Sunfish In English Pond

[lloyd]

Hi im moving into my new home which i intend to stay in for a number of years. the garden isnt as big as i planned so instead of going for the big koi pond im goona go for something a bit smaller and different. my plan is to get a lit up pond with a glass or acrilic panel.

Pond size will be approx 7ft by 5ft by 4ft deep.

I want to try and get hold of a group of sunfish, maybe some pumkinseeds but obvoiously i am struggling due to all the laws and all, which i dont fully understand. my understanding is you need a license to sell such fish but you dont need a licence to buy them. a lfs near me sometimes stock channel cats but i havent talked to them yet.

does any one in england keep sunfish, if so was it easy to get hold of them? and do they adapt well to our weather, i no they can live happily under ice. if any 1 has any different type of sunfish they keep i would be intrigued to hear about them

 

[nurglespuss]

It is illegal to sell sunfish (pumkinseed, bluegill etc.) without a scientific/eductional license, or to sell them to an individual (private or otherwise) also without a license.

I'm afraid you can't keep them in the UK legally, though you can of course apply for a license, but would need a specific purpose and follow a strict regimen for water disposal etc.

 

[lloyd]

I thought that was the case. quite a big fish shop near me sell channel cats, is that alegal?

 

[nurglespuss]

Not sure about those, if they aren't native and they can survive outdoors, then no.

 

[Sam-Baker]

Your spec is perfect if you wanted a small koi pond, as you need a min of 4ft deep and with adequate filtration I would say you could keep between 5-10 Koi a few less if they were larger, your pond holds 3964 Litres if rectangular which is small but at that depth your ok for a small koi pond otherwise I would suggest an ornamental pond for goldfish and ghost carp or a native pond for fish such as tench, bream, rudd, roach - maybe even a combination of both ornamental and native... Liscensing laws are implemented by DEFRA on non native fish such as sun fish which can survive in our climate and would cause problems if they found there way into our water ways, and so the liscenses are there to strcitly prevernt that by restricting their movement and sale! Good Luck and plan thoroughly, any questions or queries please dont hesitate to ask!

Not sure about those, if they aren't native and they can survive outdoors, then no.

 

[Easy]

Don't know what kind of fish you have locally where you are but I know my friend just went down to the local lake and hooked himself a couple bluegill and bring them home. Maybe it's illegal and I understand why it has to be(because there are idiots out there) but as long as you never release it into the wild (assuming they aren't native where you live) then what harm have you done? It's not like they would give you a life sentence should you be caught. Of course morals play a role here I'm not suggesting you do so, just that it could be done.

 

[lloyd]

Your spec is perfect if you wanted a small koi pond, as you need a min of 4ft deep and with adequate filtration I would say you could keep between 5-10 Koi a few less if they were larger, your pond holds 3964 Litres if rectangular which is small but at that depth your ok for a small koi pond otherwise I would suggest an ornamental pond for goldfish and ghost carp or a native pond for fish such as tench, bream, rudd, roach - maybe even a combination of both ornamental and native... Liscensing laws are implemented by DEFRA on non native fish such as sun fish which can survive in our climate and would cause problems if they found there way into our water ways, and so the liscenses are there to strcitly prevernt that by restricting their movement and sale! Good Luck and plan thoroughly, any questions or queries please dont hesitate to ask!

Not sure about those, if they aren't native and they can survive outdoors, then no.

Cheers for the advice but i wouldnt put koi in my pond its a bit to small if you ask me

Don't know what kind of fish you have locally where you are but I know my friend just went down to the local lake and hooked himself a couple bluegill and bring them home. Maybe it's illegal and I understand why it has to be(because there are idiots out there) but as long as you never release it into the wild (assuming they aren't native where you live) then what harm have you done? It's not like they would give you a life sentence should you be caught. Of course morals play a role here I'm not suggesting you do so, just that it could be done.

England doesnt have any native sunfish unfortunatly

 

[sadguppy]

Don't know what kind of fish you have locally where you are but I know my friend just went down to the local lake and hooked himself a couple bluegill and bring them home. Maybe it's illegal and I understand why it has to be(because there are idiots out there) but as long as you never release it into the wild (assuming they aren't native where you live) then what harm have you done? It's not like they would give you a life sentence should you be caught. Of course morals play a role here I'm not suggesting you do so, just that it could be done.

It's not necessarily about people releasing them into the wild when they get bored, but sometimes floods etc happen and the fish will make it into the local waterways causing havoc to the indigenous population. There is no guarantee that won't happen no matter how good your intentions.