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Re: NFC: First darter(?)
It is most likley a Swamp Darter the most common darter in FLa and as
thier name implys they are in swamps lakes ponds sometimes in abundance.
congrats they make a great aquarium fish very tolerant of bad water and
warmer temps.
Robert Rice - NFC president www.nativefish.org
Hemochromotosis the # 1 genetic killer in the USA . Ten percent of us
have it.
I do. Learn more about this disease visit http://www.americanhs.org/ .
Treatment is simple and easy with an early diagnosis so get tested.
On Sat, 23 Feb 2002 08:07:40 EST PrplShark at aol_com writes:
> After my first collection, it is official........I was bitten by the
>
> collecting bug. On February 18, curiosity got he best of me and
> another
> collecting trip was in order. The weather was a little windy, and
> cool (mid
> 60's) but that did not slow me down. So with bucket and nets in
> hand, away I
> went.
> Upon arrival to the shore, waves have now replaced the once calm,
>
> mirror-like surface of the lake. Foam from the churning action of
> the waves
> was noted in a few area's. A lot of debris was now littering the
> shore line.
> The wind has also caused a lot of water hyacyinth to collect along
> the banks,
> and to me that was prime opportunity for dip netting.
> The first dip into the water was a bit "nippy" to say the least,
> but after
> a few minuets of considering which hyacinth to inspect first, the
> coolness
> was forgotten about, and the reason for being here came to mind. On
> the first
> collecting trip, all I had acquired was the female Least killifish
> and I was
> searching for the male this time.
> The first few dip's of my net yielded the same that was caught
> the first
> time, Gambusia, grass shrimp, crayfish, dragonfly nymph and the
> female Least
> killifish. A few big female Least killifish were caught, so I placed
> them in
> the bucket. To help with the shock of being transported, I placed a
> small
> rooted hyacinth in the bucket, but not before taking a large
> specimen and
> shaking it's root system in the bucket for the addition of some
> copepods and
> crustaceans. This was for culturing later on and to see what was
> abundant.
> After a while of collecting the same, I spotted a clump of
> hyacinth's in
> with the alligator grass that was abundant along the shore, and went
> over to
> inspect the area. The water depth was shallow. about 3-4 inches, so
> with the
> dip net skimming the bottom I netted the hyacinth clump. Moving to
> deeper
> water, I shook the plants root system and inspected the catch. A 2
> inch
> blotched streamlined fish was seen, and with my heart skipping a
> beat, I
> placed the specimen in the bucket, not wanting to wait to observe
> the fish
> for identification. An emerald green flash was noted on the gill
> cover, and
> continuing to near the abdomen.
> After returning home I placed the fish in my photo tank, inwhich
> has an
> external filter that causes a mild current. After a while I returned
> to the
> aquarium to observe my new catch, and hopefully to identify it. With
> my
> Peterson's Field guide in hand, I began to flip through the pages
> excitingly
> trying to get an idea of what I had caught. With reddish-orange on
> the first
> and second dorsal, clear webbing of the dorsal fins and 2 dark spots
> on the
> caudial, the only conclusion that I could see was Harlequin darter.
> This was
> my first darter and other readings mentioned that darters are
> usually found
> in creeks, streams or rivers with a current. This puzzled me, for
> this was a
> lake. Have I found a possible specimen that was introduced or "lake
> locked"?
> Are there more specimens?
> If you are familiar with darters, please give me some ideas.
> Hopefully,
> THANKS in advance.
>
>
> Victor
>
>
> Prplshark at aol_com
>
>
Robert Rice - NFC president www.nativefish.org
Hemochromotosis the # 1 genetic killer in the USA . Ten percent of us
have it.
I do. Learn more about this disease visit http://www.americanhs.org/ .
Treatment is simple and easy with an early diagnosis so get tested.
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