Wanting An Indoor Local Fish (lake/river) Tank

[And_Hef]

I currently have my 55 gallon setup as a tropical freshwater tank. After I move in a couple of months I will be setting up my 90 gallon as a tropical and want to do local fish from lakes and rivers in the 55.

Is there anything I need to know before attempting the lake tank?

I plan on having anything I can SAFELY catch (nets and traps, no hooks) and plan on returning them after they out grow the tank. Are there any game fish which would be illegal in a tank? Are there special requirements for local lake/river plants? Can the fish eat tropical flakes (the minnows etc.) or small bait fish for the bass, catfish, etc.?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[black angel]

It helps if you say which part of the world you come from.

 

[And_Hef]

It helps if you say which part of the world you come from.

I apologize: Dallas, Texas, USA.

 

[bribones]

you would have to check with your local byelaws as to what you can take etc but putting them back is something completely different,if your fish develope some disease while in the tank you will be introducing this into the wild population,i would never recommend anyone keeping fish normaly native to rivers or ponds in a tank unless bought from a local fish store and theyve been bred for that purpose

 

[And_Hef]

Well I completely understand your concerns, but I don't see how a disease could get into the tank if everything in the tank is from their natural habitat. I will definitely consider your concerns and appreciate your reply (I will research the subject more before making the final decision).

After thinking about the idea for a while, I've decided to do an outdoor pond/tank instead. I plan on incorporating it into my deck (which will be all composite, not actual wood). The tank will measure 4'x6'x6'x4'x10'x10' and 4' deep (it will be in the shape of an L). The two 6' sides facing the deck will have viewing portholes (24"x36"x1" plexiglass) and the top will be open (approx. 1500 gallons).

 

[LucyHurst]

There is disease floating about in water everywhere, so there will be disease in the water, its just that in a tank the environment is hard to keep stable and fish can get stressed easily, so they open themselves to disease. Thats when it starts to show and fish get ill.

 

[And_Hef]

Well I understand there will already be bad stuff in the water they currently live in, but if I have 1500 gallons, sand, gravel, plants, and filters; I think they'll be used to the conditions enough that the minimal amount of stress I put on them shouldn't make them ill. If anything their living conditions will be a lot better due to the fact that there won't be any chance of pollution or vandalism in my tank like there would in a lake or river.

If the fish do get illness signs, do you do the same procedures with cold freshwater as you would with tropical/warm freshwater (salt, meds, and regular water changes. anything else)?

Please don't think I'm not going to concider your advice. I just don't think the fish will be exposed to anything new, nor do I think a simple trap then a short ride will stress them out that much (no more than any other fish caught in their natural habitat and then put into a tank. Which the tank they're usually going into isn't stocked with water, plants, sand and gravel from the lake or river they just came out of).

I actually think it will be better than most naturally caught fish for the simple fact that everything in the tank in which they're going to live is exactly the same as where they came (actually better because the water will no longer have motor boats, with oil/gas/engine exhaust, going into the water or the general public with access to put anything they want into the water. Plus I will be filtering the water for a while before the fish arrive).

If you think I am right or wrong, please let me know. I would rather be wrong on the forums and look like a moron than cause inhumane conditions for fish.

 

[LucyHurst]

Well I'm a bit of a naturalist so I'd say whatever is most natural for the fish.. which is in the lake/river they came from.

 

[And_Hef]

Well I'm a bit of a naturalist so I'd say whatever is most natural for the fish.. which is in the lake/river they came from.

I assume you mean leave them in the lake or river.

If you keep fish, then this seems like a hypocritical thing to say.

 

[LucyHurst]

Yea thats what I mean.

There are loads of different arguments for what you just said.. but I'm not going into it. It might go on forever..

 

[tetraman]

Try a single sunfish. You may have to use a hook. You you would rarely have to buy food since you could feed it worms, bugs, minnows, whatever.

 

[black angel]

Well I'm a bit of a naturalist so I'd say whatever is most natural for the fish.. which is in the lake/river they came from.

I assume you mean leave them in the lake or river.

If you keep fish, then these seems like a hypocritical thing to say.

Not really considering goldfish dont have a natural habitat.

 

[LucyHurst]

Try a single sunfish. You may have to use a hook. You you would rarely have to buy food since you could feed it worms, bugs, minnows, whatever.

Dont sunfish shoal? bit mean keeping just one

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Well I understand there will already be bad stuff in the water they currently live in, but if I have 1500 gallons, sand, gravel, plants, and filters; I think they'll be used to the conditions enough that the minimal amount of stress I put on them shouldn't make them ill. If anything their living conditions will be a lot better due to the fact that there won't be any chance of pollution or vandalism in my tank like there would in a lake or river.

If the fish do get illness signs, do you do the same procedures with cold freshwater as you would with tropical/warm freshwater (salt, meds, and regular water changes. anything else)?

Please don't think I'm not going to concider your advice. I just don't think the fish will be exposed to anything new, nor do I think a simple trap then a short ride will stress them out that much (no more than any other fish caught in their natural habitat and then put into a tank. Which the tank they're usually going into isn't stocked with water, plants, sand and gravel from the lake or river they just came out of).

I actually think it will be better than most naturally caught fish for the simple fact that everything in the tank in which they're going to live is exactly the same as where they came (actually better because the water will no longer have motor boats, with oil/gas/engine exhaust, going into the water or the general public with access to put anything they want into the water. Plus I will be filtering the water for a while before the fish arrive).

If you think I am right or wrong, please let me know. I would rather be wrong on the forums and look like a moron than cause inhumane conditions for fish.

Aren't sunfish sea-going fish ?
Anyhoo...
As others have pointed out, you must research the legality of taking each species out of the wild, as far as i know though, its generally thought illegal if you don't have a license for it as far as i am aware .

The other problem is that you'll need to cycle the pond, and generally speaking, wild caught fish are a lot more fragile than tank bred ones.

Another point is (assuming you do an indoor pond), even if you find a room in your home that has a super thick solid concrete floor and you get all the pond making materials, you will need to water proof the whole room somehow to prevent mold and rust growing everywhere due to moisture problems- and evaporation problems are another factor you'll have to deal with.

Also have you considered how long it is going to take to even do a 20% water change on a 1500gallon pond? You can't just dump the water in your garden otherwise you'll flood it.

Many wild fish are also predatory, supplying a constant supply of live food suitable for them will be particually difficult and expensive if you go for predatory fish.

Its a nice idea, but i expect it'll be very expensive and difficult project to do in the long run.

 

[LucyHurst]

Aren't sunfish sea-going fish ?

Sea going sunfish http/bigpicture.typepad.com/writing/mola_mola.jpg (really amazing )

Freshwater sunfish http/www.kdwp.state.ks.us/var/news/stora..._imagelarge.jpg

There are loads of different freshwater sunfishes.. thats a green one.