6 replies to this topic

[Anka]

Hey guys,

 

I volunteer at a native wildlife rehabilitation centre. We have have two large ponds for aquaponics but I suspect (from my little knowledge of AP) that we will need additional equipment.

 

Once that is all sorted I was wondering whether any of you know where we could source some free or cheap fish for aquaponics.

The fish are going to be fed to lizards, birds and turtles.

 

Regards,

 

Andrew

 

P.S. if you have any aquaponics gear that isn't being used and you don't mind donating it that would be fantastic.

[Terry]

What sort of fish are you after?

[malawiman85]

Silver Perch are cheap and a good size, at Woodvale Fish and Lilly Farm $5 each 15cmish... Probably get em cheaper if you are after heaps.

[Anka]

Terry, to be honest I know nothing about AP. Ideally we would want a nutritious fish that is not hard or expensive to maintain, grows fast and is cheap

 

Thanks for the heads up malawiman85!

[mattt]

http://www.fergusons...lingprices.html

[bigjohnnofish]

what sized fish are you looking to be feeding off ??

3-6cm i would recommend platties... cold water variety so they survive winter.... live bearers and breed well and arent effected much by frogs/tadpoles.....

[Anka]

Hi Johnno,

 

Do you know if there is much nutrition in platties? Bit of an odd question, I feel haha. It is hard to keep them free from parasites and other nasties that won't transfer to the animal dining on it?

 

I guess that the fish will mostly be fed (live) to long necked turtles and oblong turtles, as well as diced up and fed to a number of smaller reptiles and small birds. So I guess 3-6cm. However, it would be good to be able to grow large fish so that the large fish can be diced up and fed to birds/small reptiles and the juvies be fed live to turtles. Thoughts?

 

Thanks

Another question, is it legal to feed live food to an animal? My understanding is that these turtles are very reluctant to eat anything that isn't live and they need a bit of movement in their food to get their interest.