Ausyfish   produces a wide range of native fish, both for the aquarium market and for stocking, and grow-out purposes. Some of these include Australian Rainbows, Grunters, Catfishes, Gudgeons, Blue Eyes, Hardyheads (also knows as Australian Pencilfish, and Australian glassfish).  

Below is a purple spot gudgeon from the Coen River, Cape York

One of the most popular of Australia's native aquarium fish are the "rainbows."  Over the years techniques have been refined by  Ausyfish   that have made it possible to bulk spawn many of our native rainbows. This has resulted in the cheap production of these beautiful fishes. Growing these fish in earth ponds allows them to reach a larger size faster than would be possible in alternative containers. Australia, New Guinea, and a few nearby islands are the only places in the world where these rainbow fishes are found naturally. There are many colour varieties of these fishes. Almost every stream or lake has a different colour variation of the rainbow. This natural variety of colours has attracted the interest of fish collectors around the world. Genuine true colour forms are usually sold under the name of the creek or river system of origin. Eg. Coen River trifasciata. Ethical breeders will not cross breed colour forms. Ethical breeders will also know where their fish are from, which creek or river. The idea is not to breed unnatural colours, but only forms that occur in nature, in Australia and New Guinea. If you are interested in seeing and learning more about rainbow fishes, take advantage of the link to ANGFA on the introduction page of this site.

For more information about Australian Rainbow fish click here.

Below a rainbow-fish tank at Ausyfish

Below one of the Ausyfish Brood Lungfish.

Australia has a number of perches and grunters which are suitable as aquarium fish. One of the most popular is the rare coal grunter. This is an extremely hardy fish. The young fish have a gold and black checkered pattern. As the fish mature the checkered pattern becomes less defined. Once the fish reach full maturity the colour is flecked gold and black as can be seen in the pictures below. The fish is able to change colour quite rapidly, changing from a bright gold dominate colour, to a very dark, almost block colour.

The picture on the left shows a pair of well conditioned coal grunter. At the top of the picture is the female. On the right is a female bulging with eggs, ready for hormone induction. These fish are very large specimens. The coal grunter are a small species compared to some of Australia's perches and grunters.

Another popular native aquarium fish is the freshwater archer fish, sometimes called the "rifle fish" because of it's skill of shooting down insects with a jet of water from its mouth. In January 2007, Ausyfish successfully spawned the freshwater Australian archer fish. Click for more.

If you are in Australia and are interested in becoming a customer of  Ausyfish and you have a shop or are a genuine wholesaler you can e-mail us, aquarium@ausyfish.com, or fax us on (07) 4126 2221  or even phone us on (07) 4126 2226, but you must be a legitimate trader, we do not supply direct to the public. In Brisbane and Melbourne all distribution is through wholesalers only. If you are from another country contact us to discuss shipping arrangements to your country.

Prices are set at 3 different levels, one third of a box, half a box & full box. Excellent prices are available to those who purchase in box lots. Price lists are available to retail aquarium shops and wholesalers. Minimum purchase is AUD$400 plus freight and packing. Export orders for native fish, minimum purchase AUD$3600, plus all other shipping costs.

Above: Some of the ponds used to raise the many rainbowfish varieties grown on the farm. The ponds shown here are about 10 meters by 20 metres.

Above: One of the ponds used for the spawning and raising of Saratoga (Scleropages leichardti).

Above: . Each year, new varieties are added to the breeding program. Several thousand kilometres can be covered on these trips. Pure oxygen, or a 12 volt air pump is used to keep the one thousand liter tank aerated (seen on the left on the back of the four wheel drive). Sometimes there is even a little time for a bit of recreational fishing ! Above right: This giant catfish was caught in the Mitchell River.

Do you have a passion for Australian native fish ?  There is no better organisation than the Australian New Guinea Fishes Association Inc., (ANGFA). ANGFA is a group made up of hobbyists, breeders, explorers and even scientists. Some of whom have written books on our native fish. This group holds regular conventions which are frequented by members from all over Australia and the world. ANGFA also hold regular meetings in each state of Australia.

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