Raul Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 Is anyone keeping native fish at the moment? I have a torrent fish that has settled down well to tank life and am thinking about getting a few more...However, i have know idea if they get along with each other...So if you are or have ever kept torrent fish i would love to hear about it. thanks. http://images.snapfish.com/34679483%3B% ... 9824nu0mrj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYNDYLOO Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 Hi Raul, Now thats a little cutie, I have to say. Have you tried doing a Google Search on these little fishys, you may find some good info there. Good Luck Lynda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raul Posted April 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2006 Hi Lynda, I've googled and there's a little bit of info but nothing about keeping them in aquaria, perhaps i'll just chance it and hope that they turn out to be the best of friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYNDYLOO Posted April 11, 2006 Report Share Posted April 11, 2006 What size Tank have you got Raul, How many of these Torrent Fish were you planning on putting in this tank. The torrent fish or shark bully, Cheimarrichthys fosteri (papanoko of the Maori), is the only known species of its family (Cheimarrichthydae). About 4 in. in length, coloured light grey with dark diagonal markings it frequents rapids and fast-flowing streams, after spending its larval life in or near the sea. The bullies or gobies (Gobiomorphidae) make up the last group of native fish. Six species are contained in the two general Gobiomorphus and Philypnodon. The better known of these are G. basalis, the common “cockabullyâ€; G. radiata, the redfin bully; G. gobioides, the giant bully (reaching 9 in. in length); and P. hubbsii, the bluegill bully. Normally regarded as only a drab grey, many of the bullies have quite attractive colour patterns. Most are 3–5 in. in length. Bullies are widely distributed throughout New Zealand. http://www.loaches.com/river_tank.html Bit more info here that you may find interesting. Good Luck Lynda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkLB Posted April 11, 2006 Report Share Posted April 11, 2006 Hi Raul, I've had a fresh water crayfish in a tank for 2 months. Its a pretty cool critter. It has no tank mates as yet but I would like to get it some native fish for company. Bullys sound like the ticket. The fish in your pic looks great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raul Posted April 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2006 I'm currently running a 30 gal, i was thinking of adding 2 more...the problem is i already have a couple of bluegill bullies and they're benthic fish as well (hang out on the bottom). so if i add more bottom fish it might be getting a bit crowded down there. Crayfish are pretty cool, i've kept a few in my time, you have to be a bit careful with the fish you keep with them, sometimes they eat the fish and sometimes the fish eat them (especially if you're keeping eels). Bullies are sometimes ok but they'll all be competing for space on the bottom. heres a few more pics of some other natives i currently have or have had in the past. http://images.snapfish.com/34679566%3A% ... 8%3Bnu0mrj http://images.snapfish.com/34679566%3A% ... 8%3Cnu0mrj http://images.snapfish.com/34679566%3A% ... 3693nu0mrj http://images.snapfish.com/34679566%3A% ... 3694nu0mrj http://images.snapfish.com/34679566%3A% ... 3695nu0mrj http://images.snapfish.com/34679566%3A% ... 3696nu0mrj http://images.snapfish.com/34679566%3A% ... 3697nu0mrj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigMcN Posted April 11, 2006 Report Share Posted April 11, 2006 If you haven't seen it here's a good reference for NZ freshwater fish.. http://www.niwascience.co.nz/rc/freshwater/fishatlas/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owen Posted April 12, 2006 Report Share Posted April 12, 2006 Hi Raul how do you catch those fish? it can't be easy, I have a hard time netting fish already in tanks. Are natives difficult to keep? and what do you feed them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raul Posted April 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2006 With a net, normally slightly bigger than the one you use in your fishtank. They can be tricky to catch, but if you know the habits of each species it makes it a bit easier. With a spotlight at night also makes it a bit easier..."they only come out at night" I don't think they're any harder to keep than tropical fish...but they might be a bit more work initially, being wild caught and all, but if you take into account the stress of capture and captivity and take steps to mediate that they normally do ok. And probably like any fish that you're trying to keep the more you know about it's natural environment and it's life style the more chance of success you're going to have. I should note that some of our natives are classed as threatened species and i wouldnt recommend attempting to catch or keep them...based on legal and not to mention conservation issues. I feed mine mostly frozen bloodworms, daphnia, mayflies and stoneflies, earthworms...theres even a few species that will readily take flake foods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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