just added a 12 inch pike to my aquarium. does anyone have any care instructions. what to feed? should I add salt to water? what size tank will I need? are there any fish I can put in with him? are ther any common mistakes people make?
greatly appreciate any tips, Thanks
norther pike
Started by
Guest_mshrews_*
, Jul 17 2007 03:47 PM
15 replies to this topic
#3
Guest_esoxandlepomislover_*
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Posted 17 July 2007 - 06:37 PM
mshrews,
I am not a NANFA member, but this is just a heads up of what to expect over the next few posts.
1. 12 inch pike...at least in my state and 2 others, pike are a game fish and require size limits. In my state, in order to 'keep' a northern pike, it has to be 24 inches. I am sure someone will question the legality of this fish.
2. Undoubtedly, your aquarium will be too small since these fish grow fast and large. You will need to go big if you intend to keep this fish to maturity.
3. You can't release it back into the wild. I don't know if NANFA has a time frame for this, so if you release it now, you may have NANFA's blessing.
4. You already got a post that you made a mistake by collecting a northern pike, albeit, it was most likely to be humorous and funny.
My take....
1. SWEET FISH!!! I love northern pike and it is great that you were able to get a small specimen!!! Fun to watch grow and feed. DUDE, I AM TELLING YOU IT IS A SHOWCASE FISH!!!!
2. I don't know one DNR officer who would throw the book at you for collecting one 'sub-legal' pike. They have much bigger fish to fry!!!!
3. I am guessing about a 60 gallon tank for the fish you have, but unfortunately, the pike will outgrow that rather quickly.
4. I have been releasing fish into my dad's pond for the last 30 years that have been kept in my aquariums. It is private and it is far from wild. Just think of his pond as the ultimate fish tank where he hand feeds his bass the mice he catches in his basement mouse traps. Anecdotally, the fish have thrived over the years, and the biggest threat to his fish is the green and blue herons that frequent his pond. (Translation: try to find a place where you can let it go if you can’t get the correct sized aquarium….i.e., friend, family, someone who will buy the fish, etc.)
5. You will find plenty of meaningful posts that pertain to pike care. It is a good site with much information to be had. Enjoy your fish, and good luck.
6. Where is the picture of this awesome fish....we want pics!!!!
M.
I am not a NANFA member, but this is just a heads up of what to expect over the next few posts.
1. 12 inch pike...at least in my state and 2 others, pike are a game fish and require size limits. In my state, in order to 'keep' a northern pike, it has to be 24 inches. I am sure someone will question the legality of this fish.
2. Undoubtedly, your aquarium will be too small since these fish grow fast and large. You will need to go big if you intend to keep this fish to maturity.
3. You can't release it back into the wild. I don't know if NANFA has a time frame for this, so if you release it now, you may have NANFA's blessing.
4. You already got a post that you made a mistake by collecting a northern pike, albeit, it was most likely to be humorous and funny.
My take....
1. SWEET FISH!!! I love northern pike and it is great that you were able to get a small specimen!!! Fun to watch grow and feed. DUDE, I AM TELLING YOU IT IS A SHOWCASE FISH!!!!
2. I don't know one DNR officer who would throw the book at you for collecting one 'sub-legal' pike. They have much bigger fish to fry!!!!
3. I am guessing about a 60 gallon tank for the fish you have, but unfortunately, the pike will outgrow that rather quickly.
4. I have been releasing fish into my dad's pond for the last 30 years that have been kept in my aquariums. It is private and it is far from wild. Just think of his pond as the ultimate fish tank where he hand feeds his bass the mice he catches in his basement mouse traps. Anecdotally, the fish have thrived over the years, and the biggest threat to his fish is the green and blue herons that frequent his pond. (Translation: try to find a place where you can let it go if you can’t get the correct sized aquarium….i.e., friend, family, someone who will buy the fish, etc.)
5. You will find plenty of meaningful posts that pertain to pike care. It is a good site with much information to be had. Enjoy your fish, and good luck.
6. Where is the picture of this awesome fish....we want pics!!!!
M.
#4
Guest_mshrews_*
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Posted 17 July 2007 - 07:43 PM
Thank you for the info and the warnings. they are appreciated. I am not worried about regulations too much, because this fish came out of the pond in my back yard. And if need be I can release him there too. I already have a 200 gallon tank. My main intrest is in the average growth rate of the northern pike, and what size tank I will need when he has reeched full size.
Also I've been about 50/50 on whether or not this was definately a northern. Everything I've found says pickerel have a distinct black teardrop under their eyes, my wife said she doesn't have one, but I think he does. Please settle our argument. Any help would be great. I would probably be relieved if this was a pickerel, then I wouldn't have to worry about the tank.
Also I've been about 50/50 on whether or not this was definately a northern. Everything I've found says pickerel have a distinct black teardrop under their eyes, my wife said she doesn't have one, but I think he does. Please settle our argument. Any help would be great. I would probably be relieved if this was a pickerel, then I wouldn't have to worry about the tank.
#5
Guest_esoxandlepomislover_*
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Posted 17 July 2007 - 08:36 PM
SWEET PICS.
i think it is a northern pike, but i do see that small black mark under the eye that makes you think pickerel.
my guess is northern pike all the way!!!!
200 gallon.....nice size tank...i think that will hold him for sometime.
expect growth rates to be fast in the beginning. i will defer to the pike experts as how fast and how soon (again, that depends on so many factors)
pike, as you know can be voracious predators, so i guess in theory, any fish is game if it is smaller than it.
i think those companion fish in your tank are not very likely to be eaten.
just take it in stride, and see what happens.
follow the golden rules....frequent water changes, good filtration, avoid over-crowding, avoid over-feeding...i am sure you have those basics down.
in a few seasons, you will have a fine pike for your aquarium, or better yet, a nice bluegill eater for your pond.
M.
i think it is a northern pike, but i do see that small black mark under the eye that makes you think pickerel.
my guess is northern pike all the way!!!!
200 gallon.....nice size tank...i think that will hold him for sometime.
expect growth rates to be fast in the beginning. i will defer to the pike experts as how fast and how soon (again, that depends on so many factors)
pike, as you know can be voracious predators, so i guess in theory, any fish is game if it is smaller than it.
i think those companion fish in your tank are not very likely to be eaten.
just take it in stride, and see what happens.
follow the golden rules....frequent water changes, good filtration, avoid over-crowding, avoid over-feeding...i am sure you have those basics down.
in a few seasons, you will have a fine pike for your aquarium, or better yet, a nice bluegill eater for your pond.
M.
#6
Guest_Irate Mormon_*
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Posted 17 July 2007 - 08:50 PM
Nice fish!
We don't get gravel like that in Mississippi streams - you yankees are lucky. We don't get pike either. We get cottonmouths and alligators. It's disappointing to get bitten by either when you're just trying to get a fish for your aquarium.
But hey, we DO get bluenose shiners! If you don't get bitten first.
We don't get gravel like that in Mississippi streams - you yankees are lucky. We don't get pike either. We get cottonmouths and alligators. It's disappointing to get bitten by either when you're just trying to get a fish for your aquarium.
But hey, we DO get bluenose shiners! If you don't get bitten first.
#9
Guest_drewish_*
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Posted 17 July 2007 - 10:15 PM
.... and back to the thread
I don't have the studies that show how fast they grow, but all I can say is fast. Don't be shocked to see it grow at least 1" a month. It will only eat live food for awhile until you can get it off of live food. Get it on market raw shrimp, frozen silversides, etc. Salt is probably not needed depending on where you caught it. What size tank will you need when? You seriously need a pond, think acres. And Irate Mormon wasn't off when he said your first mistake is keeping one...
just added a 12 inch pike to my aquarium. does anyone have any care instructions. what to feed? should I add salt to water? what size tank will I need? are there any fish I can put in with him? are ther any common mistakes people make?
greatly appreciate any tips, Thanks
I don't have the studies that show how fast they grow, but all I can say is fast. Don't be shocked to see it grow at least 1" a month. It will only eat live food for awhile until you can get it off of live food. Get it on market raw shrimp, frozen silversides, etc. Salt is probably not needed depending on where you caught it. What size tank will you need when? You seriously need a pond, think acres. And Irate Mormon wasn't off when he said your first mistake is keeping one...
#11
Guest_edbihary_*
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Posted 18 July 2007 - 08:59 AM
Not anytime soon, anyway. Those yellow perch are safe for a while. However, northern pike have a potential to grow to be over 4 feet long:i think those companion fish in your tank are not very likely to be eaten.
http://www.natureser...dIndexes=101187
A 4-foot pike will surely devour a 10-inch yellow perch. If you have a big enough tank to house the pike, you will eventually need to find new accommodations for the yellow perch.
#13
Guest_NateTessler13_*
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Posted 18 July 2007 - 02:44 PM
If you have a big enough tank to house the pike, you will eventually need to find new accommodations for the yellow perch.
Yup yup, I had a 16" Northern Pike that ate all his Yellow Perch "buddies" and rocked a large Common Carp, made a Plecostomus dissappear. For me, it was part of the learning curve. But for you, take from what the people here have learned already...Northern Pike seem to be more trouble than they are worth and as far as keeping it with anything...not likely.
#14
Guest_teleost_*
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Posted 18 July 2007 - 04:14 PM
A long time ago I thought it would be "cool" to keep a pike (I think this was in the neighborhood of 20 years ago). I honestly didn't expect the fish to grow as quickly as it did, nor did I think any fish could eat as much as a pike. I kept up with the dozen to two dozen minnow every other day habit simply to prevent further fish loss. There came a day when I had to go on vacation. I kept the pike with expensive tropicals (one fish was a bit longer than the pike but skinny and another was almost as big but thick). When I arrived home from vacation, a good months wages had been consumed by the pike, not a single fish was left aside from the pike. I decided that was my last pike until I could handle such a beastly fish. I did learn a valuable lesson in the end and have not tried to keep any of the larger fish since then. There are so many darters, shiners and smaller sunfish to keep comfortable for life, I've decided to focus on them for a while.
#15
Guest_vossman325_*
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Posted 01 August 2007 - 11:10 AM
I live in Arizona...A state not known for its Pike. Although we do have some colder water lakes that contain some Pike. The state record Pike was in 2004. It measured 49" and weighed in at just over 32 pounds. Keep in mind that the tank mates that this fish currently has will only be safe for a short period of time. I know I am just repeating most of what other said...These fish are known for being very highly predatory!
#16
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Posted 10 August 2007 - 02:12 PM
A quick ID tip... any pike species with spots or any sort of markings on the fins is either a pike or musky and one without is a chain, grass, or redfin pickerel. I too kept a pike when I started out with natives, I think there is a natural progression of start with big cool killer fish and as you learn more and more about the hobby and whats out there most people find it easier to keep small interesting and colorful fish. Your fish is definitely a Northern pike. Mine went from 6" to 15" in three months... They slow down as they get larger but their first two years their growth is impressive to say the least.
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