Hello, I've got a 9" smallmouth that I've had for nearly a year now. He's in a 150 gallon tank with a pleco, but I'd rather have a native with him. So far, he doesn't play well with others. I've tried a longear and a rock bass, but they now have their own tanks due to the smallie's aggression. He's residing peacefully with the pleco, but, like I mentioned, I'd rather have a native with him, and I really only want 1 other fish with him as I know he'll continue growing. I was thinking about going with a bullhead catfish since they don't get too huge. Has anyone had any experience with tankmates for smallmouths or have any thoughts on putting a bullhead with him? Thanks.
tankmate for smallmouth?
Started by
Guest_frogwhacker_*
, Jul 21 2011 01:42 AM
8 replies to this topic
#2
Michael Wolfe
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- North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage
Posted 21 July 2011 - 08:43 AM
Welcome frogwhacker,
I don't have any experience keeping smallmouth, but one crazy idea might be to look into getting a northern hogsucker. Many times we have seen a bass, hanging out with a hogsucker when we are snorkeling (there has been some conversation about that here on the forum, you could search for that... but the short version is that we often see bass following a hogsucker as they stir up the bottom waiting to see what larger food items might escape... and then they dash in and grab the food prize). So they apparently do OK together.
I have kept bullhead cats. They tend to eat all of their tankmates that are small enough to eat. But I have kept other large fish with them (specifically a few larger creek chubs). So, it would seem to me that it would work in general. But remember that the bullhead is not very active in the daytime... so you may not see him much.
I don't have any experience keeping smallmouth, but one crazy idea might be to look into getting a northern hogsucker. Many times we have seen a bass, hanging out with a hogsucker when we are snorkeling (there has been some conversation about that here on the forum, you could search for that... but the short version is that we often see bass following a hogsucker as they stir up the bottom waiting to see what larger food items might escape... and then they dash in and grab the food prize). So they apparently do OK together.
I have kept bullhead cats. They tend to eat all of their tankmates that are small enough to eat. But I have kept other large fish with them (specifically a few larger creek chubs). So, it would seem to me that it would work in general. But remember that the bullhead is not very active in the daytime... so you may not see him much.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin
#3
littlen
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- NANFA Member
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Posted 21 July 2011 - 08:44 AM
Smallmouths are pretty aggressive to start with. With all that space (150 gallons) and so little competition, it's no wonder it bullied any other fish you put in there. The pleco is an exception because it has all the armor and doesn't really care about being mouthed by the bass. As it has been discussed before, you need to either get several more, large tankmates, or none at all. As long as you only provide 1 or 2, the bass is likely to pick on them both relentlessly.
A bullhead cat could work, but without the protection that your pleco has, it might receive a lasceration from time to time since the bass will have no one else to pick on. This is not an ideal situation. Try adding several adult Lepomis to the tank. (Not much pushes an adult Green sunfish around). Also, you didn't say if you have a lot of decor in the tank to add visual barriers and break up the line of sight.
A bullhead cat could work, but without the protection that your pleco has, it might receive a lasceration from time to time since the bass will have no one else to pick on. This is not an ideal situation. Try adding several adult Lepomis to the tank. (Not much pushes an adult Green sunfish around). Also, you didn't say if you have a lot of decor in the tank to add visual barriers and break up the line of sight.
Nick L.
#4
Guest_dafrimpster_*
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Posted 21 July 2011 - 12:59 PM
Another thing to try is to rearrange the tank right before you add the new fish. It will help erase territory lines and give the new fisha chance to establish their space.
#5
Guest_frogwhacker_*
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Posted 21 July 2011 - 01:58 PM
Smallmouths are pretty aggressive to start with. With all that space (150 gallons) and so little competition, it's no wonder it bullied any other fish you put in there. The pleco is an exception because it has all the armor and doesn't really care about being mouthed by the bass. As it has been discussed before, you need to either get several more, large tankmates, or none at all. As long as you only provide 1 or 2, the bass is likely to pick on them both relentlessly.
A bullhead cat could work, but without the protection that your pleco has, it might receive a lasceration from time to time since the bass will have no one else to pick on. This is not an ideal situation. Try adding several adult Lepomis to the tank. (Not much pushes an adult Green sunfish around). Also, you didn't say if you have a lot of decor in the tank to add visual barriers and break up the line of sight.
Thanks for the reply. I've got a lot of decoration and stuff in the tank. I've got a piece of driftwood, stump sort of thing that snarls it's way diagonal from corner to corner and lots of rocks. The rock bass hid a lot, but it was big enough that any place it hid, the smallie could get to it. I don't think the rock bass was getting injured, but it wasn't eating, so I thought it best to remove it to another tank. I've got half a dozen or so crawfish in with the smallmouth also. Most of them are too big for him to eat, but he does enjoy playing with them. I was hoping the crawfish would be enough to keep him occupied, but I guess not. I might try a bull head when I get a chance and if it doesn't work then I could put it in with the rock bass. Do you think a 55 gallon tank would be big enough for a rock bass and a bullhead in case it wouldn't work out with the smallie? Thanks.
#6
Guest_frogwhacker_*
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Posted 21 July 2011 - 05:14 PM
Welcome frogwhacker,
I don't have any experience keeping smallmouth, but one crazy idea might be to look into getting a northern hogsucker. Many times we have seen a bass, hanging out with a hogsucker when we are snorkeling (there has been some conversation about that here on the forum, you could search for that... but the short version is that we often see bass following a hogsucker as they stir up the bottom waiting to see what larger food items might escape... and then they dash in and grab the food prize). So they apparently do OK together.
I have kept bullhead cats. They tend to eat all of their tankmates that are small enough to eat. But I have kept other large fish with them (specifically a few larger creek chubs). So, it would seem to me that it would work in general. But remember that the bullhead is not very active in the daytime... so you may not see him much.
Thanks for the reply. I'll have to check out the conversations on that. Kinda neat how the bass relies on the hogsucker, but kind of a bummer for the hogsucker losing it's meal. They probably get big enough that I wouldn't have to worry about one getting eaten.
I'm gonna have to try snorkeling sometime. I've been reading about it on this site and it sounds like a lot of fun. I'll have to recover from the money I've spent on my aquarium set up before I buy any more toys though. Thanks again.
#7
Michael Wolfe
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- Board of Directors
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- North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage
Posted 21 July 2011 - 06:25 PM
You definitely want to try snorkeling... it is amazing what you can see out there... and you really understand the fish differently seeing things from their perspective... and don't feel bad for the hogsucker... look at his little vacuum cleaner mouth... he sifts the substrate and actually eats really small things... wouldn't eat a crayfish he scared up... but the bass does! Its a cooperative thing... well, I don't know if the hogsucker really gets anything out of it... but at least he does not suffer any as far as I can tell.Thanks for the reply. I'll have to check out the conversations on that. Kinda neat how the bass relies on the hogsucker, but kind of a bummer for the hogsucker losing it's meal. They probably get big enough that I wouldn't have to worry about one getting eaten.
I'm gonna have to try snorkeling sometime. I've been reading about it on this site and it sounds like a lot of fun. I'll have to recover from the money I've spent on my aquarium set up before I buy any more toys though. Thanks again.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin
#8
Guest_frogwhacker_*
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Posted 27 July 2011 - 02:44 PM
Thank Y'all so much for the suggestions and information. It's definitely got me thinking in different directions about it now. depending on which one I can find, I'm thinking about either a northern hogsucker or a smallmouth redhorse. I've seen northern hogsuckers in my local stream, so I know that's a possibility. I kind of like all the redhorses too, but most of them may get a little larger than I'm wanting. As soon as time permits I'll just have to see what I can find.
Thanks again to everyone. You've been very helpful.
Steve.
Thanks again to everyone. You've been very helpful.
Steve.
#9
Guest_Bopper72_*
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Posted 04 January 2012 - 06:19 PM
I have a 6 inch pumpkinseed in with my 15 inch smallmouth. The pumpkinseed keeps his distance or gets chased off. He was originally intended to be a snack for the bass but they have been in the tank together for 6 months now. I also have a red eared slider in with the bass and they get along swimmingly (pun intended). The bass doesn't seem to have an issue being in close proximity with the turtle.
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