Coffs Harbour creeks at night

[fishmosy]

Went out last night and got a few pics of some of the inhabitants. Also saw lots of eels and some really big macrobrachiums, but couldn't get pics.

Striped Gudgeons

Horsehair Worm

Gudgeon, not sure what species

Macros

Paratya australiensis

Stony Creek Frog - male

Some other frogs

 

Spider, unsure what species

Edited August 9, 2017 by fishmosy
update photos

[Disciple]

That spider looks pretty big. Would hate that crawling up my leg haha

 

Really nice pics.

[newbreed]

Great pics Ben!!

[yeswaitnosorry]

Thanks for posting the photos. Could have done without such a closeup of the spider!

[OzShrimp]

Thats pretty cool, your game i would be too scared of snakes coming out lol 

[fishmosy]

Not too many snakes at night. The eels are more scary. They just pop up out of nowhere and are inquistive buggers, so come check you out if you are splashing about. Its not their bite I worry about, its just the feel of their slimy body hitting into your legs in the dark.

The worst thing is they are never where you expect them. Deep pools - nah. shallow pools less than a foot deep - yep. A metre plus in length. Yep.

[OzShrimp]

i think it would be quiet interesting to keep an eel in a tank lol

[fishmosy]

I have kept small ones in the past. They are OK but they are major escape artists. Any slight gap and they will disappear, only to be found as a dry carcass days later. They do get big though. I've seen 20 plus eels beyond two metres long and as thick as your thigh in an aquaculture facility, 10,000L tank. They had been there awhile and were pretty docile. My wife hates snake-like things so I'm banned from having eels, kuhli loaches, some catfish, ect.

A better candidate is the freshwater moray. Bob aka northboy showed me some whilst I was up there. They are spectacular. Bob is working on getting a breeding pair, then they may become available to the hobby if he can get them breeding.

Edited October 7, 2014 by fishmosy

[poeticwinter]

very nice blue shrimp, look like small yabby?

[jayc]

You didn't test the water parameters there by any chance, did you?

[fishmosy]

very nice blue shrimp, look like small yabby?

Yes they are a lovely blue but the big males were even better coloured. i'll try to catch one to show you if I can get a another night off soon.

[fishmosy]

You didn't test the water parameters there by any chance, did you?

I didnt this time but I guess they would be very close to those I've measured before. I'll dig them up and post here.

Hmmm, can't find the measurements. Will try to remember to do some next time I go.

Edited October 7, 2014 by fishmosy

[Squiggle]

Awesome pics dude, love night stalking!

[GotCrabs]

Awesome pics dude, love night stalking!

 

Pretty sure that's against your parole conditions Squiggle... 

[fishmosy]

You didn't test the water parameters there by any chance, did you?

Was finally able to get back to the creek last sunday.

Water parameters were

Temp 21*C,

pH 6.8,

TDS 120,

GH < 20 mg.L,

KH < 20 mg.L

[fishmosy]

Some more pics from latest trip

I'm disappointed because I wasn't able to catch the biggest dominant male. Too quick. His nippers were at least a third longer again than this guy.

Had another eel follow me around too, about 1.5 metres long, probably 100mm diameter. They are so inquisative. Any splashing in the water and they are there.

Edited November 11, 2014 by fishmosy

[fishmosy]

Also caught some nice rainbowfish which was nice. I usually catch Rhads but not the rainbows.

Pretty sure they would be Melanotaenia duboulayi.

Edited November 11, 2014 by fishmosy

[fishmosy]

And it wouldn't be a trip to this spot without a spider!

[2OFUS]

That spider looks like a female funnel web !!!

[fishmosy]

Yep, pretty certain its from the same family as the funnel webs, but not certain as to which species it is.

[Nat's Fish]

Very nice photos mate! I've seen some huge eels in the reserve behind our place in Greenlea Cres!

[fishmosy]

Some more pics from another trip. Mostly Paratya australiensis.

Hanging in the flow....

[fishmosy]

Check out the rostrum of these guys, notice the hitch-hikers!

[fishmosy]

[fishmosy]

I believe the hitch-hikers would be temnocephalid flatworms, commonly found living on yabbies/ freshwater crayfish. These appear to be harmless for their host. This is the first time I've seen or heard of them being found on shrimp.