fish sources in Sacramento area

[Paul Trudeau]

If you're looking to buy bluegill, bass, catfish, or koi for your system, I know of at least a couple local sources:

 

Professional Aquaculture Services (PAS) (Tony Vaught, owner) in Chico now offers an "aquaponics starter package" of 100 channel catfish or bluegill, 2-3" long, and FedEx shipping, for $300.  For locals, I'd ask whether delivery or pickup would be possible instead of FedEx.  If 100 is too many for you, maybe several folks could go in on one purchase.  (I personally don't need any at the moment).  See proaqua.com.

 

Flora Tropicana in Elk Grove is a big outdoor garden pond supplier.  Their grounds are beautiful, almost worth the visit just to see.  They've always sold koi, but last time I was there a few months ago they were also offering catfish and, if I recall correctly, bass (largemouth?) for sale individually.  They weren't cheap - $5 or more each - but at least you don't have to buy in quantities of 100.  They sell a bunch of other stuff useful to aquaponics folks, including EPDM pond liner, Silver Cup fish food in different sizes, pumps, etc.  See floratropicana.com.

 

Do you have any other local sources to mention?

[Susie Gehri]

Paul....Great work!  I appreciate you, and what you're doing for Aquaponics in Central/Northern CA!!!  We're ordering our gravel for the greenhouse floor!!  Next, we will be cutting up totes and "plumbing" (which scares the daylights outa me!)  But we'll keep moving forward.  My brother seems to think plumbing will be simple?  I dunno..... THEN, I'll need fish!

[Paul Trudeau]

Thanks Susie & congrats on the progress.  The plumbing can be fun, hope it is for you...

Susie Gehri said:

Paul....Great work!  I appreciate you, and what you're doing for Aquaponics in Central/Northern CA!!!  We're ordering our gravel for the greenhouse floor!!  Next, we will be cutting up totes and "plumbing" (which scares the daylights outa me!)  But we'll keep moving forward.  My brother seems to think plumbing will be simple?  I dunno..... THEN, I'll need fish!

[rnbowarrior]

http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=3265&inline=true

[Paul Haak]

Good to know there is a local supplier. What edible fish are recommended for the Sac area? tilapia, trout?

 

[Paul Trudeau]

Hey Paul, Tilapia are apparently illegal in this part of the state (north of the Tehacapi Mountains).  But see also "E-mail from DFG regarding Tilapia in NORCAL" thread in California Aquaponics group on this forum.  Trout are do-able but I understand are not the most forgiving in terms of water quality and temperature (need relatively cold water).  Goldfish are just about bullet-proof, good to start a system with, I think, even if you eventually want to go with edible fish.  I like bluegill and have them in my system.  Others use catfish, Sac perch, Sac blackfish, and probably others I'm not thinking of at the moment.

Paul Haak said:

Good to know there is a local supplier. What edible fish are recommended for the Sac area? tilapia, trout?

 

[Paul Haak]

bluegill: aren't these small and bony? are they decent to eat?

 

Catfish

Sac perch

Sac blackfish

I will have to do more research, I just assumed talapia was a no brainer. Anyone have a favorite that is easy to harvest?

thanks for the info,

 

Paul

Paul Trudeau said:

Hey Paul, Tilapia are apparently illegal in this part of the state (north of the Tehacapi Mountains).  But see also "E-mail from DFG regarding Tilapia in NORCAL" thread in California Aquaponics group on this forum.  Trout are do-able but I understand are not the most forgiving in terms of water quality and temperature (need relatively cold water).  Goldfish are just about bullet-proof, good to start a system with, I think, even if you eventually want to go with edible fish.  I like bluegill and have them in my system.  Others use catfish, Sac perch, Sac blackfish, and probably others I'm not thinking of at the moment.

Paul Haak said:

Good to know there is a local supplier. What edible fish are recommended for the Sac area? tilapia, trout?

 bluegill and have them in my system.  Others use catfish, Sac perch, Sac blackfish,

[Paul Trudeau]

In theory they could get up to 10" long or so, in practice somewhat smaller.  So yeah, a bit small.  No bonier than average--for example, they don't have the split bones that I believe the carp family has that makes those seem bonier than average.  And they're delicious, tender white flesh.  We should both probably search thru the Bluegill/Bream group on this forum for more info...I confess I haven't yet.

Paul Haak said:

bluegill: aren't these small and bony? are they decent to eat?

 

Catfish

Sac perch

Sac blackfish

I will have to do more research, I just assumed talapia was a no brainer. Anyone have a favorite that is easy to harvest?

thanks for the info,

 

Paul

Paul Trudeau said:

Hey Paul, Tilapia are apparently illegal in this part of the state (north of the Tehacapi Mountains).  But see also "E-mail from DFG regarding Tilapia in NORCAL" thread in California Aquaponics group on this forum.  Trout are do-able but I understand are not the most forgiving in terms of water quality and temperature (need relatively cold water).  Goldfish are just about bullet-proof, good to start a system with, I think, even if you eventually want to go with edible fish.  I like bluegill and have them in my system.  Others use catfish, Sac perch, Sac blackfish, and probably others I'm not thinking of at the moment.

Paul Haak said:

Good to know there is a local supplier. What edible fish are recommended for the Sac area? tilapia, trout?

 bluegill and have them in my system.  Others use catfish, Sac perch, Sac blackfish,

[Paul Trudeau]

This thread started with a description of a couple local fish suppliers, including Flora Tropicana.  FYI, read in the paper recently that Flora Tropicana moved to Cupertino after many years in Elk Grove.  I'll miss them!

[Paul Haak]

Does anyone know if freshwater fish co in elk grove still is around? I'm ready to get some fish!