I am deciding if I should get a warmouth or a rock bass for my 75 gallon, both are in my area according to the natureserve website. Which fish makes for a better pet in your opinion? What are the pros and cons of each fish?
Thanks
Mike
Warmouth or Rock Bass
Started by
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, May 28 2007 10:47 PM
19 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_centrarchid_*
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Posted 29 May 2007 - 05:46 AM
I am deciding if I should get a warmouth or a rock bass for my 75 gallon, both are in my area according to the natureserve website. Which fish makes for a better pet in your opinion? What are the pros and cons of each fish?
Thanks
Mike
warmouth more disease resistant and tolerates warmer water. warmouth generally more adaptable to confinement and water quality issues associated with aquariums. warmouth easier to breed.
Rockbass, at least in nature more likely to be in smaller groups and when I confine several in a small tank (with good water flow) the pecking order seems just that and always a prelude to eviction / extermination as warmouth given to do.
#3
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Posted 29 May 2007 - 06:52 AM
I have a shadow bass (similar to a rock bass) and a warmouth in a 75 gal tank, see my post here http://forum.nanfa.o...?showtopic=1313
i have had both since they were about 1" - 1.5" long. they are approx 2" - 3" now and growing constantly.
the warmouth is much more aggressive, it will eat anything that i throw in the tank, it exhibits almost no fear of me at all. I have to feed him 1st so the shadowbass can eat.
the shadowbass, likes to hide under a piece of drift wood (check the picts out in the post) it does eat FD FW shrimp, FD Worms, frozen blood worms, live gambusia, live fw shrimp, it was eating crushed up tetra food sticks, but has pretty much quit eating prepared foods. I plan on trying to move him onto sinking pellets, in the next few weeks.
i have had both since they were about 1" - 1.5" long. they are approx 2" - 3" now and growing constantly.
the warmouth is much more aggressive, it will eat anything that i throw in the tank, it exhibits almost no fear of me at all. I have to feed him 1st so the shadowbass can eat.
the shadowbass, likes to hide under a piece of drift wood (check the picts out in the post) it does eat FD FW shrimp, FD Worms, frozen blood worms, live gambusia, live fw shrimp, it was eating crushed up tetra food sticks, but has pretty much quit eating prepared foods. I plan on trying to move him onto sinking pellets, in the next few weeks.
#4
Guest_topoftheline79_*
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Posted 29 May 2007 - 08:02 AM
Where did you get your warmouth from? I have already read your post and your tank is niiice!
#5
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Posted 29 May 2007 - 02:49 PM
Warmouth don't get as large as a rockbass can. They seem to warm up to their human owners more as well. I personally think that rockbass are a little better looking, but if I had to choose I would have a warmouth.
#6
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Posted 29 May 2007 - 05:36 PM
Warmouth are definitely easier to get converted over to pellet foods and in my experience are a little more adaptable to tank life.
#7
Guest_topoftheline79_*
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Posted 29 May 2007 - 08:54 PM
From hearing what you guys have said I have decided to go with the warmouth. Now can I have some information on them? Size, aggression, food, ect. And especially how would you collect a small one from a lake?
Thanks
Mike
Thanks
Mike
#8
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Posted 29 May 2007 - 09:13 PM
Start with, where do you live? Update your profile with your location information. The answer can be tailored to whether you are in their range, and what collection methods are lawful in your area (if somebody knows). Given that you are in their range and it is lawful, I would say you want to collect one in a stream with a seine. Anybody?From hearing what you guys have said I have decided to go with the warmouth. Now can I have some information on them? Size, aggression, food, ect. And especially how would you collect a small one from a lake?
#9
Guest_fishlvr_*
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Posted 29 May 2007 - 09:16 PM
They get about 8-10 inches, but the largest was 11 1/4" I think. The ones I have kept that were aggressive were alpha males picking on subordinate males. They will eat almost anything that moves. I've never tried converting mine to pellets though. As far as collecting some, that depends on what you call small. I catch 2 inchers on small hooks and a 1" rosy red. Sometimes I use worms, but bullheads and bluegill normally get to them before the warmouth. They're very interesting fish, and have wonderful pesonalities. They learn to eat from your hands quick.
#10
Guest_drewish_*
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Posted 29 May 2007 - 09:43 PM
From hearing what you guys have said I have decided to go with the warmouth. Now can I have some information on them? Size, aggression, food, ect. And especially how would you collect a small one from a lake?
Thanks
Mike
We collected ours by fly fishing the edge of a lake by a lot of rocks. If you don't fly fish, try a small hook, some worms, and a good ole bobber.
They are considered game fish (at least in VA), so that is the only legal way of taking them.
#11
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Posted 29 May 2007 - 10:04 PM
I catch them in less than 12" of water near heavy leaf litter and wood piles in sluggish backwaters of rivers and marshes. I use ice fishing floats, size 14 or smaller hooks with leaf worms. An old rotten stump will always have a large fish in my area and the juveniles aren't usually far away.
Not trying to contradict anyone here but just shows how many places you can find each species.
Not trying to contradict anyone here but just shows how many places you can find each species.
#12
Guest_topoftheline79_*
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Posted 30 May 2007 - 06:31 AM
I live in a suburb of Milwaukee in Wisconsin.
#14
Guest_topoftheline79_*
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Posted 30 May 2007 - 07:00 PM
Yeah! I noticed there are a lot more Wisconsinites here that other forums I've been too! What fish do you have? Where did you get them? Do you know anywhere to collect warmouth?
Thanks
Mike
Thanks
Mike
#15
Guest_sandtiger_*
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Posted 30 May 2007 - 07:42 PM
I have only kept rockbass and only one. I have had it almost a year so far. It hasen't been very aggresive, eats all kinds of pellets and lives at room temp (mid-high 70's). I hear they can be difficult but so far so good for me, I imagine warmouths would generally be easier though.
#16
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Posted 02 June 2007 - 08:45 AM
Yeah! I noticed there are a lot more Wisconsinites here that other forums I've been too! What fish do you have? Where did you get them? Do you know anywhere to collect warmouth?
Thanks
Mike
I have never seen a warmouth in the wild. (Although maybe I have caught some when I was more ignorant.)
There is a Wisconsin regional NANFA meeting scheduled for June 16 in Grafton. See the Local Edition->Midwest forum for info.
#17
Guest_topoftheline79_*
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Posted 04 June 2007 - 03:53 PM
How aggressive are warmouth? Would they beat the snot out of a pike cichlid?
Thanks
Mike
Thanks
Mike
#18
Guest_fishlvr_*
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Posted 04 June 2007 - 06:38 PM
Depends on size. If the pike cichlid is small, it will likely get eaten by a larger warmouth. If you have a pike cichlid of about the same size as the warmouth, then I see no problems.
#19
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Posted 09 June 2007 - 06:47 PM
I live near Asheville, NC.
I currently have a big warmouth and I did have a rock bass in the same tank (75 GAL All-Glass) for awhile until the rock bass died.
At first the rock bass bullied the warmouth (there is also a Florida spotted gar in the tank) but then the tables turned once the warmouth got established.
I still have my warmouth. Neat fish. Caught legally on hook and line gear by my brother on a golden shiner.
I feed my warmouth pellets, minnows, crayfish, nightcrawlers and red worms.
Mostly carnivorous fish pellets.
If you do set up a tank for warmouths give it some woody cover or plants (real or fake). They like that kind of stuff to relax near.
I currently have a big warmouth and I did have a rock bass in the same tank (75 GAL All-Glass) for awhile until the rock bass died.
At first the rock bass bullied the warmouth (there is also a Florida spotted gar in the tank) but then the tables turned once the warmouth got established.
I still have my warmouth. Neat fish. Caught legally on hook and line gear by my brother on a golden shiner.
I feed my warmouth pellets, minnows, crayfish, nightcrawlers and red worms.
Mostly carnivorous fish pellets.
If you do set up a tank for warmouths give it some woody cover or plants (real or fake). They like that kind of stuff to relax near.
#20
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Posted 11 June 2007 - 11:02 PM
They don't like to much light, so like Gambusia said, set up some plants and driftwood. The males can be absolutely striking if they are well settled and eating good, which will put them in breeding condition. Look in the photo gallery. Brian Zimmerman has a picture of a spectacular male warmouth.
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