Collecting in the Keys

[jpence151]

This thread is going to get a LOT of heat.

Hope you've invested in asbestos undies! :flame:

You were right.
\
I enjoy the ocean and the fish of the atlantic. I caught a few fish some 15 years ago in the keys and they lived in my aquarium in Inidana for over 7 years. These fish I caught and placed in a 10 gal cooler for a drive back home. I lost no fish on the trip. I used air, and replaced 1 gal of water half way home. I lost the fish do to bad water in a water change. I sold the aquarium and left it go at that until now. I have a 120 and It's like haveing a peace of the ocean at home. Have bought a few fish at the local pet store but when doing so you don't know how the fish were caught, (net or chemical) I do not agree with chemical capture as it is bad for the fish and also fish/coral in the area it is used. I'm not looking for a lot of fish just two or three that my kids can enjoy with me knowing that "wow" these are from florida where we took our vacation. I plan on adding reef to the tank but the reef will come from locally where it is grown and split inside so as not to hurt the coral in nature. I understand the idea of the fish, but as said before fish for what you consume, I see catching a few fish, taking care of them with all the diet they need and taking them from other preditors. I truly believe they are not harmed but have a better quality of life in a way....

You know they can't talk, any more than a pet cat or dog that is kept in the house or on a chain to say if they like there life or not. I can tell you that the fish I had before and even the few I have know, when I walk up to the tank they seem to great me. When I feed them they eat from my fingers, when I clean the tank they swim around my hand an seem playfull....

I see what is being said here, I wish I lived on the ocean where I could enjoy them everyday in there natural environment but I don't and this is how I am dealing with stress.

Thanks for the great information and know that if I am lucky enough to take just one or two home with me it will be amazing because I have used a net to collect before and it is not so easy. But what I do catch will be cared for well.


John

 

[jpence151]

They have a brand new way of issuing licences now, its all done over a special data line & the licences are basically a tiny receipt.
In fact, you may even be able to buy a license online yourself, if you can track down their ever-changing website.
I always go down to the Big Pine area; the footings around the bridges are always a good area to find all sorts of critters, but be watchful of the current switches. Catch it on the incoming ebb, that way cleaner water will be coming in with better viz & if ya get swept away winding up in the inside is better than the outside.
How are you going to get the critters back home alive, overnight FedEx in a plastic bag?

I'll be flying into and Out of Miami. I plan on refreshing the water in the bags putting them in styro boxes used for shipping fish and bringing them back with me... Less time than fed-ex. Years ago I drove and put them in a 10 gal cooler and rigged up a battery power air supply... That worked well.

 

[jpence151]

For Florida rules regarding ornamentals, read here.
http://myfwc.com/marine/recreational/recharvestmls.htm

As for seahorses, I would not recommend collecting them. They're rare enough now as is, enough so I won't divulge some "sweet spots" in the Lower Keys for 'em. And few people can maintain them in aquaria. Unless you're an accomplished ace at it already, try your hand with something far more common first... like pipefishes. Many hobbysists actually prefer them over seahorses.

What other critters are you looking for? What sort of tank(s) will they be going into?

I have ordered some seahorses and won't be collecting them at all. Your right that they are hard to keep and care for. I am going to try to care for the one's I ordered and If all works out well I am going to order some from hawaii that are aquacultured. I am hoping to breed seahorses and a few types of fish if I can get all set up. I am growing my own plankton and raising brine shrimp know. I won't ask you where the pods are out of respect but thanks for the concern. You are very right that they are getting to rare. I don't trust pet stores as far where and how there fish are caught, I would love to get all from aquaculture but there are only a few types of fish that are bread in captivity, fortunatly seahorse are one that is and they are more apt to survive with frozen food.

I'm looking for tangs, clowns, maybe a high hat. I will be adding the fish to a 120 gal reef. Also looking for small crabs, and Shrimp for cleaning, and maybe breeding.


Thanks

John

 

[maractwin]

I'm looking for tangs, clowns, maybe a high hat. I will be adding the fish to a 120 gal reef. Also looking for small crabs, and Shrimp for cleaning, and maybe breeding.

There are no clownfish in the Caribbean/Florida. There are 3 tang species, though these grow quite large and generally aren't kept in home aquariums.

You do see coral banded shrimp and several species of cleaner shrimp there.

-Mark

 

[archman]

With a 120, you can shove one or two tangs in without much fuss, provided you don't have any other "big" fish. A beaugregory, cocoa, or dusky damsel would do well with a lot of rocks to hide in. Yellowtail damsels are a bit big. Bob's site at the Big Pine bridge is good for tangs and damsels... they zip in and out of the rocks. Just don't stir up the hydroids in the adjacent seagrass beds. A quieter spot is the "borrow pit" on the northeast end of Big Pine. It's a flooded quarry. As you're leaving Big Pine towards Marathon, it's the last left on the side of the road, across the street from a teeny roadside park. Lock your car if you leave it.

The highhat will be tough. You're better off getting one of them from an aquarium supplier.