I am having trouble finding out who I need to contact (or what web-site to go to) in order to find out about keeping native fish here in ohio. I am most interestied in small fish. Anyway, I have already checked the illigeal fish thread, and tried to find out on the ohio fish and game website. So far I haven't had any luck. Has anyone checked this out?
small natives in ohio
- Thread starter jennypenny
- Start date
It's legal to keep the fish but the question is how you get them. Most states have laws regarding capture methods. If you want to keep some of your local colorful Cyprinidae, darters or killifish, these can be collected with nets since they classify as baitfish. Most states classify sunfish (including bass) as sportfish and require to take these fish within size limit and by hook and line. In most cases the sunfish you would want to keep don't have size limits.
All this being said; you can also buy fish from all around the county from native fish sellers. These are full licensed/legal sellers of fish. I know of one in Ohio BTW.
Edit* you should be careful not to keep fish endangered or threatened in your state. This would be a no no.
All this being said; you can also buy fish from all around the county from native fish sellers. These are full licensed/legal sellers of fish. I know of one in Ohio BTW.
Edit* you should be careful not to keep fish endangered or threatened in your state. This would be a no no.
Last edited:
ODNR website has some info. No where could I find any statement forbidding the keeping of unprotected species. In fact one link is a list of dealers where you can pruchase fish for private ponds. Most states will say something like "Keeping of wildlife as pets while not illegal is not recomended". I get the feeling they are refering to animals like rabbits and chipmonks. The link below has contact info if you want to call and ask someone directly.
There seems to be a strong feeling by a lot of hobbiest AGAINST the keeping of native fish species (on this forum at least). You will hear people rant about overcollecting, and introducing parasites blah blah blah. I personally love keeping a well planned, well maintained native species tank. My answer to many of the objections is:
It is not in fact illegal to keep the vast majority of native species.
If you use substrate and decor from the collection location (or that have been sterilized) and make sure that the tank is isolated from tropical non-native tanks there is NO WAY diseases or parasites could be released into the local ecosystem. If you do this you could even release the fish back into the wild after a observing them for whatever length of time. GASP!!!!
There is no way that the small percentage of diehard hobbiests that would actually collect fish for thier own personal native species tanks would ever make a dent in a healthy population of any species. Overcollecting of wildlife is usually linked to collection for the "pet trade" and is usually only a problem with high demand species, or species with slow reproductive cycles.
OK, that's my "anti-rant" With that said, I say go for it. Look into the different darter species for smaller tanks.
http://www.ohiodnr.com/wildlife/fishing/propagate/faffp.htm
http://www.ohiodnr.com/wildlife/fishing/aquanotes-fishid/fishtips.htm
There seems to be a strong feeling by a lot of hobbiest AGAINST the keeping of native fish species (on this forum at least). You will hear people rant about overcollecting, and introducing parasites blah blah blah. I personally love keeping a well planned, well maintained native species tank. My answer to many of the objections is:
It is not in fact illegal to keep the vast majority of native species.
If you use substrate and decor from the collection location (or that have been sterilized) and make sure that the tank is isolated from tropical non-native tanks there is NO WAY diseases or parasites could be released into the local ecosystem. If you do this you could even release the fish back into the wild after a observing them for whatever length of time. GASP!!!!
There is no way that the small percentage of diehard hobbiests that would actually collect fish for thier own personal native species tanks would ever make a dent in a healthy population of any species. Overcollecting of wildlife is usually linked to collection for the "pet trade" and is usually only a problem with high demand species, or species with slow reproductive cycles.
OK, that's my "anti-rant" With that said, I say go for it. Look into the different darter species for smaller tanks.
http://www.ohiodnr.com/wildlife/fishing/propagate/faffp.htm
http://www.ohiodnr.com/wildlife/fishing/aquanotes-fishid/fishtips.htm
Interesting. I've not heard negative opinions on native fishkeeping. The thought that overcollecting and parasites are a serious issue is ridiculous since tropical fish are collected form their native waters and shipped to us by the plane load. I wouldn't expect to hear too many complaints about someone's favorite tropical fish coming in as a fresh arrival to their LFS. These tropical fish aren't treated with any magic anti parasitic formula and most do well the home home aquaria. The same could be said for US natives.
Well put Moonman and best of luck to you jennypenny. I'm sure you'll love the fish located right in your back yard.
THanks for all the advice. The tank will be for my seveth grade life science classroom. I hope all of my studets enjoy the fish.
I found the site http://www.nativefish.org/ quite interesting. I am planning on getting some waders, a net and a fishing license come spring...
Good luck.
Good luck.
Here's the website of another Ohio native fish collector and enthusiast:
http://www.farmertodd.com/
Check out his collecting trips and his tanks!
http://www.farmertodd.com/
Check out his collecting trips and his tanks!
Jennypenny
I teach 7th grade science as well, and my fish tanks are hit with most of the kids. A native species tank should be mandatory IMO. We can't expect the kids to appreciate the local fauna if they have no contact with it.
talk to Mathew White or Gerald Svendsen at Ohio University. They both have offices in Ervine hall and have worked with native stream fish. They can probably point you to a good collection site, and seeing as you are an educator might even lend you some gear. When i was collecting fish for them I just used a sein (net stretched between two poles) in some of the streams around the area. I caught Johnny Darters, Rainbow Darters, Black Nose dace, and Glassjaw minnows. I think a nice small native tank would be a 20g long with darters for the bottom and a single school of either dace or glassjaw minnows for some topwater action. Good Luck.
I teach 7th grade science as well, and my fish tanks are hit with most of the kids. A native species tank should be mandatory IMO. We can't expect the kids to appreciate the local fauna if they have no contact with it.
talk to Mathew White or Gerald Svendsen at Ohio University. They both have offices in Ervine hall and have worked with native stream fish. They can probably point you to a good collection site, and seeing as you are an educator might even lend you some gear. When i was collecting fish for them I just used a sein (net stretched between two poles) in some of the streams around the area. I caught Johnny Darters, Rainbow Darters, Black Nose dace, and Glassjaw minnows. I think a nice small native tank would be a 20g long with darters for the bottom and a single school of either dace or glassjaw minnows for some topwater action. Good Luck.
the laws about keeping native fish will vary from state to state.
In washington the contact would be the Dept of Wildlife. I believe you can obtain permits to do most things from catching fish to keeping fish.
the first place I woulod check is the state dept of fish and game or wildlife dept.(depending on what they call it) they should be able to direct you to the right people.
In washington the contact would be the Dept of Wildlife. I believe you can obtain permits to do most things from catching fish to keeping fish.
the first place I woulod check is the state dept of fish and game or wildlife dept.(depending on what they call it) they should be able to direct you to the right people.