Lil Stinkpot
Lucky Greenhorn
Actually, I'm trying to catch bugs.
Recently I was at a function up in the local hills, and there were back swimmers in the pool. I read up on them, noted that they can give a pretty bad bite, and proceeded to catch as many as I could. They were much fun, and very interesting to watch in the water bottle I stuck them in. It gave me an idea. Of my two aquariums, the small five gallon tank has just one fantail goldfish. I was thinking of moving the goldfish into the thirty gallon tank with the other goldfish, and putting in a small community of invertebrates. Skuds (tiny shrimp), water boatmen, perhaps doodlebugs and triops. All detritus and vegetation eaters, as far as I'm aware. Or... I could move the two goldfish outside into the climate controlled GH and it's pond, and put the buggies in the 30 gallon tank.
But how on Earth do I catch the bugs? I guess a sturdy, reinforced bug net or aquarium net should do, but....yeah. Those suckers are FAST. I guess I have all winter to work it out, as most of them are now either dormant, or mere eggs, waiting for things to warm up. I have all this time to figure out how to catch them.
One of the best places for bugs that is somewhat nearby is the CA Delta. It's in the central valley, and is much warmer than around here. That's a start. Perhaps I can find a nice creek or stream around, or a handy levee or river. I could even go out in the boat and swing a net over the side, and blindly take a stab in the dark, murky waters to see what I pull up. One crazy idea I had was to plan an overnight trip in the boat, and when the sun goes down, put a fishing light over the side with a net hanging under it. After I can no longer stand waiting, I pull up on the net, around the light (think tuna net going vertical), and haul up whatever came to the light. That is certain to catch back swimmers, for sure, but I don't know about the rest.
What are your ideas?
Recently I was at a function up in the local hills, and there were back swimmers in the pool. I read up on them, noted that they can give a pretty bad bite, and proceeded to catch as many as I could. They were much fun, and very interesting to watch in the water bottle I stuck them in. It gave me an idea. Of my two aquariums, the small five gallon tank has just one fantail goldfish. I was thinking of moving the goldfish into the thirty gallon tank with the other goldfish, and putting in a small community of invertebrates. Skuds (tiny shrimp), water boatmen, perhaps doodlebugs and triops. All detritus and vegetation eaters, as far as I'm aware. Or... I could move the two goldfish outside into the climate controlled GH and it's pond, and put the buggies in the 30 gallon tank.
But how on Earth do I catch the bugs? I guess a sturdy, reinforced bug net or aquarium net should do, but....yeah. Those suckers are FAST. I guess I have all winter to work it out, as most of them are now either dormant, or mere eggs, waiting for things to warm up. I have all this time to figure out how to catch them.
One of the best places for bugs that is somewhat nearby is the CA Delta. It's in the central valley, and is much warmer than around here. That's a start. Perhaps I can find a nice creek or stream around, or a handy levee or river. I could even go out in the boat and swing a net over the side, and blindly take a stab in the dark, murky waters to see what I pull up. One crazy idea I had was to plan an overnight trip in the boat, and when the sun goes down, put a fishing light over the side with a net hanging under it. After I can no longer stand waiting, I pull up on the net, around the light (think tuna net going vertical), and haul up whatever came to the light. That is certain to catch back swimmers, for sure, but I don't know about the rest.
What are your ideas?