But, I realize I owe Patrick in Atlanta a color photocopy of this page. If
you, Dick, send me your address I'd be willing to make a color copy for you
too since I have our library's copy at home.
--Bruce Stallsmith
Huntsville, AL
>From: Triovlaif_at_aol.com
>Reply-To: nanfa_at_aquaria.net
>To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
>Subject: NANFA-- Identifying sunfish fry
>Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 10:44:33 EDT
>
>I have some sunfish fry of about 1/2 to 3/4 in. in length and I was
>wondering if anyone had any experience in identifying the species of
>sunfish so young.
>
>I collected them with my daughter last week in a local creek where I saw
>what I think were redbreast adults in large numbers. The creek seems much
>more densely populated this year than last. I have caught small bluegills
>in this creek so I'm not sure about the sunfish fry.
>
>The fish I think are redbreasts have a creamy yellow to bluish edging on
>caudal and dorsal fins, a reddish color to the same, like the red of a red
>tailed hawk's tail when the sun shines through it from above. The mark
>that makes me think the fish are redbreasts is the very long ear flap. The
>stream has a sand and rock/pebble substrate, no submerged vegetation except
>for strands of algae attached to rocks. It is rather shallow with some
>deeper pools in its bends, sandbars and rocky edges. It is usually very
>clear, but can be turbid after rain.
>
>While wading and netting the fry, my daughter and I enjoyed finding a
>rather large cooter skulking in the algae between rocks and we saw a rat of
>some kind towing a branch with green leaves along at a good clip, diving
>when he realized we were there and disappearing in a bank. I've seen some
>snakes in the water, probably copperheads or water moccasins, and keep a
>wary eye out for them, but enjoy seeing them. Gambusia school everywhere
>in the creek and this year there are loads of large tadpoles wherever we
>look. Otherwise, there isn't much in the way of diversity of fish life.
>No guppies this year!
>
>Kudzu is blooming on the banks and it smells very sweet. Damsel and
>dragonflies are everywhere, some very lovely, especially the ones with
>black and white wings.
>
>A subscriber from West Columbia or Cayce, SC, once contacted me about going
>out collecting this spring, but I was ill and couldn't plan anything. I am
>better now, but I have lost his e-mail address. If he (you) are monitoring
>these messages, please contact me again (triovlaif_at_aol.com) because I'd
>like to plan a trip locally if you are still interested.
>
>If anyone can help me with tips for sunfish fry identification, please
>write.
>
>Thank you,
>
>Dick Norwood
>Columbia, SC
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