Slow day at work and my mind's been wandering. In the future, I plan to set up a large agressive fish tank with oscars, pacu, etc. I've been wondering about a native fish that grows here in Oklahoma and it seems most of the midwest and eastern states. there are several species of Sunfish, bluegill, etc. that grow here and are readily caught in any small puddle to lake sized water hole. They don't grow all that big and are probably similar in agressiveness to a cichlid or oscar. I know they can tolerate drastic temperatures since we incur 100 degree plus summers and I've broken 8" of ice and fished for them before. I can't find a whole lot on them, probably since they aren't considered an aquarium fish. I did however find their scientific names if anyone can recognize them from that. The 3 most commonly found are the bluegill, lepomis macrochirus; the green sunfish, lepomis cyannelus and the red ear sunfish, lepomis microlophus. Has anyone tried putting these in a fish tank? I know when I was younger, we caught some 2" sunfish in a sein and added them to our community tank and they were fine with the other fish being so young. The bluegill has a much smaller mouth than the other sunfish but I don't think that would be a big factor being the large mouth of an oscar. They aren't considered a game fish so there won't be any legal problems. I just figure they are much cheaper and if they did get too large (which isn't likely since the records are just over 2lbs), I can just turn them loose in a pond and catch another smaller one. thanks for any advice, Kyle
Wild fish in a tank???
- Thread starter snakeskinner
- Start date
Chech www.nanfa.org for more on keeping native fish. There are many species that will thrive in an aquarium, as long as care is taken. Check your state regulations as well--transporting live fish is illegal in many states, requires a permit in others, etc. In most states where transporting live fish is legal, there are size limitations, often based on creel. And, in most states, keeping them in your aquarium will count against your creel limit.
I would avoid species that you can't provide for their life time, as releasing fish from an aquarium, even back to where you caught them, is often illegal and always inadvisable.
I would avoid species that you can't provide for their life time, as releasing fish from an aquarium, even back to where you caught them, is often illegal and always inadvisable.
I raised a two red ear perch in a 55-gallon one time. I'd caught them in a pond with a large net (was actually catching ghost shrimp and accidentally caught them in the process).
They did fine in my 55 gallon and I kept them for a long time. It was fun to feed them crickets, worms or anything else I could find
When they got larger, I released them back into the pond where I caught them.
They did fine in my 55 gallon and I kept them for a long time. It was fun to feed them crickets, worms or anything else I could find
When they got larger, I released them back into the pond where I caught them.
I do wish sometimes i was back in my old town because they had all freshwater lakes and streams there and in my new town it is one huge river that is saltwater. Could prob start marine fishie
nice website OrionGirl. It has a lot of insight on the water conditions but I still wonder about compatibility with other fish. I know the sunfish are legal to keep here since they are not considered a sportfish although the bluegill might, I'll have to check on that. Green and redear sunfish have no limits on size or quantity. Many are seined as baitfish for large catfish. Most of their natural "pondmates" are gamefish though and not legal to keep although I'd love to find out how I can legally keep some crappie or small bass until they grew too large for the tank. I suppose I could try and set up a native tank with some sunfish, small catfish and crawfish maybe. Most other fish I'd be aloud to keep are way too big (gar, paddlefish, drum, carp, etc.). I could possibly just raise some minnows or shad along with them. A school of shad would be cool and quite brilliant with their reflective scales. Maybe I need to hit up the local Fish & Game department and see what they think since I'm sure they have tanks set up for displays (I've seen them at fairs and tackle shows). thanks, Kyle
I have a question. Why would it be illegal to keep game fish. Here in WV we go to a fish truck that stops by a couple times a year to buy largemouth bass/channle cats koi and redear. They don't ask what we plant to do with the fish * put them in a large 1/4 acre pond* as far as they know we put them in a swimming pool in the back yard or in a 10 gallon tank. Who enforces this sort of thing?
It isn't illegal to keep them but as Orion Girl said is probably illegal to set them free because of what they may have contracted while in captivity. Also, it is not likely that they will be well equipped for the outside world again after being in captivity, which allows them to rely on the owner for food.
well, I don't actually know this for a fact. I've just always been told that this is not legal unless you have a special permit to keep wild game animals. I guess I ought to check into this. I'd love a tank full of largemouth and crappie. Kyle
The keeping, sales, and planting of wild animals is policed by your State Game & Fish/Natural Resources/Wildlife Resources agency. In many states, it is illegal to be in possession of wild vaught game fish without permit. In Wyoming, for instance, transport of live fish - all fish other than specific bait species, and even some bait fish - is illegal. Planting fish without permission from the G&F is illegal, punichable by fines, revocation of fishing rights, etc. It has to do with controlling the fisheries and management of them. Many waters are managed for trout, and the introduction of walleye or saugar is detrimental. Several waters are managed for native cutthroat trout, so other salmonids that could interbreed can ruin years of careful management for these genetically pure fish.