RE: NANFA-- A local stream

Bob Bock (bockhouse_at_earthlink.net)
Tue, 26 Sep 2000 19:55:45 -0400

I can't say about the fish you saw, Dick, but I can tell you I once saw
feral guppies in the thermal springs in Berkely Springs, WV, several years
ago.

> [Original Message]
> From: <Triovlaif_at_aol.com>
> To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
> Date: 9/26/00 1:29:27 PM
> Subject: NANFA-- A local stream
>
> In our neighborhood in Columbia, SC, there is a small government-owned
and maintained park dominated by a clear stream which runs over a sand,
gravel and river stone substrate. There is almost no vegetation except for
some marginal plants that grow into the water in some places on the often
wooded banks. The stream is serpentine and there are many deep pools
outside the main current.
>
> >From the stream I have taken three young pumkinseeds, which are quite
common in the pools. Each pool I have investigated has a number of these
of about 2-3 inches in length and one larger one of about 2-3 times their
size. In the currents and in shallower pools there are large numbers of
Gambusia affinis schooling.
>
> In a very picturesque pool on the edge of a rapid, bordered by a moss-
and plant-covered stone, partially submerged and adjoining the wooded
bank, I found the usual "family" of sunfish and on the surface a group of
what I thought were Gambusia until I realized that one of them had red
streaks on its flanks. I tried my best to net them, but they were very
quick and I never managed to catch any. I think they were guppies,
probably released by someone into the stream. I am wondering about how
these guppies can overwinter here. Though our climate is relatively mild,
it can be very cold in the depth of winter, temperatures plunging to the
teens Fahrenheit, and water will freeze. Will this group of guppies
survive a winter, do you suppose?
>
> As I was enjoying this little pool, peering into the slightly cloudy
water on a somewhat overcast day, I saw under the edge of a submerged rock
what had to be the head of a catfish. It appeared smooth and grey (through
the water), but what stood out were four white barbels (I saw four) against
the sand bottom and the shadow of the rock. I have looked in my books and
I think it might have been a yellow bullhead (is that right?). It looked a
lot like the flathead, but they aren't supposed to be in our area, or if
so, have been introduced. One of my books says they are in the Congaree
River, which runs through Columbia.
>
> Before leaving this pleasant pool, I decided to sweep the grasses on the
edge of the embankment at the water surface, and in so doing, I caught a
small fish, which turned out to be a sunfish fry. It is less than .25
inches and has faint vertical stripes. It went into immediate shock, but
eventually recovered. I have brought it home and it is happily hunting
mosquito larvae in my newly established 55-gallon tank.
>
> These are the only fish I have seen in the stream so far.
>
> I just wanted to share a novice's experiences close to home. Do you
think the fish I couldn't catch were guppies?
>
> Thanks for listening to my story.
>
> Dick Norwood
>
>
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--- Bob Bock --- bockhouse_at_earthlink.net --- EarthLink: It's your Internet.

/----------------------------------------------------------------------------- /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes / Association" / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association / nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word / subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to / nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to / nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead. / For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org