4 replies to this topic

[Gilraen]

Hi, I am sort of new to keeping native fish.  I have a 40 gallon breeder tank outside in FL acting as a sort of pond for some plant cuttings.  They're growing quite well, but I had a problem with our lovely invasive Cuban tree frogs laying eggs in it.  The LFS near me suggested I try flagfish to get rid of them, and they seem to have gotten rid of the problem quite nicely.  I went back tonight to grab some ghost shrimp to give them something to chase between meals, and grabbed a fish that I can't seem to get a photo of, but which I am fairly certain is a bluefin killifish out of their shrimp tank.  I'm sure it'll be happier in the dense plants  than it was in the bare shrimp tank, but I'm also assuming it'd be better to try to find some others for it to be around, right?  Do you suppose a decent LFS could order them in, or that I'd be able to find them as minnows at a bait shop somewhere?  It's not filtered, but the only other inhabitants are about 10 white cloud minnows, and 5 flagfish.  How many should I look into getting?  Make it a group of around 10 like the minnows?  

[Michael Wolfe]

Bluefins are native to areas in Florida so you should not have much difficulty locating some. They are used to still water and do not need to school as much as just clump up and hang around some structure. Half a dozen together will be fine.

[Dustin]

Get a dipnet and go dipping in the ditches and lakes near you.  There's a good chance bluefins will be there, depending on where in FL you are.  

[Gilraen]

Growing up in FL, I'm sort of. .  . wary of large scaly creatures.  Any way to tell if a place is safe before I go wandering around with a net?  It'd probably be near Sebring or Tampa, if I have the ability (and nerve) to.

 

Edit:  Also, thank you both

Edited by Gilraen, 08 December 2019 - 01:10 PM.

[andrew]

I've collected in FL solo and I was a little wary myself. I watched the water for awhile before getting in and when finally getting in, I didn't linger. Here is a trip report that you'd probably find helpful: http://www.nanfa.org...2003/fl0203.htm.