I live in northern NM at nearly 8,000' altitude and just very recently became interested in native fish when someone introduced me to rainbow darters. I have multiple aquariums ranging from 5 to 40 gallons with cool water species of white clouds, danios and barbs. I also keep a 150+ gal deck pond that is both a water garden and where my fancy goldfish live all summer.

I would like to introduce some of those adorable little darters into my peaceful and well planted community tanks but before I started something like that, I figured I better find some knowledgeable folks to advise me.

Carmon in NM

In Northern NM, you might have greenthroat darters nearby. It's a disjunct population from the other one in the Edwards Plateau. Check out their range, and see how close they are to you. It'd be a rue native darter from NM, and a nice looking one to boot. They're easy to care for, too.

I had no idea! Unfortunately they are listed as either sensitive or threatened mostly due to drought and grazing impact but at least I might be able to go and fish watch.

I didn't know they were listed out there. You can also find Bigscale Logperch (Percina macrolepida) in NM. Not a real colorful darter, but a very cool and charismatic aquarium fish. I've always liked logperch in the aquarium.

Howdy!
Yes, in New Mexico, the greenthroat darter is protected:
http://www.bison-m.o....aspx?id=010195
This is generally due to its uncommon occurrence and declining condition of the Pecos River.

In Texas, however, it is fairly common but limited in distribution in West Texas, in the western Edwards Plateau and Stockton Plateau, but it is not threatened and is legal to take. (You must have a valid Texas Fishing License, or visitor license: I do not know the regulations on removing them from Texas and transporting them across state lines.)

If you plan to visit the Pecos River or Rio Grande, be sure to become familiar with the fish spp. before you try to collect any becaus ethere are indeed several protected species in those rivers and most waterways in NM.

We have some interesting fish here in the Texas Panhandle, too! Come on over!
http://www.nsrl.ttu....s/ops/op246.pdf

You never even get your knees wet collecting fish in the panhandle, either.