Are Barbel indigenous
- Thread starter jericho
- Start date
Yes all the catfish in Sa waters are indegenous.
How many species - well I will have to have a look tonight.
They have been introduced into some waters from other parts of the country which has caused an catarsphy with some fish such as the redfin barbs etc found in the E.Cape.
They range from the Blunt tooth Catfish, Electric catfish to the Mighty Vundu, Sharptooth catfish are but a few to name.
How many species - well I will have to have a look tonight.
They have been introduced into some waters from other parts of the country which has caused an catarsphy with some fish such as the redfin barbs etc found in the E.Cape.
They range from the Blunt tooth Catfish, Electric catfish to the Mighty Vundu, Sharptooth catfish are but a few to name.
Beware the barbel!!! I was spiked badly by one that I'd foul hooked this December whilst trying to get him off the hook. I've caught hundreds before and always freed them no problem, but this time my guard was down.
Let me tell you that the pain was indescribable! Worse than the time I was bitten by a snoek-- I kid you not!!!
I was on my own in the boat and was worried I might pass out from pain and shock before getting back to the house. My finger turned into a "fat black plum" and I could feel the pain/poison going up my hand, into the arm,up to my shoulder and even into my neck.
Luckily the Hermanus hospital was nearby and a mate of mine told me to go there fast as the shit in that barb can be like a mild form of snake venom.
I felt so stupid and wondered if the hospital would even know what a barbel was and how to help me.....but thankfully they did. I was given a tetanus shot, a cortizone shot, an antibiotic shot and a "painkiller cocktail" shot too. Then sent home with packet of painkillers, anti-biotics and a special cream and told that I should feel better in about 3-4 days although the "poison" would be in my bloodstream for about 2-3 weeks.
Admittedly this was a bad spike --- which puntured a vein and went straight into a nerve , said the doc --- but I really never knew such pain could be inflicted by these lttle devils.
Be careful with these fish and treat them with respect.
Let me tell you that the pain was indescribable! Worse than the time I was bitten by a snoek-- I kid you not!!!
I was on my own in the boat and was worried I might pass out from pain and shock before getting back to the house. My finger turned into a "fat black plum" and I could feel the pain/poison going up my hand, into the arm,up to my shoulder and even into my neck.
Luckily the Hermanus hospital was nearby and a mate of mine told me to go there fast as the shit in that barb can be like a mild form of snake venom.
I felt so stupid and wondered if the hospital would even know what a barbel was and how to help me.....but thankfully they did. I was given a tetanus shot, a cortizone shot, an antibiotic shot and a "painkiller cocktail" shot too. Then sent home with packet of painkillers, anti-biotics and a special cream and told that I should feel better in about 3-4 days although the "poison" would be in my bloodstream for about 2-3 weeks.
Admittedly this was a bad spike --- which puntured a vein and went straight into a nerve , said the doc --- but I really never knew such pain could be inflicted by these lttle devils.
Be careful with these fish and treat them with respect.
Barbel (catfish) are indigenous/ endemic to some parts of SA, not to the Western Cape, for example where they were introduced by misguided anglers much to the detriment of other indigenous/endemic species as Ryan mentioned and also to the (Northern strain Largemouth) Bass 
!
Theewaterskloof Dam in the Western Cape was one of the greatest Bass fisheries in the country in the late 1970s and early 1980s - until someone introduced Barbel and Carp. The result was that the clear tannin-stained Bass-rich waters are now murky and so overrun with Barbel and Carp that it is quite a chore to catch even a single Bass
.
The Carp prey heavily on Bass eggs and fry and destroy Bass nests. The Barbel do the same, compete in the food chain with Bass and predate on larger Bass as well. The only solution which, in my opinion, would balance things out at Theewaterskloof (in addition to removing all Carp and all Barbel caught) is massive stocking of (Florida strain Largemouth) Bass - which seem to do better than the Northern strain when competing with Barbel and Carp - but it is unlikely that this "restocking" of Bass will happen due to the new environmental legislation (and the anti-Bass sentiments of the powers that be).
! Theewaterskloof Dam in the Western Cape was one of the greatest Bass fisheries in the country in the late 1970s and early 1980s - until someone introduced Barbel and Carp. The result was that the clear tannin-stained Bass-rich waters are now murky and so overrun with Barbel and Carp that it is quite a chore to catch even a single Bass
. The Carp prey heavily on Bass eggs and fry and destroy Bass nests. The Barbel do the same, compete in the food chain with Bass and predate on larger Bass as well. The only solution which, in my opinion, would balance things out at Theewaterskloof (in addition to removing all Carp and all Barbel caught) is massive stocking of (Florida strain Largemouth) Bass - which seem to do better than the Northern strain when competing with Barbel and Carp - but it is unlikely that this "restocking" of Bass will happen due to the new environmental legislation (and the anti-Bass sentiments of the powers that be).
[color=#006600]BigBass[/color] wrote:
He he!
[color=#006600]jericho[/color] wrote:
The short answer here is yes and no. Barbels (catfish) are some of the most widespread fish and comprise more than 2200 species described worldwide. Of the 31 families of catfish, two are predominantly marine and are also represented in South Africa. Of the freshwater species, 18 occur in South Africa i.e. are indigenous with a few species being endemic (occur only withinour borders.) The groups in South Africa are representative of the rock catfishes, mountain catfishes, butter catfish (one specie) squeakers and suckermouths and air-breathing catfishes. Except for two species of rock catfish that are endemic to the Clanwilliam/Olifants system in the Western Cape, all other species are native to KZN and the river systems from the Vaal/Orange and north.
The most common barbel caught by anglers is the sharptooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus) which occurs throughout southern Africa from the Vaal/Orange to the north. It may reach a length of 1,4m and may reach a weight in excess of 50kg, although the SA angling record is around 33kg. It is one of three indigenous species belonging to the air-breathing group which has the most potential for becoming invasive in other river systems and indeed, as Ryan points out, has become an ivasive problem in some rivers of the Western Cape.
The vundu (Heterobranchus longifilus) of the Zambesi is not indigenous to SA and is the largest barbel of Africa and has been recorded at 1,5m and 55kg.
The short answer here is yes and no. Barbels (catfish) are some of the most widespread fish and comprise more than 2200 species described worldwide. Of the 31 families of catfish, two are predominantly marine and are also represented in South Africa. Of the freshwater species, 18 occur in South Africa i.e. are indigenous with a few species being endemic (occur only withinour borders.) The groups in South Africa are representative of the rock catfishes, mountain catfishes, butter catfish (one specie) squeakers and suckermouths and air-breathing catfishes. Except for two species of rock catfish that are endemic to the Clanwilliam/Olifants system in the Western Cape, all other species are native to KZN and the river systems from the Vaal/Orange and north.
The most common barbel caught by anglers is the sharptooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus) which occurs throughout southern Africa from the Vaal/Orange to the north. It may reach a length of 1,4m and may reach a weight in excess of 50kg, although the SA angling record is around 33kg. It is one of three indigenous species belonging to the air-breathing group which has the most potential for becoming invasive in other river systems and indeed, as Ryan points out, has become an ivasive problem in some rivers of the Western Cape.
The vundu (Heterobranchus longifilus) of the Zambesi is not indigenous to SA and is the largest barbel of Africa and has been recorded at 1,5m and 55kg.
[color=#006600]Ryan[/color] wrote:
Hi Ryan
I think that Barbel came out of the sea. They are quite common in that area and the spines on them are poisonous. See the link for further info:
http://zipcodezoo.com/Animals/G/Galeichthys_feliceps.asp
Hi Ryan
I think that Barbel came out of the sea. They are quite common in that area and the spines on them are poisonous. See the link for further info:
http://zipcodezoo.com/Animals/G/Galeichthys_feliceps.asp
Hi jericho, glad you posted this question. I'm heavily involved at Voelvlei dam to make a small difference to the barbel population in order to get bass back in the next 5 years or so. Past weekend produced 443 barbel and 136 carp in 24 hours off 72 anglers. Barbel is a huge problem in the W-Cape.
Glad to hear you guys are doing something at Voelvlei, CamelMan! Theewaterskloof also needs your help!
Voelvlei was one of the premier Smallmouth Bass waters in the Cape until some years ago - would be worthwhile to try and restore it to its former glory ... Is this being done in partnership with Cape Nature?
Voelvlei was one of the premier Smallmouth Bass waters in the Cape until some years ago - would be worthwhile to try and restore it to its former glory ... Is this being done in partnership with Cape Nature?
Ryan, Hendre .....Sorry, I landed up mailing the "Freshwater Section" .
Got no idea what type of barbel it was, but it was in the Hermanus lagoon which can be and in fact was open to the sea at the time. So, ja , musta been a sea barbel of sorts ......all I can vouch for is that he was a real painful fucker!!!!!!
Got no idea what type of barbel it was, but it was in the Hermanus lagoon which can be and in fact was open to the sea at the time. So, ja , musta been a sea barbel of sorts ......all I can vouch for is that he was a real painful fucker!!!!!!
strange how barbel are viewed as a pest and bass aren't??!
im one of those keen on keeping sensitive areas free from bass...and im a keen bass angler!the way i see it systems like the umgeni (albert falls, nagle and inanda) or beyond repair along with some others in the country, the damage has been done.
its seems unfair that i say ja slaughter the bass in the cape but save the bass in my local waters hey??
indeed its a biased opinion but there are still important species belonging to the yellowfish family and many smaller minnows that are vital to the food chain in those cape waters that can be saved as the problem hasn't reached overwhelming proportions YET.
Open systems deserve protection. Lets rather create closed systems or look at smaller compoundments for bass in the cape and rid other waters or BARBEL, CARP and BASS!
im one of those keen on keeping sensitive areas free from bass...and im a keen bass angler!the way i see it systems like the umgeni (albert falls, nagle and inanda) or beyond repair along with some others in the country, the damage has been done.
its seems unfair that i say ja slaughter the bass in the cape but save the bass in my local waters hey??
indeed its a biased opinion but there are still important species belonging to the yellowfish family and many smaller minnows that are vital to the food chain in those cape waters that can be saved as the problem hasn't reached overwhelming proportions YET.
Open systems deserve protection. Lets rather create closed systems or look at smaller compoundments for bass in the cape and rid other waters or BARBEL, CARP and BASS!