I am new to grass pike tending. Over the last few weeks, here are some observations that I have noted. Please feel free to comment, refute, and/or confirm any of these findings. My pike is about 8 inches long and was caught July 25th, 2007.

1. Weaning to freeze dried krill was easy. I was successful on my first attempt. Initially, I had the tank filled with a half-dozen rosy reds. I figured it was the easiest for him to decide when to feed on his schedule, not mine. I had my back-up 10 gallon functional and treated with copper-sulfate to treat the rosy reds. After, he ate all the rosy reds (2 dozen), I started to skitter krill on the surface. He ate them vigorously.

2. Grass pike are not gluttons. They seem to eat only when hungry and stop when satiated. This is quite unlike warmouth and rockbass. I think it is really hard to 'over-feed' this fish.

3. Grass pike take alot longer to acclimate than any panfish I have ever had. It took him several days to feed. He started eating in about a week. After his first rosy red....it has been easy sailing ever since. Most of my captive panfish specimens were eating within a day.

4. My grass pike was caught with a caudal tail fungal infection and torn caudal tail. It healed very nicely with no medication in captivity. I attribute this to 'healthy' water.

5. My grass pike has never looked stressed. In fact, note the respiratory rate of your pikes. Mine is so slow. He looks like he is resting so comfortably. I have never seen such slow respiratory rates in my life. I think this is a good sign.

6. The coloration of my pike is so deep and dark with a tremendous sheen. I also attribute this to good health.

To say the least, I think I am very lucky so far. My ultimate goal is to hand feed the pike. Skittering, even though very fun, will become too tedious over the months. The diet of my grass pike will include cut sucker filet, krill, and frozen minnows.

M.