Author Topic: Native Species (Michigan)  (Read 8005 times)

Offline four_by_ken

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Native Species (Michigan)
« on: December 21, 2013, 09:51:51 AM »
I have wanted to do this for so long... hard to resist now that I will be setting up a larger tank.

I tried once when I was about 10-12 years old with a brook trout I caught up near Alpena with a tiny net.  I had it for a few months and then it just disappeared.


I think a tank with some large/large mouth bass or some yellow perch would be really cool.  Maybe some rainbow trout.  I never really looked into what it would take to keep them happy.  But, these are just some that popped into my mind when I was thinking about this.



Offline danielratti

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Re: Native Species (Michigan)
« Reply #1 on: December 21, 2013, 10:01:13 AM »
A chiller is the big thing

Offline four_by_ken

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Re: Native Species (Michigan)
« Reply #2 on: December 21, 2013, 10:07:02 AM »
A chiller is the big thing

Or just have it in my basement.   8)

Offline Regalblue

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Re: Native Species (Michigan)
« Reply #3 on: December 21, 2013, 10:14:00 AM »
The January meeting will feature a native talk given by Mike Z/zchallenger....

Offline four_by_ken

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Re: Native Species (Michigan)
« Reply #4 on: December 21, 2013, 10:15:58 AM »
The January meeting will feature a native talk given by Mike Z/zchallenger....

January 3rd, right?

Offline danielratti

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Re: Native Species (Michigan)
« Reply #5 on: December 21, 2013, 10:30:14 AM »
Does it stay cold year round in it? if so yeah thats a easy way around it.

Offline four_by_ken

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Re: Native Species (Michigan)
« Reply #6 on: December 21, 2013, 10:32:35 AM »
Does it stay cold year round in it? if so yeah thats a easy way around it.

Yeah, even in the summer its pretty cool down there.  I am comparing to what I know about say Lake St. Clair as far as temps go.


Offline four_by_ken

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Re: Native Species (Michigan)
« Reply #7 on: December 21, 2013, 10:33:16 AM »
Colder than it is in on the main floor with the AC on in the summer.  And we keep it at like 75 on the main floor.

Offline Steve

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Re: Native Species (Michigan)
« Reply #8 on: December 21, 2013, 11:55:49 AM »
Someone say trout? :D Now you're talkin my language ;)

As Dan said you need a chiller if you try to keep trout in the home. Being the huge fly fisherman I am I actually considered trout in the 265 tank I'm building but decided against it due to how much chillers cost and the power they suck from the electric bill. Rainbow trout need water temps around no higher than 65-67f at the higest, or a tad less most of the time. They can survive at temps up to 75 for short times but at those temps they need constantly moving highly oxygenated water. Hence why you will find rainbows in the faster moving riffles & runs on a river during the summer rather than in the slower pools of a river.

Brown trout can handle a bit higher temps then rainbows so browns would be better suited to a tank than a rainbow, but still in the heat of summer even in a basement it will get into the mid 70's or more at times which is not good even for browns. So a chiller is pretty much needed for long term care anytime trout are in the picture.

Smallmouth would be the best option if you have a bigger tank for them because a smallmouth can reach 20"-23" so it would need a very large tank to be happy. Throw in some sunfish as well to add some color. I had some sunfish in a tank years ago and they do really well in an aquarium. The ones I had were feed feeder fish and they grew to pretty impressive size before I moved and had to give them up year ago.
« Last Edit: December 21, 2013, 11:59:48 AM by Steve »
Better to have a short life full of what you like doing, than a long life spent in a miserable way.

-Alan Watts

Offline four_by_ken

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Re: Native Species (Michigan)
« Reply #9 on: December 21, 2013, 11:57:51 AM »
Hmmm....

Maybe not.

 :(

Offline Maize-N-Blue-D

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Re: Native Species (Michigan)
« Reply #10 on: December 21, 2013, 11:59:47 AM »
I'm not positive but isn't it illegal to keep native fish..
"If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking" - GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON, JR.

Offline four_by_ken

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Re: Native Species (Michigan)
« Reply #11 on: December 21, 2013, 12:00:34 PM »
I'm not positive but isn't it illegal to keep native fish..

Who invited you?

Offline Steve

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Re: Native Species (Michigan)
« Reply #12 on: December 21, 2013, 12:00:49 PM »
Long as they are of legal minimum size when you catch them then you can do as you please with them.
Better to have a short life full of what you like doing, than a long life spent in a miserable way.

-Alan Watts

Offline Maize-N-Blue-D

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Re: Native Species (Michigan)
« Reply #13 on: December 21, 2013, 12:04:35 PM »
I'm not positive but isn't it illegal to keep native fish..

Who invited you?

Hey - just because your a BOD doesn't give you the privilege to be a mean old grumpy SOB !   LOL 

Oh wait yes it does !   
"If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking" - GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON, JR.

Offline four_by_ken

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Re: Native Species (Michigan)
« Reply #14 on: December 21, 2013, 12:07:51 PM »
I'm not positive but isn't it illegal to keep native fish..

Who invited you?

Hey - just because your a BOD doesn't give you the privilege to be a mean old grumpy SOB !   LOL 

Oh wait yes it does !

You came in and rained on my parade... but, the sun came out and dried up your negative thoughts.