Native Fish for a Home Aquarium

The redbelly dace, rosyface shiner, and rainbow darter rival the bright colors of tropical fish. What's more, you can collect native fish from streams and lakes right here in Minnesota Konrad and Mary Stefansky Schmidt

LTHOUGH many fisli hobbyists enj o y tropical fish, few keep fish from M i n n e s o t a ' s lakes and streams in their h o m e aquariums. Many of these native fish are as fascinating as their tropical counterparts. Even though Minnesota can't compete with the tropics in the incredible n u m b e r of species found there, we do have a very respectable assortment offish for the home hobbyist. Of 149 species found here, 135 are native. The remainder were introduced either accidentally or intentionally. Minnesota fish are generally easier to keep than tropical fish. A few the redbelly dace, rosyface shiner, and rainbow darter rival the colors of many 'imports. At the other end of the spectrum, a number might be described as
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unique, others as hideous the mottled sculpin, brook stickleback, and longnose gar. Who should try natives? Anyone with the basic equipment: aquarium, filter, air p u m p , hood, and gravel (available from pet stores that sell tropical fish). Any size aquarium will do, even one as small as five gallons. The hood should cover the aquarium to prevent fish from jumping. Although a light is not required, it does make viewing more enjoyable. Aquarium heaters are unnecessary. Native fish selected for an aquarium depend on individual tastes and objectives. For those with large aquariums, predatory species, like longnose or shortnose gar, would be a good choice and also provide action when fed minnows. Those who prefer small fish
THE MINNESOTA VOLUNTEER

should try a community aquarium filled with possibilities like spotfin shiners, longnose dace, banded killifish, and Iowa darters. Teachers and naturalists could consider using the brook stickleback's elaborate courtship displays to complement a lesson on animal behavior. Before making a final decision, however, try to become familiar with the more common fishes. Look at appearance, behavior, range, habitat, and abundance. This information, along with color photographs of several species, can be found in Fishes of the Minnesota Region (University of Minnesota Press). Collecting Trip. Once you have the aquarium set up, it's time to plan the first collecting trip. For starters, try lakes and streams near home. Usually there is an ample variety of fish available to satisfy everyone's interests. Seines and minnow traps are the two most common types of collecting equipment and are available from bait and sporting goods stores. Seines are probably more popular because they produce immediate results. Minnow traps require setting from a few hours to overnight. Seines come in several lengths, but nets longer than 15 feet can be difficult to pull and maneuver, especially in dense aquatic vegetation or in narrow streams and side channels. The inside foot of both people pulling the seine should
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Banded killifish

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always he kept on the lead line to prevent the lower edge of the net from riding too high above the bottom. In streams with riffles, w h e r e darters and sculpins are found, seines work best when held stationary and flush to the bottom while a third person walks a zigzag through the rocks just above the net. Minnow traps require a little patience, but some collectors find them easier to use than seines. Minnow traps need to be baited with bread crumbs. Place them in shallow, weedy areas of lakes or in eddys and backwaters of streams and rivers. As the name implies, minnow traps are more selective for chubs, dace, and shiners, but will also work for brook sticklebacks, Iowa darters, and stonecats. A few hints to keep in mind while collecting native fish: Both seines and minnow traps will frequently catch far more fish than can be safely transported or kept in an aquarium. It s difficult to set self-imposed limits on fish brought home, but over-crowding must be avoided. O n e easy formula to remember: An aquarium can comfortably support about one inch ol fish per gallon of water When removing fish from seines and traps, handling should be kept to a minimum. On warm days, fish should be sorted from minnow buckets or left "corralled in the seine near shore Fish arrive home in the best condition when transported in an

insulated minnow bucket, such as one made of Styrofoam Natives vary greatly in the food they eat. Live food, including insect larvae and small crustaceans, are eagerly devoured by even the most finicky fish, but a steady supply can be difficult to store and maintain without f r e q u e n t trips to local ponds and marshes. Most collectors turn to pet stores that carry several dry, frozen, and live foods for tropical fish. Minnows adapt to dry-flake foods; darters dine on a richer diet of frozen brine shrimp. Plankton and Plants. A classroom or nature center aquarium can be an ongoing experience to study aquatic species other than native fish, such as plankton, crustaceans, insects, amphibians, and plants. An introductory exercise could be a class field trip to a local, state, or county park. Many of these parks conduct naturalist-led activities which may include an aquatic exercise pertinent to the course curriculum. if possible, several specimens and water samples should be collected for more in-depth study in the classroom or nature center. Plankton nets will be n e e d e d to take microscopic organisms, but minnow seines will also work quite well for collecting tadpoles, salamanders, crayfish, and plants. Many are compatible with native fish and make interesting additions to an aquarium. Follow-up exercises could include a key to describe fish, insects, and
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Top, left: On log near shore, Mary Schmidt lowers minnow trap into pond. Float in left hand will mark spot. Top, right: Schmidt feeds native fish in tank. Bottom: Paul and Mary Schmidt haul seine net to shore.

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is required to take nongame species. The fishing regulations pamphlet issued with the license should be reviewed each year for changes or additions related to the use of seines and minnow traps. Game fish cannot be collected for aquariums without a special permit. This permit is granted only to individuals affiliated with schools or others who maintain public displays. State parks have similar regulations, but include nongame species which can b e collected only under a permit granted for educational and scientific purposes. (To apply for a permit, contact D N R Fisheries Section, Box 12, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55146. Phone: 612-296-3325.)
Children in Mary Schmidt's science class, Frost Lake Elementary, St. Paul, view native fish in tank. Don Richmond keeps native fish in several lighted tanks in basement of home in Minneapolis.

plants and the use of microscopes or microprojectors to view protozoa, hydras, daphnia, and phantom midge larvae. O t h e r possibilities include pressing aquatic plants for a class collection and testing water samples for pH and relating this information to the effects of acid rain. Everyone should b e aware that there are laws that govern collecting and keeping natives. (See sidebar. Ed.) With the exception provided for teachers and naturalists through special provisions, a fishing license
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Special Concern. Something must also be said for Minnesota's rarer fishes. At this time, the D N R considers no fish in the state to be endangered or threatened, but 16 fish have been designated to a third status called "special concern": lake and shovelnose sturgeons, paddlefish, yellow bass, blue catfish, slender madtom, black redhorse, blue sucker, crystal and bluntnose darters, plains topminnow, pallid and Topeka shiners, gravel chub, pugnose minnow, and American brook lamprey. The special concern status, by itself, does not protect these species, but many are uncommon and should not be intentionally collected.
THE MINNESOTA VOLUNTEER

Native Fish: Some Regulations to Be Familiar With

Minnow seines can be used only by persons possessing an angling license. The seine cannot be more than 25 feet long or have more than 148 meshes in depth (height of net) for V t " bar measure (one square of webbing), or have more than 197 meshes in depth for 3 / V ' bar measure, or be more than 4 feet in depth if mesh is smaller than 3Ae" bar measure. Minnow traps must be marked in a legible manner indicating the licensee's name and town of residence. This also applies to seines. Live carp minnows cannot be transported. 24 dozen minnows maximum may be possessed. Anyone planning to use either a seine or trap should read the game and fish regulations first. "Minnesota Fishing Regulations" is available wherever fishing licenses are sold. Seining or trapping in designated trout streams, except with a permit, is not permitted. DNR Fisheries

But a good identification guide, like the third edition of Northern Fishes (UM Press), provides family keys and detailed descriptions of each species. This key also nicely supplements information found in Fishes of the Minnesota Region. As with most hobbies, involvement grows steadily with time. O n e organization to check for ideas and to meet others interested in native fish is the North American Native Fishes Association. NANFA provides information on aquarium care and maintenance, collecting methods, planning trips, breeding natives in aquariums, general life histories of native fish, photographic techniques, conservation issues, and more. For information about NANFA, contact Bruce Gebhardt, President, 123 Wt :t Mt. Airy Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119. Konrad Schmidt serves on the Board of Directors for the North American Native Fishes Association. Mary Stefanshtj Schmidt is a science specialist for Frost Lake Elementary School. St. Paul. Pays

Collectors get a great deal more out of keeping natives when all fish in the aquarium can be identified. This can be difficult, especially when dealing with the minnows. Positive

iw^sis^nivsisv^i Proof: Forest Management

AT THE UM Cloquet Forestry C e n t e r , a 65-year old red pine was cut clown. The tree had been growing in a managed stand that had been thinned three times, in 1950, 1960, and 1970. C u t at s t u m p height, the tree measured 15 inches in diameter. Another 65-year old pine growing in an unmanaged section was cut down. At s t u m p height, this tree's diameter measured only 6.2 inches. The larger size of the first pine attests to what can be accomplished when sound forest management practices are applied in a tree plantation. Minnesota Forests
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