River Monsters

[Tnmountains]

I was invited to a private tour of a local facility here off of the Tennessee River. They are what you call a quarantine facility for fresh and salt water fish. The fish come in and are held for periods of time to treat them for stress, parasites and disease before they go to large aquariums. They also do rescue and such for some of our endangered species as well. Good work going on here.
This is not a public aquarium with large glass and lights so it was real hard to get shots through the little port holes. Most of these fish are prehistoric with fossil records back to the Dinosaur times.

First picture a 5' Alligator Gar. The Alligator gar can reach lengths of 8 to 12' long and weigh up to around 200 lbs.


Second picture is the 5 footer with a big ole 8 footer.


Third picture is a Beluga Sturgeon. I think they said this one was around 500 lbs and the largest one held in N. America. They have been recorded to grow 28 feet and weigh up to 4000 pounds.


Fourth shot was of a Paddle fish. He was around 5' in length.


Facility

 

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[ivan salis]

those are some bigguns.

 

[Muddy Treats]

Nice fish!

 

[DigginThePast]

Good work for sure. Thanks for sharing.

 

[dpitt8]

cool fish

 

[Tnmountains]

Thought it was just kinda diffrent.
Trying to get thru the snowy cold weather
HH
TnMtns

 

[fossis]

Thanks for sharing.

Fossis..............

 

[Woodland Detectors]

That's a great post Richard! One of them is a nice Sturgeon.

 

[naturegirl]

Now see?! That was probaly a very cool tour, it's good those things are going on. those are some awesome fish, I was imagining 5'5" me along side some of those fish. those are BIG. Thanks for the pictures.

 

[RGINN]

Aside from the fact that growin up on the southern plains we never had many water holes deeper than about two feet, these pics are perfect examples of why I never learned to swim. There are things in there that can eat you.

 

[jadeblackhawk]

Now I want sushi.

Great pics.

 

[Tnmountains]

Now see?! That was probaly a very cool tour, it's good those things are going on. those are some awesome fish, I was imagining 5'5" me along side some of those fish. those are BIG. Thanks for the pictures.

hahah Naturegirl I am sure you would look fine at 5'5'' swimming with the fish. Not sushi there but caviar. It is amazing to me just how big some fresh water fish do get.

 

[allen]

hope i never hang into nothing that big on my old 33 !!

 

[Joe Hoo?]

damn, you gots me wanting to go fishing now lol i do most of my fishing in alton, illinois (MISSISSIPPI RIVER) around the dam where the world record cat was takin a few years back... I just love big fish and hope to make the newspaper some day with a record catch.... nice pics and thanx for posting....