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Stocking a 20 Tall

Started by Sean Phillips , Jun 13 2014 03:51 PM

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26 replies to this topic

#21 Guest_Doug_Dame_*

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Posted 14 June 2014 - 07:03 AM

My point is that possessing any fish which PA lists as state endangered or threatened is illegal without a permit, and that they won't issue a permit for private individuals to keep them. SRBD are indeed listed, so it's illegal to keep them. So are Tadpole Madtoms, which are infrequently found in the feeder shrimp tanks of PA aquarium stores, and Swamp Darters which are very frequently found in the same tanks. The question which I raised is what should be done about them once they're here?

Well let's see ... they're illegal to keep (in PA), illegal to sell, and they came in with the feeders ... sounds like they're destined to be dinner for some bigger fish.

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#22 Guest_Subrosa_*

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Posted 14 June 2014 - 07:06 AM

Well let's see ... they're illegal to keep (in PA), illegal to sell, and they came in with the feeders ... sounds like they're destined to be dinner for some bigger fish.

I'm fairly certain that is the fate of most.

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#23 Sean Phillips

NANFA Member

Allegheny River Drainage, Southwest PA

Posted 14 June 2014 - 08:50 AM

So green sides love snails then. Just leaving in a few to go diving at my local quarry so maybe I'll pick a few out of the silt for them.

Sean Phillips - Pine Creek Watershed - Allegheny River Drainage

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#24 Guest_Skipjack_*

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Posted 14 June 2014 - 12:28 PM

Under PA law there is no gray area near the edge. It is 100% cut and dried. Which leaves state listed fish entering the Commonwealth in the manner I described in somewhat of a lurch, wouldn't you agree on a strictly personal level?

Yes, I am surprised that fish stores don't cull out these species immediately, just to cover themselves.

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#25 Guest_Subrosa_*

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Posted 14 June 2014 - 04:31 PM

Yes, I am surprised that fish stores don't cull out these species immediately, just to cover themselves.

Most don't know unless it becomes an issue with a game warden, who likely can't id the fish anyway.

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#26 Guest_Skipjack_*

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Posted 14 June 2014 - 04:48 PM

So green sides love snails then. Just leaving in a few to go diving at my local quarry so maybe I'll pick a few out of the silt for them.

Greenside darters are snail specialists. I would seriously collect as many snails as possible as often as possible. Throwing 50 or more in per week would not be out of the question. The greensides suck them right out of the shells. Many have problems keeping greensides healthy, but, I think as long as you keep them in snails you will do fine. You can't over do it with snails.

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#27 Guest_mikez_*

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Posted 20 June 2014 - 06:30 PM

The feeder tank thing is a moral dilemma for the pet shop owner regarding how he disposes of the unwanted fish. My guess is the state would ask they be destroyed on site. Lots of people struggle with the concept of "I can't keep it but I can kill it" but in this case it's the only legal option. The state sure isn't gonna want to nip 'round and pick up every swamp darter found in a feeder tank. For sure it would be illegal for anyone else to possess, all notions of "rescue" not withstanding. They can't be released anywhere either.

That's a good reason when collecting in systems with a protected species to go through that bucket of minnows one by one and make 100% ID on each and every individual before bringing them home. Just because a species is "Rare" on paper doesn't mean one can't sneak into your bucket mixed with 20 or 30 nearly identical looking minnows. Once you get it home, you can't keep it and you can't release it. What can you do?