Whata guide tofish freshwater fish in NSW is this? A guide to freshwater fish in NSW ISH FR F IEN D L Y F A R M S 1 Fish friendly farms a guide to freshwater fish in NSW The ‘fish friendly farms’ team has produced this guide to help you identify native fish that could be in your streams and understand what they need to survive and thrive. We have also included fish species that have been deliberately or accidentally introduced into the rivers and creeks of NSW. In many cases, these ‘exotic’ fish have rapidly colonised the waterways, out- competing our native fish and further adding to the problems they face. We hope this information will inspire you to help restore stream habitat and streambank vegetation, as these actions will encourage native fish to return to your waterways. Guide to symbols These are species that are listed as threatened or otherwise protected by law. It’s illegal to catch and keep any protected or threatened species, and any that are caught accidentally must be returned immediately to the water unharmed. There’s more information on page 21. In some cases, it may only be in certain places that the species is protected. If so, this is indicated beside the symbol. These are pest species that have been listed as ‘Noxious’ by law. Noxious species can be Class 1, 2 or 3. This is indicated beside the symbol. There’s more information on page 21. 2 3 a guide to freshwater fish in NSW Native Fish Australian bass Macquaria novemaculeata Maximum fish length 60cm Found in rivers, streams, coastal consume other fish, insects and lakes and brackish estuaries. Prefers crustaceans. During summer months the thick cover of aquatic vegetation diet comes largely from terrestrial in rock and gravel-bottomed pools. sources, such as insects falling from Undertakes extensive migrations. riparian vegetation. Disappears A water level rise during winter from streams upstream of migration enhances breeding success. Adults barriers such as weirs. Australian grayling Prototroctes maraena Maximum fish length 30cm Occurs on the South Coast in in brackish estuarine waters and catchments from the Clyde River fish return upstream to breed. A southwards but occasionally found shy species that forms fast moving as far north as the Central Coast. shoals, feeding mainly on aquatic Habitat includes large and small algae, insects and micro-crustaceans. clear coastal rivers with moderate Highly sensitive to handling and flows and gravel substrates. Spawns environmental change. Emits an in freshwater. Eggs and larvae are unusual cucumber-like odour when washed downstream to mature freshly caught. Australian smelt Retropinna semoni Maximum fish length 10cm Abundant and broad range throughout eggs. Diet includes insects, micro- many coastal and inland drainage crustaceans and algae. Preyed upon systems. Usually found in flowing by many larger fish species. Emits an water. Forms large shoals near the unusual cucumber-like odour when surface or around vegetation and freshly caught and is very sensitive to woody debris. Aquatic vegetation handling. is also an important site for laying 2 3 Fish friendly farms a guide to freshwater fish in NSW Blue catfish Arius graeffei Maximum fish length 50cm Occurs but is generally uncommon of relatively large fertilised eggs in northern coastal drainages. Found for up to 8 weeks, during which primarily in rivers and lagoons at the male does not feed. Diet is low altitude as well as coastal marine omnivorous, comprising small waters and brackish estuaries. Males fishes, prawns, vegetation, terrestrial display intensive parental care, with and aquatic insects, molluscs and mouth brooding of a small number detritus. Bony bream Nematalosa erebi Maximum fish length 47cm One of the most widespread and Lays up to several hundred thousand common fish of inland Australia. semi-buoyant eggs. Forms large Found in NSW throughout the shoals near the bottom, feeding on lower altitudes of the Murray- benthic algae, small invertebrates and Darling system. Most common in decaying organic matter. Important the shallows of turbid, slow-flowing food source for larger fish. Very drainages, also found in large susceptible to oxygen depletion and floodplain lakes and desert bores. first to die when ephemeral habitats Water flow increase triggers spawning. begin to dry up. Bullrout Notesthes robusta Maximum fish length 30cm A bottom-dwelling fish usually found to breed. Fairly inactive species, within 50 km of the coast, in still spending the majority of its time or slow-flowing freshwater streams stationary on the bottom or amongst over rock, mud or gravel substrates. weeds waiting to ambush prey. Both Predominantly located amongst adults and juveniles have venomous aquatic vegetation or woody debris. spines on the dorsal, anal and pelvic Normally frequents fresh water but fins, so should not be handled, even migrates downstream into estuaries when dead. 4 5 a guide to freshwater fish in NSW Carp gudgeon species Hypseleotris sp. Maximum fish length 4.5cm Range covers the Murray-Darling spawning. Females lay a clutch of River system and east coast streams eggs on a hard surface which the as far south as the Bega River. male guards against intruders and Usually found around aquatic fans with his pectoral fins. Eats vegetation in slow-moving, often aquatic invertebrates, insect larvae turbid creeks or in still waters of and some plant matter. Up to 4 lakes and billabongs. Low flows different species which are difficult and rises above 21 ºC trigger to distinguish and often hybridise. Climbing galaxias Galaxias brevipinnis Maximum fish length 27.8cm The largest Australian galaxiid. Found vegetation cover. A solitary, migratory in clear flowing, shaded streams with fish renowned for the juveniles’ rocks and boulders that drain to the unusual ability to climb vertical damp east of the Great Dividing Range. Also surfaces (such as waterfalls) using translocated to the Murray-Darling their large pectoral and pelvic fins as system via the Snowy hydro scheme. suction cups. Feeds on a variety of More abundant amongst stones insects and amphipods at the surface and woody debris with good native and near the bottom. Common jollytail Galaxias maculatus Maximum fish length 19cm The most widely distributed galaxiid fringing vegetation. Larvae stay at sea, species, most abundant at low returning as juveniles in large shoals to elevations in still or gently-flowing coastal rivers. Feeds on a wide variety streams, rivers and lakes that drain to of small aquatic and terrestrial insects. the coast. Endures a wide range of Important component of the whitebait salinity levels, permitting downstream industry. Known to disappear entirely migration in autumn to estuaries to from streams upstream of migration spawn, depositing eggs and sperm on barriers such as weirs. 4 5 Fish friendly farms a guide to freshwater fish in NSW Congolli Pseudaphritis urvillii Maximum fish length 34cm Found in coastal drainages in the found in slow-flowing freshwater southeast of the state. Primarily a streams. Diet consists of a variety bottom dweller of brackish estuaries, of insects, crustaceans, molluscs, often remains partly buried under worms and fish. Buries into the soft logs, aquatic plants and amongst leaf creek bottom and waits to ambush litter. Breeds in the ocean but the passing prey. Capable of rapid bursts females are known to embark on of swimming when disturbed. migrations far inland where they are Cox’s gudgeon Gobiomorphus coxii Maximum fish length 19cm Range covers most of the NSW seen to climb waterfalls and steep southeast coastal drainage, however dam walls. Females lay eggs on it is rarely located close to the sea. rocky surfaces. The fertilised eggs Commonly found in flowing upland are then guarded and fanned by the waters, often in rapids adjacent male until they hatch. Diet consists to fringing vegetation. During of small aquatic insects, including upstream migration they have been mosquito larvae. Crimson-spotted rainbowfish Melanotaenia duboulayi Maximum fish length 13cm Range encompasses coastal drainages or still waters with dense aquatic east of the Great Dividing Range, vegetation and woody debris. from Hastings River (NSW) north Mainly carnivorous diet, feeding on to the Burnett River (Qld). Inhabits aquatic invertebrates and terrestrial a variety of habitats, including rivers, arthropods that fall onto the water creeks, ponds, drains, coastal lakes surface. Popular aquarium fish. and reservoirs. Prefers slow-flowing 6 7 a guide to freshwater fish in NSW Darling River hardyhead Craterocephalus amniculus Maximum fish length 5.5cm Range restricted to the upper streams. Large eggs are deposited reaches of the Darling River system on aquatic vegetation, attaching in northern NSW. Usually found via an adhesive thread. Hatching among vegetation margins or over takes place 5 to 7 days later. Diet gravel substrate in slow-flowing, consists of small aquatic insects and clear waters of small, creeks and crustaceans. Dwarf flathead gudgeon Philypnodon macrostomus Maximum fish length 5cm Widely distributed throughout lakes, reservoirs and brackish coastal drainages, and patchily along estuaries. Lays tear-drop shaped the Murray River and its tributaries. eggs, which attach to hard surfaces. Usually found over mud or rock Diet is carnivorous, feeding on a substrates, dispersed amongst range of insects, larvae and micro- plants or woody debris, in calm crustaceans. or slow-flowing water of streams, Eastern freshwater cod Maccullochella ikei Maximum fish length 66cm Native to most freshwater reaches riparian vegetation, large boulders of the Clarence and Richmond river and woody debris. Spawns when systems of north-eastern NSW. temperatures exceed 16 ºC, laying Pristine, clear-flowing streams with large adhesive eggs on logs and rocks and deep holes are prime rocks. Adults known to prey on habitat. Generally found under other fish, frogs, crustaceans and or around in-stream cover (eg. snakes. Larvae consume aquatic woody debris). Diverse habitat is insects and zooplankton.