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Natives in NW Georgia

Started by Guest_jmcman831_* , May 16 2013 02:37 PM

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7 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_jmcman831_*

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Posted 16 May 2013 - 02:37 PM

Hi everybody, new to the forum, new to natives. I currently have a 20L tank with fancy tail guppies that I have been breeding, and looking to get into some natives in my 10G tank that is just sitting right now. I am in Marietta, GA. Problem is...I have no idea where to start.

Does anybody live or know of good places to look for some small fish that can go in a 10 gallon? I was thinking maybe of some darters.

Thanks in advance!!

#2 Michael Wolfe

Board of Directors

North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 16 May 2013 - 02:54 PM

welcome jmcman

I am here in Georgia and we certainly do have a lot of cool natives... many of which would do well in a small tank. We do have the opportunity to get out in the streams here in GA pretty regular. If you would be interested, I could add you to a little mailing list that I keep of our GA members, and even though you are not a member yet, you are certainly more than welcome to come out with us!

You are probably in the Coosa drainage and there are some protected fish up that way, so make sure you read up on things like that on the GA DNR site. But there are also plenty of other fish out there for you, so we will not have a problem.

Check out some of the threads here by searching for Elassoma (a pygmy sunfish that is about perfect for a 10 gallon tank from south Georgia).

There are also some darters up your way (bronze is the first one that comes to mind) that would be fun in a small tank if you are up for feeding frozen foods.

And there are always a nice range of shiners.

In any event, let me know if you want to go out with us. I am planning a trip for NANFA here in Georgia to go up towards Rome, GA later this summer.

Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#3 Guest_jmcman831_*

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Posted 16 May 2013 - 03:02 PM

I would definitely be down to go! I don't think Rome is too far from me. I know the Chattahoochee River runs by about 10 min down the road from me, and there are a bunch of small creeks that run throughout. I was thinking about some darters or shiners to put in the 10 gallon.

I actually feed my guppies frozen brine shrimp and frozen daphnia so that is not a problem.

I was actually thinking about going down to the local creek near me next weekend with a net and seeing what I could find. This way it gives me time to get the 10 gallon up and going.

#4 Michael Wolfe

Board of Directors

North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 16 May 2013 - 04:27 PM

OK, if you are that close, you might be in the Chattahoochee drainage... there are much fewer darters in that drainage... mostly just blackbanded darters in that part of the Chattahoochee... but they are hardy aquarium inhabitants and fun to collect.

Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#5 Guest_EricaWieser_*

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Posted 16 May 2013 - 04:28 PM

I was actually thinking about going down to the local creek near me next weekend with a net and seeing what I could find. This way it gives me time to get the 10 gallon up and going.

It's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the endangered and threatened species before heading out the first time.
You can see a list of Georgia's endangered fish to avoid here: http://www.fws.gov/a...red/tefish.html
Also you might want a fishing license.

Edited by EricaWieser, 16 May 2013 - 04:29 PM.

#6 Guest_jmcman831_*

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Posted 16 May 2013 - 04:35 PM

I checked, I am about an hour north northeast of the drainage. The river runs down right past me on its way to the drainage.

And thank you Erica. I have been taking a look

And yeah I am going for the license this weekend. Want to make sure I have all aspects covered! So whats the easiest/best way to catch darters or shiners or even just some topminnows?

#7 Michael Wolfe

Board of Directors

North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 16 May 2013 - 05:01 PM

I think you have the wrong definition of drainage in mind. The "drainage" includes all the land around a river and all its tributaries... essentially it is all the land area that if you spilled a bucket of water, it would eventually "drain" into the river. So from where you are, if you say you are only 10 miles or so north of the Chattahoochee... you are in the Chattahoochee drainage.

You should search around here on the forum and you can see some demonstrations on how others use dipnets or seines to collect darters and shiners.

Top minnows are much faster and a little harder to catch in general and might not be the best choice for a 10 gallon. I am glad you are enthusiastic but you should take some time to read up on the various fishes in your area and learn as much as you can before you bring anything home.

http://fishesofgeorg...x.php?page=home

http://mwolfe.home.mindspring.com/

http://www.georgiawi...e.com/node/1918

Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#8 Guest_jmcman831_*

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Posted 16 May 2013 - 05:21 PM

Ah yes sorry about that Michael, I did not put two and two together on that drainage.

Yeah I was looking after I posted, and have found some good ways and techniques.

I wasn't planning on bringing anything home for maybe a month or so. Want to give time to do all my research, get my tank set up and ready to go and cycled fully, and also I want to go searching and see what is around me.

Thank you very much