I'm getting a tank soon (probably 55 long). There will be three green sunfish two rockbass and a madtom or logperch (undecided) and probably an array of feeder minnows. I am posting because I think both of the (green sunfish+rockbass) species will attempt to eat any crayfish I put in there. If I throw in (a) common (red, 3-5 inches long typically) crayfish form the local river/ponds do you think the fish will eat them? I figured a crayfish would be able to hold it's own especially if I gave it a place to burrow. Are they hermaphrodites or do they need both genders to breed. I think the crayfish young would make good food for the fish for sure. But I'd like the adults to live.
rockbass with crayfish
Started by
Guest_Zephead4747_*
, Apr 08 2007 10:12 PM
7 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_wolfie8000_*
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Posted 09 April 2007 - 07:42 AM
I had a crawdad in my 75g sunfish tank and the sunfish did not even notice him. He was at least 4inches. My greenxbluegill, that is 8inches, did not even look at him. The crawdad did great until he found his way out of the tank. I think it depends on the fish and what they are used to eating in your lake or river.
#3
Guest_Zephead4747_*
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Posted 09 April 2007 - 08:44 AM
Minnows and small inverts most likely, a lot of the panfish around here are stunted, although we have caught some dinner plate sized panfish. The only decent sized rockbass are caught elsewhere, I think they will be used to feeding on snails, leaches, aquatic insects, and minnows.
#4
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Posted 12 April 2007 - 12:12 AM
they can be kept together without too much trouble if sizes are taken into account but when the crayfish molt or shed their shell they are very soft and vulnerable for a while and this is often when they are eaten by the sunfish in their tanks.
#5
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Posted 12 April 2007 - 05:30 PM
how big of a crayfish would I need for it to be able to live with fullgrown rockbass/green sunfish
#6
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Posted 12 April 2007 - 06:08 PM
A very large one, rockbass like to eat crayfish so it would have to be a very large crayfish. Adult rockbass average 7-9" and can definitely get up to 12 or so if well fed and I think you would have a hard time finding a crayfish large enough that it wouldn't become lunch. Maybe if you could get a hold of some of those big old Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarki) from down south.
#7
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Posted 12 April 2007 - 06:39 PM
boo would a 5inchish cray crayfish be able to survive in there given good cover?
#8
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Posted 12 April 2007 - 10:41 PM
The more cover you have the better the odds for the crayfish. I would say if you can find crayfish easily enough then don't worry about it, just put a couple in and when they are gone get some new ones. They will likely last for a while till they molt and are soft and vulnerable but at that point I would think they will be eaten.
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