Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi, I'm new on this forum but been interested in Aquaponics for over 8 yrs now and been growing fish for over 10 yrs.

So are there any NZ'ers on this forum?

Here in NZ it is very hard to get a food fish to put into our systems.
Redfin Perch are about it. Goldfish are apossibility but I don't know about the eating quality.

Look forward to some feedback.

God Bless

Robert Foster @Aquagold Ltd, NZ

Kia Ora Tena Koe Robert.... I'm an ex Kiwi from New Plymouth.....

Trout would be the obvious choice Robert.... I know there are several crayfish farms in NZ.....

Hi RupertofOZ I thought you were a Local, from the Kiwi icon.

Approached Fish and Game on the trout issue and got a resounding NO".
Am looking into the Koura prospect as a side container with the Goldfish.
Only problem we have with the crays is the cool water they like.

I sell goldfish varieties throughout NZ and tropicals so am looking at the prospect of two systems. One cold water and one tropical.

All the best RupertofOZ with your system and I thought it about time I logged in here as a member rather than a visitor.

Rob @Aquagold

Come on Rob.... Ive surfed up and down that coast ... lots of it at Mahia...

Believe me..... the water is "cool" ....

Cool enough for Koura... humm??.... know they were doing them down at Blenheim I think....

What was the problem Fish & Game had with trout???

You have to have trout fishing license to catch and they have to be over 32cm. When I talked to them about getting some fingerlings they looked at me sideways..... a lond story short..... I ended up doing an AP presentation to the managers on another trip and they got excited and asked if I would set them up one. They would pay materials but I would have to show them how to build it etc.
Am currently building some counter top units for some friends to get people interested over here. Will have either Goldfish or assorted tropicals.
The Koura farm is proving very difficult to make viable and we asked if they could produce a few more of the blue and purple ones for us to sell to pet shops. The pet trade would be a better market for them too.
You also supposed to see Conservation Dept to hold any native varieties as well..... regulations abound here more than there.....

Rob

For anyone reading this thread. Austasia Aquaculture do a really great book on aquaculture and they would love more articles on Aquaponics as they have had a few over the years. I will contact NZ Aquaculture and talk to them about an article.
Austasia Aquaculture also put out a Trade Directory with everything you'll ever need in fish, fish feed and equipment goes.

Rob

been to WA?

Im from nelson.
have you thought about eels? in not sure if they breed in captivity tho.

Hi Rob

Murray is from Nelson, there used to be a trout farm down the west coast somewhere (close to Murchison he thinks). Murrays ex brother-inlaw was the manager for 10 yrs ago or so. He is going to ring his ex to see if he can find out for you.

If NZ is like Tasmania they most probably wont sell live Trout to the general public. The problem is that because the conditions in the wild suit them they can develop self sustaining populations if they are released into
natural rivers or lakes. In the past (before they changed the rules) people
in Tassie would go off and buy some Rainbow Trout fingerlings and then stick them in some isolated lake so they could have their own secret private fishing spot. With the continual upstream spread of trout their are now only a limited number of trout free waters left in Tassie which are the refuges for whats left of the native fish species. In places like WA the fisheries dont have to worry about illegal stockings as the natural waterways are in general not suited to trout spawning so self sustaining populations could not develop.

Hi Aquagold and All,

I'm curious why you wouldn't want to raise the Redfin Perch? And, where do you find these in New Zealand?

Reason I'm asking, is I'll need to source some fish for an aquaponic art project that is scheduled for an exhibition in Wellington, NZ. It is a vertical chandelier-style, indoor system my husband and I are making called Farm Fountain.

The working prototype system is up on our website. I'm sorry to learn that Tiliapia are not an option there, because that is what we are using in our system in Columbus, Ohio and what we are used to. Looks like sourcing fish in NZ might be a bit of a challenge from what I've been reading!

If anyone know where to get 20 - 30 baby Redfin Perch in NZ, I'd really appreciate your knowledge. The exhibition is set for early June...

Thanks!

Amy Youngs ayoungs@gmail.com

Farm Fountain

You can get Redfin Perch from Lake Hayes in the South Island. I doubt that you would be able to buy them in NZ as they are regarded as vermin there as they are in Australia.

Hi Amy... welcome to the best aquaponics forum in the world....

Not sure of the regulations in NZ... but here in OZ Redfin are a declared noxious species... sadly so are Tilapia... other than in WA

Ohhh, I did not realize they were considered a noxious species - from my perspective, they are beautiful! But I'd rather exhibit a species that will be more realistic for the location.

From what I read on another topic section, posted by a New Zealand member, "Aquaddict" in 2006, "species you can farm are koura (freshwater native crays) long finned eels, banded kokopu, short jawed kokopu, giant kokopu, koaro, inanga, several species of shrimp, and Mullet which must be at least 70mm in size before introduction to fresh water."

Soooo, I guess the next question is: anyone know where to purchase these? I'd be more interested in the eels and fish than the crayfish/shrimp. Maybe I should not be picky though...

thanks,

amy Farm Fountain

Amy... banded kokopu, short jawed kokopu, giant kokopu, koaro,inanga are collectively known as "whitebait" in NZ in their juvenile stage.... 25-50mm

... several species of shrimp etc ... all species of very small fish only growing to about 25-30cm.....

Interestingly, koaro will climb substantial waterfalls .... literally stick to the wet rock and wriggle their way up.....