EmpressOfIndia said:Anyone know a source for small native fish?
Ursula said: Not native here, but here is my story.
How large are the containers, about how many gallons? Years ago I picked up Paradise fish/Macropodus opercularis for our small pond. They are tough little fish and can take a bit of a cooler temperature. And they are Anabantids, meaning they don't need super aeration, they take the oxygen from the air. I took them inside in the Fall into an aquarium. Very pretty fish too, blue and red.
Nowadays we have a ca 700 gallon pond in the backyard, I started the fish population with my grandchildren's pet fish/a 50 cent feeder fish from the store. We added a pretty red Comet and have now a good population of red and gold mixed Goldfish. They have overwintered outside with the help of a heater for 5 years, I think. I have a screen over the pond, without it they would surely be dinner for the animal population here.