what is the smallest bass/ bass like fish (warmouth green sunfish ect.) but bass are perferd. Also what would good tank mates be????

Of actual basses probably a Smallmouth but sunfish are similar. I guess Rockbass and Warmouth look a bit like bass but aren't. Blackbanded sunfish and pygmies are sunfish but aren't very large.

Of actual basses probably a Smallmouth but sunfish are similar. I guess Rockbass and Warmouth look a bit like bass but aren't. Blackbanded sunfish and pygmies are sunfish but aren't very large.

I thought the suwannee was the smallest black bass species, maxing out at 15 inches. They are limited to a couple rivers in florida and I am not sure of the legality of catching and keeping them.

though if you want a basslike fish that is not a black bass rock bass species are a good choice.

Bloomonkeys- do you already have a tank? If so, tell us the dimensions and we can help you find suitable inhabitants.

The black basses (Micropterus species) are more diverse than most people think, and several of the southern species are smaller than the familiar largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass. However, these small southern basses are difficult to come by, and are still much larger than rock bass and sunfish; I wouldn't keep one in a tank with less than a 24" X 72" footprint.

As donkeyman and FirstChaos suggested, rock bass (Ambloplites sp.) and sunfish (Lepomis sp.) make for good "mini-bass". The green sunfish in particular is basslike in looks and voracity. The yellow bass (Morone mississippiensis) and yellow perch (Perca flavescens) might also be good options.

All of these fish can be kept with similar-sized species. They may fight with individuals of the same or related species, but there are steps you can take to limit aggression. Otherwise, fish too big to fit into their mouths should be OK. I have rock bass and various sunfish in a tank with several species of shiners and other minnows; they get along fine.