Stella Posted November 17, 2012 Report Share Posted November 17, 2012 I am writing a fieldguide on freshwater fish in NZ and currently working on the Poeciliid section (gambusia, guppies, mollies, swordtails, leopardfish. Got a few questions. Known distributions. This is what the scientists know, but aquarists are more likely to know others! Guppies - around Reparoa, north of Taupo (Waihunuhunu, Kawaunui and Waiotapu streams) Mollies - Tokaanu/Waihi wetland south of Lake Taupo Swordtails - only Waipahihi Stream, Taupo (probably extinct) Leopardfish - scientists know of one site in Kamo, Whangarei, but you guys have told me about sites in Western Springs (Auckland), Wellington, and Ohauiti, Tauranga (near old tropical fish farm). The Waipahihi Stream in Taupo is an interesting site, having had guppies, swordtails and mollies. From my reading I *think* this is the history, but I would love it if someone could confirm this: 1. guppies and mollies present 2. circa 40 years ago developments changed the temperature and they both went extinct 3. mollies then introduced at the Tokaanu/Waihi wetland south of Lake Taupo 4. swordtails introduced to Waipahihi Stream 5. further developments in recent years cooled the stream and swordtails are probably extinct. Are there any other freshwater aquarium fish species (apart from goldfish and koi) that are in the wild in NZ? What about white cloud mountain minnows? Surely they are around! Some people might worry about mentioning sites in case MAF or whoever they are now go and eradicate them. The reality is the above species are confined to geothermally warmed water and cannot spread, or are not confined but haven't spread, thus are a local curiosity and to be honest no one really cares that they are there. However it is important that other new species are known about in the wild, so it can be checked to see if there is a potentially major threat. In which case they might be eradicated (though sadly this is usually really difficult in practise) and you can take the credit for saving the country from the next water-weasel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted November 17, 2012 Report Share Posted November 17, 2012 like to add that the old fish farm in TGA has now been bulldozed and the hot water bore shut down, last look I had there was nothing in there (for that matter nothing native either) saw a strange white looking fish tonight with blueether in Tga, i'm gonna go back and find it, looked kinda like an really white gambusia. also saw a platie once in the wairoa river, also saw the knob emptying his tank into the river (must also point out I didn't see his fist coming when my mouth got the better of me) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted November 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2012 LOL d'oh! (I assume platties would need warmer water than the Wairoa would provide?) Thanks for the update on the fish farm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted November 17, 2012 Report Share Posted November 17, 2012 just a quick question but is there any record of NZ native fish before the Taupo eruption??? it seems that if it was as bad as I imagine, only fish with a saltwater larval stage would have survived. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted November 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2012 LOL no one was around to make records then! My understanding is that there have been lakes there before, and every couple of thousand years they get vaporised by eruptions. The last eruption would have wiped out all life in the lake, and also poisoned all the fish in the rivers to the north-east. Diadromous (sea-migratory) species recolonised once the water was healthy again, but the non-diadromous Cran's bully couldn't easily return, though some have. This is the distribution of the Cran's bully, the gap is pretty obvious: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted November 17, 2012 Report Share Posted November 17, 2012 hrm an interesting example. I was meaning fossil records though... oh well, btw took out blue ether to my Tga spot today, where I've always seen nice adult fish only found heaps of juvies, the one adult we saw out smarted us anyway off topic.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted November 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2012 Will be interesting to find out what your fish is! The (known) guppies are well south of there, and gambusia shouldn't be white... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted November 17, 2012 Report Share Posted November 17, 2012 well the water was almost black water very acidic i would assume, temp was 15.5 degrees. I have a mission and I must complete it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted November 17, 2012 Report Share Posted November 17, 2012 There are some introduced fish in lake ellesmere (Te Waihora) including catfish. I can't remember the guy's name but there is a pest officer at Ecan who had all the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted November 17, 2012 Report Share Posted November 17, 2012 The fish that we saw had the gambusia shape (or any of the live bearers) fat forward half and thin back half, it might not have been white but it was very light in colour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Li@m Posted November 17, 2012 Report Share Posted November 17, 2012 There are catfish, a few goldfish and Gambusia at western springs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#!CrunchBang Posted November 18, 2012 Report Share Posted November 18, 2012 I know there is Gambusia at Waiatarua reserve in Auckland http://goo.gl/maps/ZAwtw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaSa Posted November 18, 2012 Report Share Posted November 18, 2012 Gambusia in every drain, stream, pond, ... in the Waikato. On every single farm I go and have a look I see them... They are in the War Memorial Park Duck Pond in TA aswell + some nice eel's JaSa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted November 18, 2012 Report Share Posted November 18, 2012 There was a good population of goldfish in there when I was a kid... anyway this is not what stella was asking and everyone knows that there are Gambusia everywhere north of taupo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted November 18, 2012 Report Share Posted November 18, 2012 damn water weasels. went back for another look tonight, i'm sure its a gambusia just really light coloured. hopefully it will just provide live food for the kokopu. Still havent caught it so it may be a released guppy (fingers crossed) I know some of the people around there have released goldfish in there before, im assuming their tropical attempt went the same way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony law Posted November 18, 2012 Report Share Posted November 18, 2012 theres a good place by the apata cool stores,,youll fine shimps alll sorts of fish,, and a funny looking inverter brite,, it has a wood looking back but under legs like a shimp and you look down at it shape like a two trangles together,,.last i was down there,, 12 months ago,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted November 18, 2012 Report Share Posted November 18, 2012 theres also trout in that river (shhhhh... don't tell anyone.) afre you talking about triops????? if you are, then I know what im doing this weekend...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony law Posted November 18, 2012 Report Share Posted November 18, 2012 yer they look the same but darker like wood colour..all you have to do is run your net up the side of the plants.youll get them.. it the cool stores by the brigde oppside the lawnmower place and theres a cafe.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted November 18, 2012 Report Share Posted November 18, 2012 woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooop im going for a trip on tuesday............ hrmmm now I need another tank..... theres a cafe????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony law Posted November 18, 2012 Report Share Posted November 18, 2012 aongatete cool store,,locking rd..if thats helpful.. i though it was apata cool stores,,but thats more in closer to you.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted November 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2012 ENVY!!! I so want to see tadpole shrimp! Apparently there are lots in the South Island (though I have just missed the season here). We were looking for them around Manawey live in ephemeral (temporary) pools, which of course have been agricultured out of existence now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted November 18, 2012 Report Share Posted November 18, 2012 if I catch some I'll keep some for next time you come this way stella. was it the river on SH2 just before lockington road when heading away from TGA???? or was it further upstream. if it is I can drop the missus off at the winery and spend hours up there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony law Posted November 18, 2012 Report Share Posted November 18, 2012 if I catch some I'll keep some for next time you come this way stella. that nice of you :thup: was it the river on SH2 just before lockington road when heading away from TGA???? or was it further upstream. sonuds about rigth,,the cool store on your left heading away from tga,,as you turn into the cool store theres a little gravel rd which takes you down to a parking area and you end up rigth under the bridge.. if it is I can drop the missus off at the winery and spend hours up there :rotf: :rotf: ill give you more time to play,, :slfg: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted November 18, 2012 Report Share Posted November 18, 2012 so was it just off the main road??? theres another pretty little stream just north of there too, ever had a poke around in there??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony law Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 so was it just off the main road??? theres another pretty little stream just north of there too, ever had a poke around in there??? yep :spop: :cofn: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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