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