Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Got a response from Rob as follows:

"Hi Michael,
sorry for delay, been away,
Re eels, you will need to contact NSWDPI they have a list of small eel suppliers,
Eels eat just about anything once they reach 20 grams or so, but special feeds for glass eels is important, also for the larger eels you need to feed them food that all gets consumed and not a lot of wastes that pollute your water.
Cheers
Rob
PS, if your a member we will chase it up for you and supply the info etc.

To Rob McCormack,
I've just read the eel page you wrote on your website and was hoping to use eels in an aquaponics recirculating system. Are you able to point me to a glass eel (long finned) supplier in Southern NSW? I farm nearCanberra. I was also wondering if anyone had tried alternative feeds to eels? I can mince and dry roo and rabbit if it would work?
Thanks in advance,
Michael "

I'll follow up with the DPI on Monday and post results here.

As promised the NSW DPI suggests the following supplier. Left messages on both phones as although eels are listed, there is no price or availability on his website. Has reasonable prices on silvers, eel tailed cats and others though. Anyone dealt with aquablue?

Eels
Aquablue Seafoods
Lot 8 Pindimar Road Contact: Neil Meyrick
PINDIMAR NSW 2324 Phone: 02 4997 9191
Mobile: 0432 039 938
Fax: 02 4997 9191
Email: neil@aquablueseafoods.com.au
Website: http://www.aquablueseafoods.com.au

Just been talking to Neil.... he holds a license for eels... and occassionally fishs a few out of the dams which he sells as aquarium stock...

But he doesn't farm/supply them as such... and doesn't know of anyone that does in NSW.

Edited :

Neil does have mussels available at the moment if anyone is interested

Giving up on the longfinned eel idea. Supply is a problem in southern NSW and there is no chance of breeding them as they are migratory breeders. The Oz ones swim 3000+km back to New Caledonia to spawn.

So it's back to eel tailed catfish, silvers and trout. Catfish year round for stability, silvers dominant in summer, and trout in winter should keep me busy enough.