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Rainbow Darter Caught In Eastern NY Today


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#21 Michael Wolfe

Michael Wolfe
  • Board of Directors
  • North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 15 August 2014 - 11:01 AM

We used to get darters mixed in with bait all the time when I was a kid. Knowing what I know now, it must have been all wild caught local bait. This was in southern ohio.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#22 Guest_keepnatives_*

Guest_keepnatives_*
  • Guests

Posted 15 August 2014 - 06:55 PM

I'd be surprised if it were bait bucket release as there aren't native populations anywhere near this area. I also don't knowof any aquarium keepers of rainbow darters in the area but here they are. Personally I'm concerned on the possible impact on other darters like greensides. Greensides were abundant in Fox creek before the rainbows showed up not sure if that's
changed.

#23 Guest_FirstChAoS_*

Guest_FirstChAoS_*
  • Guests

Posted 17 August 2014 - 03:17 PM

Looks like you have two challenges ahead of you Mike.

First, investigate if the sightings at Plotter Kill are a population that established itself their. If so the point of "how far in the Schoharie they have spread" becomes moot.

Second. See if their was any impact on the greenside darters, and if so, see if their is a way to work with the local fish and wildlife to preserve them.

Also, I remember discussing with Mike when last I visited on how the darters got their. (Most fisherman I know buy minnows from bait shops who get them from bait dealers, none of which know what a darter is). And the unnerving thought of people fish were gifted to or traded with releasing them was brought up. Giving natives to aquarium hobbyists seems like a good way to spread knowledge and understanding of them, but it is based on an assumption they will be responsible with them, which is not always the case.

#24 Guest_keepnatives_*

Guest_keepnatives_*
  • Guests

Posted 17 August 2014 - 05:57 PM

I don't think the Greensides would be impacted to the point of needing to be preserved but their abundance and/or condition may well be reduced as they have more competition. For example the greatest Greenside darters
I've ever seen were in a medium sized creek with almost no other darters as competition and they were
consistently huge, much larger then any others I've ever found. The thought of rainbows getting in there would be disturbing. Not in this area luckily but the creek did run into a larger creek in which rainbows have
been extending there range since the 80's. I sampled the larger creek a number of years ago and found rainbow
darters getting very close by now who knows. May check it out next time I'm in that area.

Regarding gifting or trading natives, this kind of possibility definitely highlights the need for education
1st. Not that this was the case here from what I know, but on the other hand rainbow darters are not hard to come by.

At least they don't get 40+ pounds and jump a lot ....just kidding, the problem is I don't think we can really know the future results of any introduction.

#25 Guest_fundulus_*

Guest_fundulus_*
  • Guests

Posted 18 August 2014 - 09:18 AM

Greensides prefer different habitat from rainbows, greensides will be in the deepest, fastest water over cobble and boulder if that's available in the creek, the rainbows prefer shallower but fast water over gravel. The creek system may be more resilient than you think, there are usually underutilized habitat niches available.

#26 Aquastudent

Aquastudent
  • NANFA Guest
  • Albany, NY

Posted 08 April 2015 - 01:05 PM

Glad to see there's some activity from hobbyiests in the Albany area. I'm considering converting one of my aquariums from an African cichlid set-up to a native biotope. Would love to join anyone on the group on an adventure. I frequently visit the Adirondacks and was planning on trying out some snorkeling once the weather warmed up (in all honesty the weather never really warms up here. I miss Virginia).

 

I'm always up for learning.

 

I'm a member of the Pioneer Valley Aquarium Society based in Springfield/Chicopee, MA. There's not much for FW fish between Western MA and Syracuse. Would love to get some Capital District hobbyiests together.



#27 Matt DeLaVega

Matt DeLaVega
  • Forum Staff
  • Ohio

Posted 08 April 2015 - 04:34 PM

Why don't you try introducing yourself here.  http://forum.nanfa.org/index.php/forum/195-welcome-to-the-official-forum-of-nanfa/  And writing a bit of a Bio. More people may notice. Also get in contact with Mike Lucas.  http://forum.nanfa.org/index.php/user/20-keepnatives/   Mike is one of our NY Reps.  He can steer you in the right direction. Welcome aboard the forum, and please check out our website as well. You can see some of the grants we offer and what we do. Maybe you might want to become a member and support our mission, and get our quarterly publication "American Currents". If not, please enjoy the forum.   Matt


The member formerly known as Skipjack


#28 Aquastudent

Aquastudent
  • NANFA Guest
  • Albany, NY

Posted 08 April 2015 - 04:49 PM

Why don't you try introducing yourself here.  http://forum.nanfa.org/index.php/forum/195-welcome-to-the-official-forum-of-nanfa/  And writing a bit of a Bio. More people may notice. Also get in contact with Mike Lucas.  http://forum.nanfa.org/index.php/user/20-keepnatives/   Mike is one of our NY Reps.  He can steer you in the right direction. Welcome aboard the forum, and please check out our website as well. You can see some of the grants we offer and what we do. Maybe you might want to become a member and support our mission, and get our quarterly publication "American Currents". If not, please enjoy the forum.   Matt

 
Thanks Matt for the welcome. I was planning on posting in the Introductions section later once I've scouted around the forums a bit more. Thanks for the referral as well. I'd love to become a member but have some learning to do first.
 
I hope the 2016 convention is in NH. That'd be a manageable trip for me :D


#29 keepnatives

keepnatives
  • Regional Rep

Posted 08 April 2015 - 07:50 PM

Glad to see some local interest in natives.  When the weather warms up and water levels are good, which should be soon, I'd be happy to do some seining  can at least enjoy getting out and seeing some neat fish.  The 2016 NH NANFA convention should be a great time as well.  I need to do some snorkeling and work on photography so lots of excuses to get in the water.


Mike Lucas
Mohawk-Hudson Watershed
Schenectady NY



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