If these were to be caught, would they eventually need brackish water? Or are they already in their adult phases and completely adapted to the freshwater through many generations of being isolated in the freshwater springs and through evolution?

Is this a unique species?

Anyone live in Tampa?

Lots of questions...lol

thanks.

I live in Tampa, I've been to Lithia Springs too. Never seen Hogchokers though, that's really cool.