My black crappie looks terrible. He has shredded fins and has white scratch markings on him (it looks different from the design) and has it on his lip. The only thing I could think of is that the smb was mean to it. I have a spare 20 gallon, the only problem is I would have to set it up. my current 20 gallon has minnows and other small fish I worry about, even though the black crappie is 2.5-3in. What can I do other than give them away since my LFS usually do not take natives since they are "not wanted".
black crappie problems
Started by
Guest_Leo1234_*
, Mar 20 2014 10:55 PM
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52 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_Joshaeus_*
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Posted 21 March 2014 - 07:02 AM
Your crappie is going to need a MUCH larger tank when he gets bigger...you do know this, right?
And yeah, I guess the bass is the most likely cause of your crappie's wounds. Sunfish rarely do well when kept as pairs...you need small groups (and a much larger tank) as a bare minimum, and in view of how large both the crappie and the bass get the minnows will most likely need new homes eventually, lest they be eaten.
And yeah, I guess the bass is the most likely cause of your crappie's wounds. Sunfish rarely do well when kept as pairs...you need small groups (and a much larger tank) as a bare minimum, and in view of how large both the crappie and the bass get the minnows will most likely need new homes eventually, lest they be eaten.
#3
Guest_Erica Lyons_*
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Posted 21 March 2014 - 10:50 AM
Whatever you do, do not release them into the wild. They can be carrying pathogens on them invisibly that can make the fish already in those waterways sick. For example ich and mycobacterium can remain present but invisible for years before showing symptoms. You can't tell just by looking at them what your fish are carrying.What can I do other than give them away since my LFS usually do not take natives since they are "not wanted".
#4
Guest_gerald_*
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Posted 21 March 2014 - 12:51 PM
Easy solution: more tanks of course! 
Crappies are not very assertive compared to other sunfish/bass species, and then often get bullied.
Crappies are not very assertive compared to other sunfish/bass species, and then often get bullied.
#5
Guest_Yeahson421_*
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Posted 21 March 2014 - 02:02 PM
You may end up having to take the route nearly everyone who choses to keep these fish has to take; euthanasia. The large sunfishes like Bass and Crappies, as well as some of the larger Lepomis, tend not to do well long term in captivity. You need at least a 180 gallon aquarium for a Smallmouth Bass or a Crappie, but they won't do well in the same 180. Smallmouth Bass require a larger territory, preferably much larger than a 180, more like 8'x4', but they can live in a 180. If you can replicate a large stream using directional flow, large boulders, and minimal plantings, they would feel most at home. You could keep a Hogsucker, as bass tend to use Hogsuckers as a way of stirring up food in the wild, so that could reveal some interesting behaviors and the bass wouldn't see the Hogsucker as a threat, so there likely wouldn't be any problem. That would probably be the only option for a tank mate. The Crappie, on the other hand, would do well in a planted, more relaxed flow aquarium. They would do best with other Crappies, but you could also probably include some of the larger shiners, as long as you make sure everyone gets food. By keeping these larger natives, you have doomed yourself to many seperate, large tanks.
#6
Guest_Skipjack_*
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Posted 21 March 2014 - 03:09 PM
Save the crappie, kill the bass. You will be glad you did.
#7
Guest_Leo1234_*
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Posted 21 March 2014 - 05:40 PM
they are in a 45, the bass is about 3in and the black crappie is what I stated. They are going into the 180 I will get hopefully soon. I do keep them in a planted tank, but there is still a lot of room in there. Also there is a powerhead, just not taking up the whole tank. Just a small area for the fish to swim against the current.
Edited by Leo1234, 21 March 2014 - 05:41 PM.
#8
Guest_Yeahson421_*
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Posted 21 March 2014 - 06:17 PM
As I hinted at and Skipjack more directly said, you pretty much have to pick one or the other, and I agree with Skipjack's choice.
#9
Guest_Leo1234_*
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Posted 21 March 2014 - 07:57 PM
what if I let the crappie grow in a 20 gallon, then reintroduce it back in after it has grown. I just realized It probably will not work...
Edited by Leo1234, 21 March 2014 - 08:03 PM.
#10
Guest_Yeahson421_*
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Posted 21 March 2014 - 08:04 PM
It will always be the brunt of the Bass's aggression. I had a 6 inch Crappie that was beat nearly to death by a 4 inch Bass. Bass are terrible to nearly any tank mates, no matter their size.
#11
Guest_Leo1234_*
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Posted 21 March 2014 - 08:08 PM
It's only aggressive to the warmouth and the crappie.
#12
Guest_Skipjack_*
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Posted 21 March 2014 - 08:14 PM
Your bass sounds like he is beating up two more interesting fish to me. SMB will always limit what you can keep. Seems like a decision needs to be made.
#13
Guest_Yeahson421_*
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Posted 21 March 2014 - 08:15 PM
Do you have any other sunfishes in the tank? I would assume not. Fish are more likely to be aggressive towards similar fish. As in, Centrachids will be the meanest to other Centrarchids.
#14
Guest_Leo1234_*
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Posted 21 March 2014 - 08:25 PM
I have 3 bluegills and a longear in there also. they are all nice to each other except the bass. the bass is the only mean one
Edited by Leo1234, 21 March 2014 - 08:29 PM.
#15
Guest_Leo1234_*
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Posted 21 March 2014 - 08:38 PM
could I keep the warmouth in a 20 gallon by its self if the 20 gallon is 30in long and 1ft wide?
#16
Guest_Skipjack_*
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Posted 21 March 2014 - 08:39 PM
the bass is the only mean one
There is the answer.
#17
Guest_Leo1234_*
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Posted 22 March 2014 - 12:51 AM
What do black crappies specifically like to hide in. If plants, which ones? I really want to keep them both, and we can't get rid of any... Is there a way to distract the bass? could the black crappie live in a 45 by himself if I were to get the 180? The black crappie seems to be doing better, but i would not say great.
#18
Guest_butch_*
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Posted 22 March 2014 - 11:55 AM
Let's be realistic about it. You do need get rid of bass.
#19
Guest_Leo1234_*
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Posted 22 March 2014 - 03:08 PM
does anyone know why it started being aggressive? It was nice to is 3 weeks ago and Ive had the bass since January. It only acts aggressive when they are within 3in of each other, but does not chase it away.
#20
Guest_Yeahson421_*
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Posted 22 March 2014 - 03:21 PM
It's getting bigger and more confident. This will only gets worse as it grows.
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