Rainbow Trout in Queensland...

[Murray]

Hey, I should not say too much just yet, but I think I have arranged a way of bringing 1000 Rainbow Trout into Qld .....legally......

Just in case it comes off...
Who would like to share in 1000 ???

No prices as yet, freight and all that it could be a bit expensive......but just a show of hands as to who might be prepared to take some.

50 minimum each please.

If it happens it will happen in the next 2 weeks.

[Lee]

I'll be in that one Muzza. I need some fish in my system. Are they difficult to raise?

[nocky]

How do they grow in Qld murray, is the climate not to warm?

[Murray]

Hi Nocky,
Might be a bit of a problem, but I think it can be done. My water temps at the moment are as low as 12 in a couple of tanks that I do not heat, so it will work for trout at the moment. As spring comes I will have to have the blocks of ice in the freezer every night I guess.
But I am willing to take a risk on a hundred of them. I think it is just something one has to try.
Some of the blokes down south ( FF, Duff etc,) have kept them for a season or two so I am banking on getting some helpful tips from them.
Anyway, the guy here in Brisbane that holds the appropriate licences is still getting prices etc for me....so we will see what happens... :)

[Castaway]

Whats the warmest temperature Trout will tolerate before they die?

[fishfood]

As long as you have plenty of air 26 is about the max

[dufflight]

I haven't tried them yet. But think I now have the enviroment to keep them all year if I can get my hands on some. Darn planes will not transport live animals this way.
Going to use a 20ft freeger container that stays close to the 26 mark in summer without running it. :twisted: Will have to use an ABF(airlift bio filter) during summer with a slow exchange with the larger system to get rid of the nitrate. In winter I can connect the tank to the outside grow beds.

[nocky]

I live in lower south west WA and they will grow from April to November, air temp in Nov is around 30 and now about 13-15c, I have 50 in 3000lt of water and they have doubled in size since beginning of May so around 200-300gms each, no expert yet but have done a lot of reading and observing, ideal conditions for growth is 12 - 16 water temp, I doubt they would survive 26 for too long, more like 22, they do need plenty of air, I have a big OTTO battery back up pump with both lines and air stones in the trout tank (I have 2 x 3000lt tanks connected at the bottom, the other has yabbies, Pygmy Perch, Mussels etc, I pump out of the trout Tank through 2 x 500lt grow beds and drain back to yabbie tank), they are fun to have and feeding time is something great to watch, have a net over tank top to keep them inside :shock:
Pricing here in WA murray is around $1 for 100gm fingerling from a farmer I by from, a hatchery in WA sells them for around $1.40 for same, another hatchery that is like a big store (sells and breeds saltwater Crayfish as well) is about $3-50 :shock:, in SA about 70c, this time of year my supplier charges $11 per KG as and they are around 200-250gms.
Other problems with higher temps is they wont handle ammonia and nitrite jumps to well, ideal ph 7.2-7.6, Feed is around $60 for 20kg the best coming from Rettings in Tassie, 100 fish for growing season here would require at least 2 bags, they eat a lot and crap a lot so ammonia tests at least weekly and adjust feeding as required, 5mm floating pellets are the best. I would have more than 50 but only have 2 GB's at the moment, will increase hopefully next year, will go for Barramundi from December to April, might be a better all round option for QLD, I wish I could grow Barra all year round :?

[nocky]

Have you tried Trout yet Murray? if so how are they getting on

[iain]

Feedback from the DPI in an email I got yesterday:

"options are:

1) Apply to become an authorised aquaculture producer (under the Integrated Planning Act) and then to apply to bring the fish in. This would obviously be overkill for a small aquaponics operation.

2) Buy rainbow trout off an approved aquaculture operation. Such trout could be produced in a Qld hatchery (but no Qld hatcheries are producing trout), or brought in by an approved aquaculture operator in accordance with the appropriate process and then legitimately on-sold to you."

As I understand it - there are only 3 hatcheries in Qld with approval for trout aquaculture - none of them are producing trout in Qld - and none of them (so far) are bringing trout in for the purpose of supplying AP. If there was enough support for trout from AP users - one of the 3 apporved Qld hatcheries might see some opportunity in bringing in trout just for AP.

[aquam]

Whats the big problem with bringing trout into qld from an aquaculture farm interstate? As long as they dont have any disease I cant see what the problem is?

[Murray]

I agree with you 100%, but that is not the way Fisheries see it. We can bring them in if we can find someone with an appropriate Aquaculture licence and a translocation licence. I have found someone who can do that, but it remains to be seen if they actually will.

It is just another example of out-of-touch gov regs.

[Murray]

Well, I have come to a dead end on getting trout into QLD for this winter.
Both the hatchery people that have the licences do not have trout listed on their licence.
Evidently, each fish species must be listed on their licence.

It took them long enough to act on it and find out....:frown:

It is easy enough to get that changed, but in typical public service style it will take a few months by which time it will be too late for this season.

I am very disappointed to say the least.....:frustrated:

[Domonix]

Hey Murray I've had a thought rattling through my head about raising trout in qld and the idea is too cut out some holes in an old fridge or freezer so you can extend your pipeing through, although to make sure the water doesn't get to cold you would need a thermostat. Only a possibility :)

[Murray]

Yes, it is very possible to do and would work well. Very disappointed.

[chainsaw]

Murray,

Did I read somewhere that you are getting some barra?

[Murray]

I can't get any right now from anywhere that I know of.
I am not able to get Trout, and now no new Barra. My life is falling apart...:)

[fishfood]

I am off to get 50 trout tomorrow i beleve they only have 60,000 left

[Castaway]

Hey Fishfood - what size tank will you grow your 50 trout in?

[fishfood]

1000 litre ibc last season i had 50 in each this year i only have 1 available as i still have about 20 from last year in one ,They are close to 1 kg ea i think

[Castaway]

So you got those 20 through summer! That's pretty good. Good luck to you.
How are those jades going in your aquarium tank? You still got the Jades?

[fishfood]

Yep shore have as far as i know havent lost 1 touch wood they are about 6 in long now

[fishfood]

They are now in the 1000 tank in the glasshouse

[Castaway]

The Jades are not as fast growers as trout. This weekend I am going to do the deed and harvest a couple and see what they taste like...Mine are plate size. By Monday I am going to be so fit and healthy from all that Omega 3 stuff I will look 30 years younger!!