"Wild" African, SA, CA Cichlids & more in US

[Super Turtleman]

Through my various internet travels today I stumbled upon an interesting read. Obviously man initiated...but there have been documented fish in this pond since the 60s. Apparently there are more like it across the US. Haven't searched for more though.

Below are two threads discussing it and a video filmed at the pond.

http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/199042-ive-found-heaven-on-earth/

http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/312185-i-found-the-fabled-hot-springs/

http://s153.photobucket.com/albums/s232/chuka1212/?action=view&current=HotSpringFish.mp4

[JeffroM]

Live Fish Direct ( http://www.livefishdirect.com/store.php ) is a hatchery in Utah.  It pumps water from the hot spring on the property into the facility on a continuous basis and doesn't use filters or heaters.

[Super Turtleman]

Yeah, but this is just a natural pond out in the middle of nowhere (by the sound of it). Somebody must have dumped a decent mix of fish in there...

I wonder if some fish from LFD followed the underground feed out to another pond.  Lol. That would be awesome.

[Ron]

Cool, but overall I'm not sure how I feel about this. As much as I like cichlids, I'm not a fan of species displacing native species. I hadn't heard of hot springs housing cichlids, but I've seen a variety of photos stretching from canals in Florida to streams in Hawaii with anything from plecos to oscars to M. johannni.

Even if that pond is isolated from others physically, it's not impossible for them to spread via birds, etc.

[Regalblue]

Some lake  in Utah has a population of Convicts.  I can't remember where though

[Super Turtleman]

I'm not saying it's cool that someone intentionally did this, but I think it's cool that you can stumble across this in the good ole US.

I read that there is a stream that feeds into this pond, but the stream is cold and it acts as a barrier keeping the fish in this warm water. I wouldn't mind having my own geothermal pond/hot tub!

I really wonder how so many different types of fish got in there though...

[Ron]

I really wonder how so many different types of fish got in there though...

I'm certain someone released them. 

As far as cold water keeping the fish confined to that pool ...
I'd bet if you dig a brand new pond deep enough to sustain fish over winter, but put no fish in said brand new pond, within 3 years you'd find minnows, bluegill, bass, etc, in said pond. Within 5-8 you'd have a sustaining population.

Anyone ever seen goldfish swimming wild in MI? I have.