Smelt tend to prefer cooler, moving, well-oxygenated water and do not
withstand crowding, over-heating and capture/handling well. Once you have
them home they make a very nice schooling display.
I suggest you make a special effort for them by leaving them to last caught
before leaving for home, making sure that the transport water is clear,
cool and has a little added salt. Avoid handling them too harshly during
capture - using a dish to scoop them out of the net with some water may
improve your success too. In my opinion over-crowding and over-heating are
the two biggest problems - s0 bag them and put them in a styrofoam box
immediately and if it is hot weather even add a cooler block to the box.
The same advice probably goes for Galaxids too.
Good Luck
Bruce
Bruce Hansen, ANGFA
Check out our web site a http://www.angfa.org
Remember, "When in doubt, leave it out!"
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> From: Chen Leong <cleong at btr.com.au>
> To: Rainbowfish Mailing List <rainbowfish at pcug.org.au>
> however, almost all the Smelt I collected perished either on the way
back,
> or shortly after arriving home (other Vic members have expressed the same
> comments). They obviously did not handle the stress well.
>
> Have any members collected this fish and been able to transport them back
> safely? If so, what are some of the things they have done to acclimatise
the
> fish and/or reduce the stress ?