Hi, I am Fabian, 35 old ecologist in Bucharest.
From almost 20 years I was fascinated by cold hardy exotics, like Cyprinodontids (both egg-layers and livebearers) and Anabantids. No chances to get them until recently- I already have Macropodus ocellatus, but not yet North American fish. Long time ago I saw Fundulus and Macropodus distribution maps and gazed to their northern limits not believing my eyes! And no old aquarist here believed the words of a crazy kid that air-breathers and Aphyosemion relatives can spend winter under ice!
I remember about my little childhood gems Heterandria (today they are impossible to find here ) feeling great at the cold 13degC we had sometimes in our communist apartments.
Another dream- at that time - was to find Gambusia- the cold hardy Guppy relative acclimated here!!! I read that they are present in Romania and spent days in many trips to find them, with no success... nobody knows about where they can be found, almost a legend... till 20 years old, when I went to a more probable location and found thousands shining violet when taken out of the water!! Of course, I took some with me in Bucharest and spread them in a few water bodies- some populations exploded and melted, others thrived; the best location was destroyed and landfilled for building. Here they cannot damage too much, if any damage, but in Aphanius areals they have a word to say- they almost drive extinct most of the European Cyprinodonts where they were brought... I keep some in a Notonecta infested pond, planted only with American Lotus Nelumbo lutea - MO origin- and population is increasing, with all the predation- that's an interesting observation field, I hope that Notonecta will eventually lose in a way or another...
Lepomis gibbosus- your pretty "pumpkinseed"- is much elastic and is present in almost all lakes here, Gambusia being restricted to that warm, sunny, shallow, still water niche. They are a pest for fish farms, as the Perca fluviatilis- but the native is at least much better to eat !
Currently, I keep some guppy (wild strain and Golden Albino- the last is perfect for outdoor black tubs, very conspicuous), Macropodus opercularis and ocellatus, Corydoras paleatus, goldfish, Tanichthys albonubes, Procambarus alleni and a normal coloured strain of sailfins- I don't know if they are velifera or your native, maybe Asian bred hybrids- that's why I look for a hardy, true NA strain.
A Danish friend has many NA natives and he likes them so much- unfortunatelly, my place is not suitable for Redbelly Daces or others, being more appropriate for swamp things like Cyprinodonts, Macropodus etc. Too hot in summer.
Fascinating hardy fish you have there- I friendly envy you!!!

Cheers,
Fabian

Welcome Fabian, it's always nice to see interest from other countries. If you are able to find them, there are plenty of species in North America that would take to warmer apartment conditions.

Spreading non-indiginous fish into natural water bodies is, however, a very bad idea. It can wreak havoc on the natural ecosystem.

Welcome

You have any 'black bass' in Romania?

Spreading non-indiginous fish into natural water bodies is, however, a very bad idea. It can wreak havoc on the natural ecosystem.

Thank you, nativeplanter!
You are undisputable right, but regarding gambusia, they are not very successful (luckily) here, and since about 5 decades didn't affect our ecosystems. What they did bad was to bring from China the grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella- that fish had an impact! Together they brought (without knowing) the little Pseudorasbora parva alevins, and they spread quickly. Lepomis started to spread from Germany, I think. Far as I know, those two aliens are incomod presences especially in reproduction ponds in farms, but not much in free waters. Usually, our waters are not allowing to non natives to thrive, far as I know. I am too reticent in introducing aliens, but small ones occupying a specific niche are not a threat. If I could purchase some, I will keep them in outdoor ponds, anyway .

You have any 'black bass' in Romania?

Thanks, Gambusia!
No, we still haven't- If it would be by me, not in the future too. Serbia, Czech, Hungary have them. I heared they are not very happy in Europe and slowly disappear, I don't know why. Temperate waters here are quite solid ecosystems. Some biotopes could be favourable though. Maybe they have a chance sometime- that grass carp was initially reticent to reproduce, and then that problem was solved spontaneously. Many RO fishers want to catch bass species, and I think it's just a matter of time till a rich guy will bring them here, regardless of possible consequences.