Thumb Creek, Mid North Coast, NSW

[fishmosy]

Just posting some pics and video of Thumb Creek. Thumb Creek is located about 15min west of Taylors Arm (home of the famous Pub with No Beer) and runs through my grandfathers property.

Here is a couple of pics of how it looks above water.

[BlueBolts]

Wow, what critters lurks in those water ? Nice spot to spend a lazy afternoon !

[fishmosy]

Here is some pics of the general habitat. Gravel bottom, rocky outcrops, timber and leaves. Biotope anyone?

I'm keen to make an aquascape similar to this. Love this open look.

[fishmosy]

Here are some of the other organisms I found.

Some gudgeons that didn't mind my presence.

Some smelt were attracted by me stirring the bottom up. (Look closely at the bottom third of the pic)

there were heaps of these large 6-8cm tadpoles

look closely there are at least three in this pic

Also saw this turtle, think it was a long neck but not certain as it disappeared quickly amongst the weed

[fishmosy]

Most awesome thing I found other than shrimp was this.

betting very few people on this forum have ever seen this.

its called a horse hair worm but it is actually a parasitic nematode. This is the free swimming adult stage that lives for a few weeks. These adults spawn free swimming larvae which infect insects, particularly grasshoppers, crickets and cockroaches when they drink the water. Next these larvae eat the insect from the inside out to take on the adult form. I found three of these guys ranging from 30-40cm in length.

these are actually really good indicators of the health of creeks as they don't handle any sort of pollution. This could all change as there are concerns over the interest in antimony mining in the area. I hope that doesn't happen.

[fishmosy]

Finally the good part, the shrimp. I found too different types riffles and a glass type shrimp. Unfortunately couldn't get great pics as they were very skittish and took off before I could get close enough to get good pics.

found the glass shrimp chilling on this weed. Another biotope idea?

[Gbang]

bro this is soo coooollll!!!!!! thanks for sharing :) any more info on the water parameters? temp?

[fishmosy]

Didn't take water parameters but guessing water temp was around 20-22C. Will take some next time I go up there. Forgot to take my net too, packed the snorkelling gear but forgot the net!

Will upload the videos of the horse hair worm swimming ASAP

[fishmosy]

Here are the videos for the Horse hair worms swimming about

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSAaJEUsGfQ

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCQhFX8WMpc

 

Edited March 19, 2017 by fishmosy

[t3v0r0]

WOW!

Nice post Fishmosy!

What a place to go for a field trip!

[lachie1998]

Thanks for sharing, it really shows how great the creatures camouflage is!

[fishmosy]

Yeah you have to look closely at some of the pictures to see them. Easier in real life because they move!

I also like how the pics look like they could be from 10 metres underwater but in the section where I was it was no deeper than 2.5 metres.

[northboy]

Good one Mate, Looks like you like doing the same stuff as I do.

Bob

[bailey88]

Awesome pics what a lovely spot I need to find something like this In Mackay and share lol

[northboy]

Bailey

In the Mountains to the west there is heaps of spots, or some of the coastal creeks to the north to.

Bob