Congo Killies - PageSuite

are collecting individually with a long-handled dip net, or
in a group with a 4- to 8-foot wide seine net. Ideally, the
dip net would have a 1/8–1/4-inch mesh bag supported
by a square or triangular metal rim. A flat-edged rim
allows the net to be placed securely on the stream bed.
When collecting alone, a net handle of 4 feet or longer
is helpful and can be used to help steady oneself in the
current. The seine net should also be of 1/8–1/4-inch
mesh, with floats on the upper edge and weights on the
lower edge to keep it vertical in the water while being
strung between two poles. Both methods require entering
the river or stream, so a good pair of
waders or hip boots is recommended,
especially if the collecting trip
occurs during the spring breeding
season, when water temperatures
are still in the 50°F (10°C) range.
Collecting individually requires
a small or medium-sized longhandled
dip net. The net is placed
downstream from the collector
behind a promising group of rocks
and held with one hand. The collector
then disturbs the rocks and
substrate with his (or her) foot
upstream of the net while balancing
on the other foot. This flushes the
darters out of hiding and, typically, downstream into the
net. As long as you don’t lose your balance and fall into
the cold water, this works quite well.
The group method of collecting requires a minimum
of three people and a 4- to 8-foot seine net. Two people
place the seine net into the stream, facing into the current
and holding the handles at an angle, making a nice
collecting pocket in the net. The third person moves upstream
of the net and proceeds to do the “darter dance,”
which entails shuffling and kicking the feet rapidly across
the substrate while moving in a zigzag pattern toward the
Shoal of Rainbow Darters
in a native fish community
tank maintained by the
author.
Inset: colorful Etheostoma
caeruleum male, fresh from
the stream.
AMAZONAS
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