Trout fry!

[guidofatherof5]

Question? Since minnows are off my list and guppies are to small. Would it be worth trying to purchase Trout fry. Do they have the same parasite problems as minnows? My quess is that they(trout) are raised in a more sanitary way. I miss watching my kids fishing. I know that they really enjoy hunting and eating fish. I don't have access to Dace minnows(lucky Wayne) What are your thoughts?

[Stefan-A]

If you can find someone who sells fry, go for it. However, depending on where and how they're raised, it is possible that they'll only be available in the right size for a part of the year.

[guidofatherof5]

Thanks, Stefan

Here in Iowa we have a State run hatchery that does only Trout. Of course, it's on the other end of the State. Not very cost effective.

[infernalis]

Steve, Here is a project I am working on.

Get a few pair of fancy guppies, or what we call "breeding trios" or even a "harem"

One or two healthy males and a number of females, Then set up a nice aquarium with lots of plant cover and let them go at it.

In no time you will be overwhelmed with big fat fancy guppies, and they are a true meal for your snakes.

I can send you home with a bunch of Dace in July, just bring along a bait bucket with an air pump. (they have nice 12 volt air pumps wherever fishing tackle is sold.)

[guidofatherof5]

Thanks Wayne,

I've got a converter in my van and plenty of pumps and air stones.

[infernalis]

A few years ago we had a drought and the creek dried up except for one large swimming hole, The dace were so thick the water looked silver with them all.

I felt sorry for the little things, too many fish in one place to support natural balance, so I went to the farm store and got a pail of pond fish food, went down back daily and fed them until the water returned.

[drache]

If you can find someone who sells fry, go for it. However, depending on where and how they're raised, it is possible that they'll only be available in the right size for a part of the year.

I grew up up the hill from a trout farm
not sure how they do it, but they pretty much grew them in batches, so that they had a full range of sizes at all times, all year round
since they supplied the restaurant industry, they just had to keep those not quite adult portion-sized ones coming
now that I think about it, I remember that they had some heavily aerated indoor basins - that must have been the hatcheries and nurseries

[Stefan-A]

I grew up up the hill from a trout farm
not sure how they do it, but they pretty much grew them in batches, so that they had a full range of sizes at all times, all year round
since they supplied the restaurant industry, they just had to keep those not quite adult portion-sized ones coming
now that I think about it, I remember that they had some heavily aerated indoor basins - that must have been the hatcheries and nurseries

The ones I've visited have followed the normal breeding cycle (I don't think they even have a choice), meaning that there's a year between the batches. But they do have several ages at all times, for example newly hatched, yearlings and two yearl old fish. So if you wanted 10cm long fish, there's a relatively small period of time when the fish would be about that size.

[infernalis]

Thanks Wayne,

I've got a converter in my van and plenty of pumps and air stones.

I have been eying a really nice inverter in the "Northern Tool" catalogue for a while now.

I will have it in time to run some lights in July, Figure if I get a 200 watt or 400 watt, I can run a bunch of 13 watt fluorescents off a deep cycle out in the field. (without the noise of a generator)

[crzy_kevo]

well you can get some decent generators these days that are high efficiency and make very little noise too but an inverter is more evironmently friendly