Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Help with fish ID,Thanks

I'll take a guess...Rio Grande perch. Found in the USA only in some Texas Hill Country streams.

Wow really ! My son and I caught several in a very ugly shallow ditch in a Houston subdivision. I've never seen any fish like it. Was wondering if it came from a pet store. thanks

Good job, Meadow! I think you're right, although I've never seen one.

Everybody want an ichthyology lecture? If not, quit reading now. :-)

If this is a Rio Grande perch, then the American Fisheries Society lists its "offical" common name as Rio Grande cichlid.

This really is a unique fish in the United States. The family Cichlidae is primarily found in South America and Africa. Many of them are in the pet stores, and many have naturalized in Florida after escape from fish farms or release by aquarium hobbyists. Even the freshwater angelfish in pet stores are a member of this family.

The Rio Grande cichlid is our only native cichlid in the United States. Back when I raised cichlids, I always wanted to have some of these.

The Cichlidae family is actually what biologists term "ecological equivalents." I always talk about the Cichlidae family to my students, and show them how similar they are in diversity to the Centrarchidae family (sunfishes, black basses) in our country. The peacock bass is a cichlid and an ecological equivalent perhaps of our largemouth bass. Many of you have undoubtedly seen them on the fishing shows. There are cichlids that are more panfish-like, such as the oscars that you can see in pet stores and catch in some Florida canals. There are cichlids with small mouths like our bluegills. There are cichlids with intermediate mouths like our green sunfish.

Anyhow, I think it's pretty cool. :-)

You guys continue to surprise me with your knowledge. I wanted some input before I move these guys(6 fish) from my 500 gallon water garden to my 2500 gallon in my backyard. Thanks again to the both of you.

Dave,

I think you probably nailed the source of the fish also...pet store. Someone bought some of these and got tired of them and probably thought they would do the "humane" thing and throw them in a ditch.

There was an article in the Houston Chronicle several months ago about all the amazing fish varieties you can find in Houston drainage ditches aka bayous. Some of the species are very bad, indeed...most all come from the pet stores who sell them to people who grow tired of them and "release" them.

Kind of like all the dogs and cats that are "released" in the country to starve and otherwise terrorize native wildlife species. It's a never ending problem.

Bravo...

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/species/rio/bigfish.htm

It definately looks like what we call a texas cichlid out here in the west. They are very popular aquarium species but can be very territorial especially during the spawn. The male will select a site usually in a cave or on the side of a rock where it can defend the eggs and the fry from predators. Sure is a pretty looking fish don't know how it will interact with your other species in your pond. I know that many of the cichlid family of fishes can be more aggressive than most other native game species in an aquarium at least.

The San Marcos River (Texas State University) has had a running population of African Perch for decades, they get to be several pounds. Sometimes you can catch them with worms, but that's rare...they mainly eat vegetation. Beautiful fish, they survive there because it's a natural spring, 71 degrees year round.