Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Has anyone tried any of the more "commercial" fish like trout in their systems? I am playing with the idea of growing fish for sale, but perch seem to have a bit of a bad rap. Thought trout may be easier to sell.

How about eels, they should go ok. Anyone eaten them? Any good? What about redfin (someone has them, is it Jim?)?

The bible (EB's book) says trout are fussy about their water quality. He doesn't mention eels though...

Nova

Hi Nova, Eels are a highly prized table fish particularly in Europe....

great smoked but quite a "strong" taste, myself I like them.

Not a lot of Aussie have probably ever tasted eel, quite a lot of Kiwis like myself probably have.

Big, big export market available and encouraged... see DAFF and other government trade and export authorities

As EB says in his book... Trout need lots of highly oxygenated water, preferably very clean... think fast flowing mountain streams and you'll get the picture... but have been farmed successfully for many years all over the world

There's a good market for eels in Asia. A lot of them are raised here and shipped over for their New Years parties, I think.

I've tasted eel cooked up Japanese-style. Very tasty. It's a fattier fish, and tender. I don't find the flavor to be strong at all, but I'm sure there would be variation.

seasonal baby eels were "peasant food" in the SE of UK (Gloucestershire) for many years. Now elvers are very expensive, quite rare and gourmet itam. My grandma used to pickle small eels in vinegar.

Apparently, like salmon, they go to the Sargasso sea as part of their lifecycle.

I'm getting about 30 odd eels in a month.

Breeding - you'd be VERY lucky. Japan spent a million dollars and successfully raised 1 eel from spawn, no shit.

A local scientist has since bred short-fin eels and is travelling the world spreading the love. Takes a facility with many fancy gadgets and boys with mums who can't spell - what kind of name is Paulphdmd???

In the wild our NZ eels get to about 20 years old, swim to TONGA!.... and spawn and die there. Ocean currents bring the spawn home.

Some landlocked eels spawn, but we have absolutely no idea how.

They were my staple diet when I lived in the bush. Anyone who says they're awful has eaten a yellowbelly. a yellowbelly is not a breed, it is a dirty eel.

Caught from a mountain stream the bellies are silver. In culture they flush them before processing. Eels have a heavy duty slime coat, when bushwhacking and planning on eating an eel, get grass that isn't easy to run hands up - you know, got little grooves running horizontal type stuff - and strip the slime off by coiling grass round and running down the eel.

Another thing of definate note

EVERY single eel farming story I read, the eels escape, then they modify the tanks. Will thrive in rich water, mans ruination of other species and waterways via farming has made for nutrient rich eel grounds where they prosper. BUT, they must breed, leave the biggest ones alone. Well, if you saw a real big one you'd leave it alone anyway unless you're a crocodile hunter lke Jaymie. Divers won't go down the bottom of our dams. Maori call them Taniwha. A river demon. The grandaddys get bone nubs on the head - horns....

And they hiss. YIKES!

Cool, this is starting to get interesting. Might have to see if I can get a couple to try out.

Nova

i am planning to try rainbow trout after silvers during the winter, because they are soo cheap. (My friend got 100 for his pond for $35)

In SA they can't sell browns

Should be a good local market the asians love them. They eat them 250 gm size. But can you source glass eels, the big question.

Can be raised on trout pellets. Will eat all manner of critters and bugs, cicadas are a favourite they wait under waterfalls wherethe downdraught knocks cicadas into the water. Saw one take a whole duck once, and kids all over the place crying and carrying on was a bit of a fight. Public park. Very amusing.

I've eaten the bigger ones, not the grandaddies though, smoked. YUM! I make a white sauce with much onion and garlic add eel flaked, mushrooms, boiled eggs. Tomatoes for last minute or two. Splurge on toast....

Always get asked to cook it now for brother in law.

I hunt them in shallow streams at night with a tomohawk and torch. Can't keep em after you 'subdue' them in this manner.

Look up 'hinake' for traditional method how to catch them live. fish traps pretty much the same thing.

Was it you who wanted scoria info Nova, can't find post. If so, I'm nearly satisfied I can offer some valid input on the subject I'll give it a thread shortly.

oh and beware of noodling, people have died!

EDIT: Wait i think that is to catch catfish, not eels...not 100% sure though

Was it me? I can't remember. I have been thinking that scoria would make a very good grow bed gravel, lots of area for bacteria. Someone should start a thread for different types of gravel, what they use, where they got it, if it works or not.

I know the first lot of gravel I got was crushed granite and it was too small (about 5mm), quite a lot of it ended up in the tank. Another possible reason why my system didn't work so well.

Nova

While and awsome eating fish and very beautiful to look at, I'm pretty sure Renfin is now illegal to stock in dams in Aust. it is considered an environmental pest species and if caught cannot be returned to the water alive. That said I plan to use redfin as the majority species in my new system, just not sure if they could be sold to people thats all.

Nova, there is a sticky on various grow bed media here. That may have some info that may help you.

Eels can travel quite long distances over land, as long as the grass/ground is wet they can survive for long distances (for an 1m eel that is)

I have also cleaned up and stickied one at

http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=398

Trout are not hard to grow as long as you can keep the water temps below about 25c. They are real fast growing (rainbow trout) and from my experience are more disease resistent than even Silver Perch! The thing is if you want to sell them they are worth bugger all. Have a look in your local fish shop and they are usually only a couple of dollars for a pan sized fish. I think Barra are the ones you could make money from as they are a much more popular table fish than trout.

I know there are some guys in Tassie farming eels, not sure how they are doing it though.