Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

For those out there encountering catfishes in the wild, post your experiences here.
Post Reply
User avatar
racoll
Posts: 5256
Joined: 26 Jan 2004, 12:18
My articles: 6
My images: 182
My catfish: 2
My cats species list: 2 (i:0, k:0)
My aquaria list: 1 (i:0)
Spotted: 238
Location 1: Bristol
Location 2: UK

Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by racoll »

I've been really looking forward to my first post in this forum, and I hope it will be the first of many.

So, my first official NZ collecting trip was at the Garry River, a tributary of the Ashley River in Canterbury. You can see the location if you enter "Hayland Road, Canterbury, New Zealand" into Google Maps (use the "terrain" or "satellite" setting).

The Kit:

Image
Collecting bucket (must be watertight)
Trout fishing landing net (need to get/make a good push net though)
Photo tank - a clear refrigerator door compartment (won't break, but not very clear)
Electronic pH and conductivity meters
Waterproof paper and pencil
Scissors
GPS
Preserving jar
MS-222 (fish anaesthetic)
Formalin (10%)
Sample tubes filled with 100% ethanol for DNA samples
Sandfly repellent (DEET)
Rod and reel for larger and more delicious fishes
Camera (was hard to include this in the photo :wink: )

Location One:
Small, shallow, steep gradient stream. Boulder/gravel/sand substrate.
Temperature: 12.0C
Conductivity: 115us
pH: 7.8

Image

Image

Image
I was very excited with my first fish, as it looked like a weird galaxiid in the net. Unfortunately it was a non-native brown trout (Salmo trutta), and too small to eat! This was the only fish caught at this location.

Location Two:
Low gradient braided riffle/pool stream. Stones/gravel/sand substrate.
Temperature: 13.6C
Conductivity: 121us
pH: 7.6

Image

Image
Looks shallow, but was actually well over 1m deep under the tree.

Image
At last, a native fish. Upland bully (Gobiomorphus breviceps), female.

Image
Head shot of same fish. Gobiomorphus belong to the family Eleotridae (sleepers, or sleeper "gobies").

Image
Head shots of male (right) and female (left). Males have much more bulbous heads and brighter colours.

Image
Again, male (right) and female (left). These were found under stones in shallow water.

Image
Male

Image
Male

Image
Male

Image
Male

Image
These young galaxiids were found in deeper water under the tree. I think they are Galaxias maculatus, but I need to do some more research on that, as some features don't seen to match.

Image
The mesh of my net was too big for these guys, but luckily I managed to hang on to some. They were midwater swimming, but associated with the cover of the tree branches/roots.

Image
Also of interest - a big old fishing spider (Dolomedes sp.) found under a rock.
User avatar
kruseman
Posts: 417
Joined: 15 May 2008, 17:43
My images: 11
My cats species list: 22 (i:1, k:0)
My aquaria list: 2 (i:1)
Spotted: 7
Location 1: Limburg
Location 2: the Netherlands
Interests: fish, speedskating, classical music,
Contact:

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by kruseman »

These are very nice and interesting pictures.
I really don't know anything about freshwaterfish from NZ.
The Gobies are stunning!

Thanks for sharing! :thumbsup:
“Weekends don't count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless.”
andywoolloo
Posts: 2751
Joined: 02 Dec 2007, 02:55
I've donated: $100.00!
My cats species list: 12 (i:0, k:0)
My aquaria list: 1 (i:1)
Location 2: Sanger, California

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by andywoolloo »

whoa..the spider looks huge and frightening! :(

the fish pictures were great and the scenery and I loved the picture of all your supplies.
Very cool! :thumbsup:


Patty
User avatar
Richard B
Posts: 6952
Joined: 11 Aug 2006, 13:19
I've donated: $20.00!
My articles: 9
My images: 11
My cats species list: 37 (i:0, k:0)
My aquaria list: 4 (i:0)
My BLogs: 2 (i:0, p:47)
Spotted: 10
Location 1: on the sofa, or maybe at work?
Location 2: Warwickshire: UK
Interests: Tanganyika Catfish, African catfish, Non-loricariid sucker-catfish.
Running, drinking, eating, sci-fi, stapelids

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by Richard B »

Excellent work - i look forward to seeing how the thread develops over time :thumbsup:
Lou: Every young man's fantasy is to have a three-way.
Jacob: Yeah not with another fu**!ng guy!
Lou: It's still a three-way!

Hot Tub Time Machine: 2010
User avatar
Carp37
Posts: 596
Joined: 21 Sep 2007, 13:08
My cats species list: 16 (i:7, k:0)
My aquaria list: 7 (i:6)
My BLogs: 2 (i:0, p:75)
Location 2: Aughton UK
Interests: fish, fishing, fossils, evolution/taxonomy, films

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by Carp37 »

Great photos Rupert. Is G. maculatus still thought to be the species also found in Chile and Argentina?
Megalechis thoracata, Callichthys callichthys, Brochis splendens (and progeny), Corydoras sterbai, C. weitzmani, CW044 cf. pestai, CW021 cf. axelrodi, Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps, Ancistrus cf. cirrhosus (and progeny), Panaque maccus, Panaque nigrolineatus, Synodontis eupterus
User avatar
Shane
Expert
Posts: 4589
Joined: 30 Dec 2002, 22:12
My articles: 69
My images: 161
My catfish: 75
My cats species list: 4 (i:0, k:0)
My aquaria list: 4 (i:4)
Spotted: 99
Location 1: Tysons
Location 2: Virginia
Contact:

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by Shane »

Wonderful. Already looking forward to more (as suggested by the pt 1).
-Shane
"My journey is at an end and the tale is told. The reader who has followed so faithfully and so far, they have the right to ask, what do I bring back? It can be summed up in three words. Concentrate upon Uganda."
Winston Churchill, My African Journey
User avatar
MatsP
Posts: 21038
Joined: 06 Oct 2004, 13:58
My articles: 4
My images: 28
My cats species list: 117 (i:33, k:0)
My aquaria list: 10 (i:8)
My BLogs: 4 (i:0, p:97)
Spotted: 187
Location 1: North of Cambridge
Location 2: England.

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by MatsP »

Carp37 wrote:Great photos Rupert. Is G. maculatus still thought to be the species also found in Chile and Argentina?
It appears to have a large distribution in Catalog of Fishes.
CoF wrote:Distribution: Southwestern Pacidic, Oceania and, southern South America: Argentina, Australia, Chatham Islands, Chile, Falkland Islands, Lord Howe Island, New Zealand. Habitat: freshwater, brackish, marine.
--
Mats
User avatar
racoll
Posts: 5256
Joined: 26 Jan 2004, 12:18
My articles: 6
My images: 182
My catfish: 2
My cats species list: 2 (i:0, k:0)
My aquaria list: 1 (i:0)
Spotted: 238
Location 1: Bristol
Location 2: UK

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by racoll »

Thanks for the comments. Hopefully in a few weeks I will get over to the West Coast and see what turns up there!
Carp37 wrote:Great photos Rupert. Is G. maculatus still thought to be the species also found in Chile and Argentina?
Yup, that's the one. A pretty odd distribution indeed! As they are diadromous, I think the ocean currents distribute the larvae all over the Southern Hemisphere.
User avatar
apistomaster
Posts: 4735
Joined: 10 Jun 2006, 14:26
I've donated: $90.00!
My articles: 1
My cats species list: 12 (i:0, k:0)
My Wishlist: 1
Location 1: Clarkston, WA, USA
Location 2: Clarkston, WA, USA
Interests: Aquaculture and flyfishing

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by apistomaster »

Hi Rupert,
Looks like fun.
I also like the gobies and the Brown Trout parr. Probably need a chiller to keep them very long in tanks, I would think.
You should add a dual pole seine to your collecting equipment and turn over rocks up stream from it to survey the aquatic insect populations while you are at it. I've used them a lot for collecting to see which insects were most numerous during my fly fishing outings. I usually catch a few Cottus species of sculpins when I do that, too. They are probably northern hemisphere equivalents to those Gobies as far as the niche they occupy.
I'll be following your reports and happy collecting.
Avid Trout fly fisherman. ·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
bronzefry
Posts: 2198
Joined: 31 Aug 2004, 16:01
I've donated: $100.00!
My articles: 6
My images: 13
My cats species list: 17 (i:0, k:0)
My aquaria list: 7 (i:7)
Spotted: 6
Location 1: Sharon, Massachusetts, US

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by bronzefry »

Sweeeeet, Rupert! I have a friend that would pass out at the sight. He loves to breed Goby's. With the Galaxiids, could there be some sexual dimorphism? Just a thought. Look forward to your next adventure!
Amanda
User avatar
Jools
Expert
Posts: 15978
Joined: 30 Dec 2002, 15:25
My articles: 197
My images: 944
My catfish: 238
My cats species list: 87 (i:13, k:1)
My BLogs: 7 (i:7, p:202)
My Wishlist: 23
Spotted: 447
Location 1: Middle Earth,
Location 2: Scotland
Interests: All things aquatic, Sci-Fi, photography and travel. Oh, and beer.
Contact:

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by Jools »

Excellent to read, thanks for posting. It occurs to me that even though this is a catfish site, so many of us just really like all this stuff, cats or not.

Jools
catmar
Posts: 53
Joined: 28 Apr 2009, 19:24
I've donated: $10.00!
My cats species list: 7 (i:0, k:0)
Location 2: Manchester uk

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by catmar »

Look forward to more posts, thankyou. I spent a month in NZ over a decade ago it is a stunning country and full of interesting wildlife. Near the Homer tunnel I had the wipers on my hire car attacked by a bird who seemed to have a craving for rubber!
User avatar
racoll
Posts: 5256
Joined: 26 Jan 2004, 12:18
My articles: 6
My images: 182
My catfish: 2
My cats species list: 2 (i:0, k:0)
My aquaria list: 1 (i:0)
Spotted: 238
Location 1: Bristol
Location 2: UK

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by racoll »

catmar wrote:Near the Homer tunnel I had the wipers on my hire car attacked by a bird who seemed to have a craving for rubber!
Ah, the cheeky kea. Fantastic birds. The world's only alpine parrot. Here's a photo I took, not far from the Homer Tunnel actually.

Image
Jools wrote:It occurs to me that even though this is a catfish site, so many of us just really like all this stuff, cats or not.
No catfish in NZ I'm afraid, apart from some introduced in the North Island.
User avatar
Jools
Expert
Posts: 15978
Joined: 30 Dec 2002, 15:25
My articles: 197
My images: 944
My catfish: 238
My cats species list: 87 (i:13, k:1)
My BLogs: 7 (i:7, p:202)
My Wishlist: 23
Spotted: 447
Location 1: Middle Earth,
Location 2: Scotland
Interests: All things aquatic, Sci-Fi, photography and travel. Oh, and beer.
Contact:

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by Jools »

racoll wrote:Ah, the cheeky kea. Fantastic birds. The world's only alpine parrot.
You're forgetting the Norwegian Blue... :-)
racoll wrote:No catfish in NZ I'm afraid, apart from some introduced in the North Island.
Yes, I think one of them made an appearance in Lord of the Rings being eaten by Gollum.

Jools
User avatar
RickE
Posts: 439
Joined: 05 Dec 2008, 10:06
I've donated: $20.00!
My cats species list: 7 (i:1, k:0)
My aquaria list: 2 (i:2)
My BLogs: 1 (i:0, p:1)
Location 2: Watford, UK

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by RickE »

racoll wrote:Ah, the cheeky kea. Fantastic birds. The world's only alpine parrot. Here's a photo I took, not far from the Homer Tunnel actually.
Did anyone watch 'Last chance to see' with Stephen Fry last year? The sequence at the end of the Kea program where Mark Cawardine has one trumphantly sh****g the back of his head is one of the funniest things I have seen for a long time. You can find it on YouTube if you missed it.

Ooops, that was a Kakapo :oops: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1vfsHYiKY
Rick
User avatar
racoll
Posts: 5256
Joined: 26 Jan 2004, 12:18
My articles: 6
My images: 182
My catfish: 2
My cats species list: 2 (i:0, k:0)
My aquaria list: 1 (i:0)
Spotted: 238
Location 1: Bristol
Location 2: UK

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by racoll »

RickE wrote:Did anyone watch 'Last chance to see' with Stephen Fry last year? The sequence at the end of the Kea program where Mark Cawardine has one trumphantly sh****g the back of his head is one of the funniest things I have seen for a long time. You can find it on YouTube if you missed it.

Ooops, that was a Kakapo :oops: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1vfsHYiKY
Ha ha. Classic. :lol:
bigcatsrus
Posts: 82
Joined: 15 Apr 2009, 19:09
My cats species list: 4 (i:0, k:0)
My aquaria list: 2 (i:0)
Location 2: England, Uk

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by bigcatsrus »

Some very detailed shots there, that detailed when it came to the spider part, wasn't expecting that and nearly threw the laptop lol. I'm not the world's biggest fan of spider. Look forward to seeing more pics )hopefully not spiders :)
bronzefry
Posts: 2198
Joined: 31 Aug 2004, 16:01
I've donated: $100.00!
My articles: 6
My images: 13
My cats species list: 17 (i:0, k:0)
My aquaria list: 7 (i:7)
Spotted: 6
Location 1: Sharon, Massachusetts, US

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by bronzefry »

Unique feathering on the chest of the kea. Draws your eyes in. Great photo, with the tilt of the head. Checking you out, too.
Amanda
User avatar
Jools
Expert
Posts: 15978
Joined: 30 Dec 2002, 15:25
My articles: 197
My images: 944
My catfish: 238
My cats species list: 87 (i:13, k:1)
My BLogs: 7 (i:7, p:202)
My Wishlist: 23
Spotted: 447
Location 1: Middle Earth,
Location 2: Scotland
Interests: All things aquatic, Sci-Fi, photography and travel. Oh, and beer.
Contact:

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by Jools »

If you ever get the chance to read the original "Last Chance To See" book by Douglas Adams, do it. It's in my top 5 and, for such a successful author, by far his poorest seller. It manages to be hilarious, tragic and informative all at the same time. Pure genius.

Jools
mummymonkey
Posts: 410
Joined: 16 Jul 2004, 21:39
I've donated: $47.26!
My articles: 2
My images: 20
My cats species list: 41 (i:6, k:0)
My aquaria list: 1 (i:0)
My BLogs: 2 (i:8, p:104)
Spotted: 4
Location 1: Blairgowrie (UK)
Location 2: Blairgowrie (UK)
Interests: Fish, Ornithology
Contact:

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by mummymonkey »

Jools wrote:If you ever get the chance to read the original "Last Chance To See" book by Douglas Adams, do it. It's in my top 5 and, for such a successful author, by far his poorest seller. It manages to be hilarious, tragic and informative all at the same time. Pure genius.

Jools
Only a fiver from Amazon.

Loved the gobies btw.
kokopu
Posts: 1
Joined: 19 Jan 2010, 22:50
Location 2: Auckland New Zealand

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by kokopu »

Nice photos and especially nice Upland Bullies.

If you are travelling as far as Auckland (well Warkworth actually) you are welcome to visit me at Mahurangi Technical Institute. We breed a number of species of NZ native freshwater fish and have in the past exported some to the aquarium trade in Europe.

We operate as a fish farm and a teaching/research institute and maintain a large collection of live natives. We sell mostly to restoration projects but also to the local aquarium trade.

My mobile phone no if you want to visit (or if any readers want more info) <removed> and email <removed>.

[Mod edit: Removed direct contact information - if anyone wants to get in contact with kokopu, then you can use the PM etc buttons on the right-hand side of the post - leaving information in an open forum is likely to lead to them being "harvested" by spammers... --Mats]
User avatar
racoll
Posts: 5256
Joined: 26 Jan 2004, 12:18
My articles: 6
My images: 182
My catfish: 2
My cats species list: 2 (i:0, k:0)
My aquaria list: 1 (i:0)
Spotted: 238
Location 1: Bristol
Location 2: UK

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by racoll »

Hi kokopu.

I'd be most interested in hearing about your native breeding project at the institute.

As Mats said, its best to PM your contact details to me (less spam that way!).

Looking forward to hearing from you.

:D
User avatar
Shovelnose
Posts: 1238
Joined: 03 Sep 2008, 09:49
My articles: 5
My images: 116
My catfish: 4
My cats species list: 60 (i:0, k:0)
Spotted: 44
Location 1: Mumbai
Location 2: India

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by Shovelnose »

Loved the Gobies Rupert. They have to be the most underestimated group of fish.

And I am hoping Part 1 extends soon.....
Balaji

Vicar: It's about this letter you sent me regarding my insurance claim.
Devious: Oh, yeah, well, you see, it's just that we're not, as yet, totally satisfied with the grounds of your claim.
Vicar: But it says something about filling my mouth in with cement.
Devious: Oh well, that's just insurance jargon, you know.
catmar
Posts: 53
Joined: 28 Apr 2009, 19:24
I've donated: $10.00!
My cats species list: 7 (i:0, k:0)
Location 2: Manchester uk

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by catmar »

Practical fishkeeping are running an article on NZ fish next month, that would be the June issue (I think). Maybe we'll see the Gobies!
User avatar
racoll
Posts: 5256
Joined: 26 Jan 2004, 12:18
My articles: 6
My images: 182
My catfish: 2
My cats species list: 2 (i:0, k:0)
My aquaria list: 1 (i:0)
Spotted: 238
Location 1: Bristol
Location 2: UK

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by racoll »

catmar wrote:Maybe we'll see the Gobies!
I think we will :wink:
catmar
Posts: 53
Joined: 28 Apr 2009, 19:24
I've donated: $10.00!
My cats species list: 7 (i:0, k:0)
Location 2: Manchester uk

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by catmar »

Nice article, couldn't PFK have been talked into four pages though? :wink: :)

And the frustration is, I've a cold tank ready and waiting for Gobies, the uplands would have been perfect.
User avatar
FuglyDragon
Posts: 230
Joined: 08 Aug 2004, 05:35
I've donated: $50.00!
My cats species list: 36 (i:17, k:0)
My aquaria list: 3 (i:2)
My BLogs: 1 (i:0, p:8)
Location 1: New Zealand
Location 2: New Zealand
Interests: Plecos !
Contact:

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by FuglyDragon »

Hi Racoll.

Have you tried any of the Ellesmere tributaries ?

lots of smelt, whitebait, small flounder, eels, shrimp (heaps of mysis shrimp after dark)and bullies.

I made a trip to the irwell saturday (aborted duck hunting trip) and collected 4 different plants, lots of nitella, a myriophyllum, and 2 I havent identified yet. didnt see much fish life but its usually there.

Whitebait season starts in amonth or so, i usually get a lot of assorted bycatch in the waimak as well, have managed to keep whitebait and shrimp in unheated tanks in my fishroom for just over a year.
Check out my pages on plecos in New Zealand http://mikesaquatics.co.nz
johnclave111
Posts: 2
Joined: 11 Feb 2011, 09:51
Location 2: Thane
Contact:

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by johnclave111 »

Awesome photos of the catfish i really enjoyed it.Great work.
User avatar
Hudson Ensz
Posts: 62
Joined: 20 Nov 2010, 15:07
My cats species list: 6 (i:0, k:0)
My aquaria list: 1 (i:0)
Location 2: Manaus Brazil
Contact:

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by Hudson Ensz »

It sounds like a great trip. Sounds like one because I cant see the pics!!! :-W
User avatar
Birger
Expert
Posts: 3870
Joined: 01 Dec 2003, 05:04
My articles: 10
My images: 112
My cats species list: 49 (i:43, k:0)
Spotted: 35
Location 1: Edmonton,Alberta
Location 2: Canada

Re: Collecting in New Zealand [part I]

Post by Birger »

Hudson...I can see them fine, they are still on the thread.

Birger
Birger
Post Reply

Return to “Travellers note book”