Educate me on local finds..

[SSpiro]

I've seen a few threads while reading and searching where people have found things in local waterways (the skyway thread reminded me to post this)..

What are we able/capable/allowed to grab from the waterways to use in tanks, assuming we quarantine and acclimate properly?

What about live rock? CUC members, etc?

Apologies if this is a dumb question..

 

[mflamb]

No live rock collection allowed.

 

[mrferrit]

here ya go
http://myfwc.com/marine/Docs/Jan2008FlRecreationalSaltwaterRegsChart.pdf
thats the fwc 2008 regs.

none of these:
Longspine Urchin, Stony, Hard and Fire Corals, Sea Fans, Florida Queen Conch and Bahama
Starfish. Harvest of live rock in state waters is prohibited.
and manta rays are prohibited also

at the skyway its manatee county so the rules there are a lil different instead of like 20 snails its like 6 or something

 

[SSpiro]

Great info guys, Thanks.

So rules being stated.. what has everyone found out and about locally? Or better yet - what could I expect to find?

 

[alizarin]

Stuff you'll encounter wading through the sea grasses of the skyway:

---Reef safe or close:---
Nassarius snails
Cerith snails
2 kinds of hermits that are reefsafe more or less, one that's not
Lots of different kinds of macroalage and sea grasses
Pipe fish if kept in a refugium or fed with an eyedropper
Serpent stars
Sand gobies
Several kinds of shrimp and pods
Sea hares if in refugium with proper macro algae to eat
Rarely pistol shrimp
Sea slugs (never tried)
Featherdusters (hard to take intact)
Stomatella snails


--Not so reef safe or just impractical---
A couple kinds of puffer fish
Burrfish
Filefish
Stingrays
Various juvenile fish
Spider crabs
Blue crabs (plus size restrictions)
Sea robins
Conchs (some illeagal, others predatory)
Bonnet head sharks, guitar fish, sawfish (at night)
Dolphins =) ... visible while wading but not close up
Horseshoe crabs
Various clams
Rarely small octopus
Sponges
Large gulf shrimp
Small jellyfish
Sea horses but I don't think you're supposed to take them
Various starfish
Sand dollars

That's all I can think of right off

 

[alizarin]

Only the south end of the skyway is Manatee county and it's a max of 2 live animals in a shell. I collected there for years before I knew that rule existed and never had a problem though FYI.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11993428#post11993428 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mrferrit
here ya go
http://myfwc.com/marine/Docs/Jan2008FlRecreationalSaltwaterRegsChart.pdf
thats the fwc 2008 regs.

none of these:
Longspine Urchin, Stony, Hard and Fire Corals, Sea Fans, Florida Queen Conch and Bahama
Starfish. Harvest of live rock in state waters is prohibited.
and manta rays are prohibited also

at the skyway its manatee county so the rules there are a lil different instead of like 20 snails its like 6 or something

 

[SSpiro]

Great info.. Thanks.

 

[Schwarzman85]

How do they do in your tanks?

Where are the ones from the stores from?

Chris

 

[Acolin]

You can collect all but a few certain things for your own tank, but it is a good idea to:

1) buy a fishing license
2) have the state rules with you

Generally marine patrol just make you throw the stuff back, but they can fine you and take your equipment

 

[SSpiro]

Good points. New question. What equipment is needed? Cooler?

 

[gsellers1245]

I WOULD SAY A BUCKET WITH A BOBBLE BOX

I HAVE ALSO FOUND SALLY LIGHTFOOT CRABS THE SIZE OF THE PALM OF MY HAND

 

[Acolin]

cooler is a good idea, clear plastic net and a tickler helps

 

[SSpiro]

Thanks guys. Will check it out sometime, for fun.

 

[on_ice]

All the bright blue legged hermits in my tank and the ones I gave away are from the keys. I will report back in a week because I am going snorkeling there again and I plan on catching a small damsel, some kind of cleaner shrimp, more snails and a sand gobie.

 

[SSpiro]

Yeah, report back and update if you wouldn't mind!

 

[Dyepes]

Honeymoon island has urchins. Never took any though. They were just cool to see.

I found a little gray goby fish that I brought home in a dead sponge. He did very well for awhile. I also had a pistol shrimp from the bay for awhile. I thought it would just be safer to throw him back when I upgraded to a 72 gallonb tank.

 

[SSpiro]

Would be cool to find a goby..

 

[on_ice]

Ok im back, this trip I didnt get to dive much so I was limited on what I could find but I have:

1 blue/yellow Damsel
1 Small Goby/Blenny (will need help to ID later)
2 Small Wrasses
1 Coral Banded Shrimp
Some Cerith Snalls and a few more blue legged hermits.

The goby didnt look so good the first day but now (2 days later) he survived the trip from the Keys to my hometown in Jupiter. In an hour I will be driving from Jupiter back to Tampa (3 hours) and then I get them ready for the tank. Pics to come!

 

[shibumi]

Oh nice. Be careful with them I bet you they are going to be very stressed. In this case .. what is better, a long acclimation? or a small and quick one so they can be in their new environment fast and they can relax.
And dont forget the pics please

 

[SSpiro]

That's awesome!!! Pics would be great.

I foresee a trip to the keys, and soon!