Well, my 55 gallon tank is nearly complete. Just need a few items and some plants and it will be done. I took advantage of the cool weather this morning and went to Bear Creek in Keller and whetted my line for a few hours. I have been bugging people about longear here in the forum since I joined and you will never guess what my first fish I caught was was? Yes, a nice little Longear. Here he is in my tank posing. He's about 4.5 inches long.



I caught bluegill three longears and a few small bass. I had to bring the longear home. I used the drip method to acclimatize them to the tank water and temperature. The creek water was 75 degrees and the tank is 80. This took about an hour and a half. Then in they went. They have been very active and within an hour were looking intently at the bottom at some old food. I left them for a few hours and they settled down and explored the tank. Dropped a few bits of worm and they ate that readily. So they are settling in for their first night.

I had a lot of fun on the bank this morning and more watching the tank. It was a good day.

Usil

Edited by Usil, 05 September 2011 - 07:22 PM.

Well, my 55 gallon tank is nearly complete. Just need a few items and some plants and it will be done. I took advantage of the cool weather this morning and went to Bear Creek in Keller and whetted my line for a few hours. I have been bugging people about longear here in the forum since I joined and you will never guess what my first first I caught was was? Yes, a nice little Longear. Here he is in my tank posing.


I caught bluegill three longears and a few small bass. I had to bring the longear home. I used the drip method to acclimatize them to the tank water and temperature. The creek water was 75 degrees and the tank is 80. This took about an hour and a half. Then in they went. They have been very active and within an hour were looking intently at the bottom at some old food. I left them for a few hours and they settled down and explored the tank. Dropped a few bits of worm and they ate that readily. So they are settling in for their fist night.

I had a lot of fun on the bank this morning and more watching the tank. It was a good day.

Usil

First catch?...Incredible!...Sharp looking little fellow too. Congratulations on your catch.

Edited by frogwhacker, 05 September 2011 - 06:57 PM.

Wow, it's beautiful. Great catch!

Very nice. Nothing beats getting out and catching your own fish. They always look the best.

Congratulations.

I should add that instead of fishing, I felt more like I was just feeding them worms. They were artists at taking the worm. I learned an axiom - if the bobber is not bobbin - the bait is gone.

Usil

All the longears look good this morning. Tank dynamics is taking place and the largest longear is dominant. I fed them some meal worms and they ate three helpings so will let them be till this afternoon.

Is there a common name for longears caught is Texas?

Bryan - does the picture I posted look like your Louisiana longears variety?


Usil

I should add that instead of fishing, I felt more like I was just feeding them worms. They were artists at taking the worm. I learned an axiom - if the bobber is not bobbin - the bait is gone.

Usil

How true!!

very noce looking fish do you think it is a male?

How true!!

The three longears continue to look good. They are in my home office so see me regularly. They do not shirk away and hide and now come to the front and top as I drop in freeze dried blood worms. In fact, they love these and scarf them down in short order. I have been giving them small amounts for training purposes but it seems they already have it down pat. Same for a few meal worms. They love those too. Not taking pellets right now but will work on that.

The tank has three longears and two blugill. I went ahead and added the bluegill to keep the number at 5 for the 55 gallon tank to spread out any aggression. The alpha male is the larger longear. He chases but does not nip. I thought the bluegill would be the aggressors and one is larger but they are not. The larger longear has staked out his throne of power in the center of the tank. I am adding some drift wood and plants in a few days which should mostly complete the tank. The driftwood is soaking. I will stat posting some pictures soon.

Is this normal for longears to adapt so quickly?

Usil

Edited by Usil, 06 September 2011 - 02:15 PM.

My male longear ate like crazy when I first got him over a year ago. He has since gotten more timid about eating in front of me. He still comes out of hiding and watches me often, but doesn't like to eat as soon as I feed him. I've often wondered if it's because he now feels that food will always be available and doesn't need to eat so aggressively. He's not afraid of me, he is just no longer an aggressive eater. He's the only sunfish in the tank too, so he really hasn't the competition he would in the wild. I'm guessing your sunfish will continue to eat aggressively since you've got several to keep the competition up. Glad to hear all are doing well.

Steve.