Sand sifting school fish from CC

[cyrus]

So I got a pile of fish from dip netting in Corpus. About 2 or 3 types not positive but I found out that one is common bait fish. Anyhow they were ment to be food but my anglar got ich while I was in CC. Ironic huh? So my quarantine tank has no sand of course but I noticed they were good schoolers and still thought, well they are food. The killfish i.e. bait fish were making snacks out of my schoolers so I decided to put what was left of them in my refugium. Today I noticed them sand sifting just like gobies! So I thought very cool!! Schooling sifters! Now on to test 3 the main tank to see if they will bother my corals. My big question is what the hell are they! lol, I will have pictures posted on wedsday:thumbs_up:

[cyrus]

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=6282&id=100000281074615#!/photo.php?pid=202966&id=100000281074615

Here is a link. Anyone know what they are?

[Third Coast Tropical]

Well...they look like a juvenile sciaenid...one really looks like a juvenile red drum...corals safe...other fish not...plus it is illegal to have them...

[alienspacepirate]

they are actually kindof pretty too

[cyrus]

Well...they look like a juvenile sciaenid...one really looks like a juvenile red drum...corals safe...other fish not...plus it is illegal to have them...

this group are deff the same species. I thought maybe red drum at first also.what makes them illegal?

[Third Coast Tropical]

there is a size limit for taking them....and to take them alive I believe you have to be permitted by TPWD....

[puretexn]

there is a size limit for taking them....and to take them alive I believe you have to be permitted by TPWD....

I called TP&W Austin because I wanted to put a speckled trout in my 185. They told me as long as it's of legal size, I can do anything I want with it. (other than transplanting in to different public water).

[Third Coast Tropical]

I called TP&W Austin because I wanted to put a speckled trout in my 185. They told me as long as it's of legal size, I can do anything I want with it. (other than transplanting in to different public water).

And I this is the case, his are Still illegal because they fall well below the minimum size limit.

[kkiel02]

The pics are kinda blurry for me but maybe a croaker?

[Third Coast Tropical]

Possiblly a croaker...from the pics..it was hard to tell, one of them really looked like a red drum to me, hard to say exactly without the fish...but it is a sciaenid....same family

[paul]

i saltwater fish all the time,,, i dont have facebook so i can't see the pic.. load the pic on here and i'll see if i can tell you,. i catch small fish all the time down there in my net. many times you can get lucky and catch something for the tank.

[paul]

definately does not appear to be a redfish. appears to be croaker or whiting, im leaning on croaker. good news is there is no size requirement for croaker or whiting. i'd keep the fish if i were you, i doubt tx parks and wildlife are going to come to your house over this....

[cyrus]

definately does not appear to be a redfish. appears to be croaker or whiting, im leaning on croaker. good news is there is no size requirement for croaker or whiting. i'd keep the fish if i were you, i doubt tx parks and wildlife are going to come to your house over this....


LOL well I wasn't planing on tossing them back from this distance. Besides these buggers are awsome for sand sifting. The spead out at night when everyones sleeping and cover the whole bed and they school 'or shoal' in a really tight nit group. I'm not going to lie I'm down to 3 and if I get lucky enough to net more then they will be enjoying my 240g wonder.

Also a hint if anyones trying to catch them also, they were all over a submerged dead fish that a fisherman threw back. I just ran my net over it.

[cyrus]

By the way I'm with you on the croaker. I just looked it up.

[paul]

they're alright if you decide to cook em up,,,. if you like them and want more, next time your in cc go to a bait shop and ask for croaker fingerlings, they're about $4-5 a dozen.

[cyrus]

lol and miss out on an hour of netting lol that would be easier lol. I saw the bait shop on the way out of town