This past June, while driving, I found a turtle. It had been
run over by a car, but didn't appear to be seriously injured.
I decided to buy a large "wading
pool", of the kind that you see in department stores in the
summer, find a shady place behind my house; and attempt to
rehabilitate the turtle.
Photo 1������
Photo 2
The next question: what to feed the turtle. I did some quick reading, and decided to visit local ponds and swamps to try to gather tadpoles and crayfish and whatever small creatures that it might eat. The result of several of these expeditions: I now have a pond full of mosquito fish (Gambusia species), minnows (Heterandria species), mollies, tadpoles, water insects, duckweed and other plants. And in the house, in a 20 gallon aquarium, the "mystery fish" found along with the others.
More reading turned up the fact that in Florida (where I live), among other states, there are fish to be found which are not native fish at all; some are apparently the descendants of fish dumped out when someone didn't want to keep their aquarium any more. Some of them are considered to be detrimental: they tend to displace or eat the native fish or eat their food or ruin their breeding sites; and more generally, to disrupt any ecology they enter. Among the non-native fish which are commonly found are various Tilapia species including the notorious "Nile Perch"; other Cichlids; guppys, mollys; and the (vicious) "walking catfish".
The two cichlids at the top of the "mystery fish" page were found early in July, so I have had them nearly two months. In that time they have grown from tiny babies (about 1 cm long) to some 3 and 4 cm respectively. [update October 27: The largest Port Acara is now about 10cm or 4 inches long.] Fast growing little guys, and aggressive. The aquarium is full of artificial plants, so aggression is not a problem so far, but it is evident that there will need to be some changes if the cichlids continue to grow as they have. Best guess: Aequidens portalegrensis. [update 10/27/99: There are now 3 Port Acaras, and a tiny juvenile who may well also be of that species. Artificial vegetation has been provided in a thick mat at the top and rear of Aquarium 1.]
The poeciliids are found where vegetation is growing thickly in shallow water. So far they have been found in two separate locations, and appear to be of two related species, or perhaps two "breeds" of one species. My best guess so far: Guppies.
And the turtle? After appearing to be in shock for a few days, it ate and swam around and recovered for a few weeks, and - one rainy night - went on its merry way. A river is only a very short distance away, and there is no highway to cross. So there is good reason to think that it will survive nicely.
New photos of the "mystery fish" - and many other photographs by the Ancient Hippie - will be appearing shortly - keep checking in as the whole site grows. It does, every day.
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