First off, I love fish and fishing. I have kept aquariums off and on, mostly in the 10-30 gallon variety, progressing from the standard tropical tank to native species (mainly sunfish/crappie).
I recently acquired a small largemouth (2.5") in a bucket of baitfish I purchased and set him up in my 10 gallon aquarium. He is doing really well and loves his crappie minnows.
I realize he is going to outgrow this tank rather quickly. What I would like to do is to be able to keep this guy as long as possible, I just don't know how big of tank I will need. FYI, price really isn't an object.
How many gal. aquarium will I need?
Started by
Guest_LargemouthHeaven_*
, Dec 30 2007 07:38 PM
20 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_fishlvr_*
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Posted 30 December 2007 - 08:49 PM
First off, welcome to the forum!
Even for small sunfish and crappie you're going to need at least a 55g tank except for the smallest species. You could probably keep some Northern longear sunfish, bantams, or orangespotted sunfish in a 30 gallon. You could also keep any of the Enneacanthus sp.(bluespotted, banded, and blackbanded sunfish) in a 30 gallon.
For a LMB, you're going to need a tank at least 9 feet long and 5 1/2ft wide. And just as an FYI, if you plan to release it when it gets too big for you to keep, that's not a good idea unless you release it in an enclosed farm pond or other private pond not connected to any stream or other inlet/outlet. This can introduce diseases that can wipe out an entire population of fish.
Even for small sunfish and crappie you're going to need at least a 55g tank except for the smallest species. You could probably keep some Northern longear sunfish, bantams, or orangespotted sunfish in a 30 gallon. You could also keep any of the Enneacanthus sp.(bluespotted, banded, and blackbanded sunfish) in a 30 gallon.
For a LMB, you're going to need a tank at least 9 feet long and 5 1/2ft wide. And just as an FYI, if you plan to release it when it gets too big for you to keep, that's not a good idea unless you release it in an enclosed farm pond or other private pond not connected to any stream or other inlet/outlet. This can introduce diseases that can wipe out an entire population of fish.
#3
Guest_killier_*
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Posted 30 December 2007 - 09:35 PM
wouldnt a 180 work well for a single bass?
#4
Guest_Irate Mormon_*
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Posted 30 December 2007 - 09:37 PM
He would eventually outgrow a 180, but would do well in an outdoor pond.
#5
Guest_fishlvr_*
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Posted 30 December 2007 - 09:47 PM
He would eventually outgrow a 180, but would do well in an outdoor pond.
I agree with Irate. A 180g is definitely too small for a fish that will get up to 3' long. Bass need really large tanks or ponds. Ponds are much better.
#6
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Posted 30 December 2007 - 11:35 PM
I have a LMB about 16 inches in a 180g. He will outgrow the 180 pretty soon.
#7
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Posted 30 December 2007 - 11:49 PM
I have a LMB about 16 inches in a 180g. He will outgrow the 180 pretty soon.
How big was he when you got him? That's a big fish. I wish I could get some that size on my line every day...
#8
Guest_LargemouthHeaven_*
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Posted 31 December 2007 - 11:18 AM
Thanks for the welcome. I know I have to update my profile, but I'm from minnesota and the bass would be of the northern strain of LMB. Unlike it's florida cousin it shouldn't reach 3 feet in length and should top out at 6 to 8 pounds.
I thought I had found elsewhere that a 200 gallon tank should be sufficient. Please correct me if I am misled.
Found some info here: http://www.aquariace...cold/lmbass.htm
I thought I had found elsewhere that a 200 gallon tank should be sufficient. Please correct me if I am misled.
Found some info here: http://www.aquariace...cold/lmbass.htm
#9
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Posted 31 December 2007 - 01:54 PM
There are a couple of key words in there.
It says, "of at least 250 gallons". Bass grow throughout their lifetime, and a Northern strain will get just as large as a Florida strain if given the same environment. A 250g would work for one up to about 20", depending on dimensions. IMO, fish need a tank at least 3 times as long as they are, and 1.5x as wide as they are long. Height doesn't really matter as much. Most bass don't reach 3', but it's a possibility. Hope for the best, but plan for the worst. They're also pretty aggressive, so plan for it to be the only fish in the tank, unless it's an equal sized fish and female. Males can be very territorial towards each other. Females get along with each other most of the time, but can still be territorial. Typical for most animals(including humans).
P.S. It will take a while for it to reach 20". Probably at least two years. Growth rate depends on water quality, food, and temperature.
It says, "of at least 250 gallons". Bass grow throughout their lifetime, and a Northern strain will get just as large as a Florida strain if given the same environment. A 250g would work for one up to about 20", depending on dimensions. IMO, fish need a tank at least 3 times as long as they are, and 1.5x as wide as they are long. Height doesn't really matter as much. Most bass don't reach 3', but it's a possibility. Hope for the best, but plan for the worst. They're also pretty aggressive, so plan for it to be the only fish in the tank, unless it's an equal sized fish and female. Males can be very territorial towards each other. Females get along with each other most of the time, but can still be territorial. Typical for most animals(including humans).
P.S. It will take a while for it to reach 20". Probably at least two years. Growth rate depends on water quality, food, and temperature.
#10
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Posted 31 December 2007 - 05:19 PM
How big was he when you got him? That's a big fish. I wish I could get some that size on my line every day...
He was nearly 16 inches. I caught him back in august or september. I caught him on a 4 inch magnum flippin tube from bass pro shops. Green Melon color. on 10lb test with no weight. Hook was a 3/0 Shaw Grigsby hook with the keeper clip.
#11
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Posted 31 December 2007 - 05:50 PM
He was nearly 16 inches. I caught him back in august or september. I caught him on a 4 inch magnum flippin tube from bass pro shops. Green Melon color. on 10lb test with no weight. Hook was a 3/0 Shaw Grigsby hook with the keeper clip.
Wow. Thanks for tellin' me all that. I'm gonna get that stuff and go on a fishin' trip.
#12
Guest_Gambusia_*
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Posted 31 December 2007 - 09:46 PM
Male bass do not get as big as females
If you have a male northern strain I doubt he would exceed 4-5 pounds under the best of circumstances.
Northern bass rarely exceed 5 pounds
If you have a male northern strain I doubt he would exceed 4-5 pounds under the best of circumstances.
Northern bass rarely exceed 5 pounds
#13
Guest_fishlvr_*
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Posted 31 December 2007 - 10:12 PM
Male bass do not get as big as females
If you have a male northern strain I doubt he would exceed 4-5 pounds under the best of circumstances.
Northern bass rarely exceed 5 pounds
I'm not disagreeing or arguing with you, but most Northern strain LMB aren't exposed to the higher temps that Florida strain LMB are, and therefore grow much slower. Since they have a slower growth rate, most die before they can reach the large size that they're Florida counterparts get. That's my expanation for why they don't get as big. Has anyone here kept both subspecies in the aquarium? I'd be interested to know if they both reach the same size if given the same conditions.
#14
Guest_viridari_*
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Posted 31 December 2007 - 10:16 PM
Northern bass rarely exceed 5 pounds
So what were those 5-7 pound fish I was catching in Pennsylvania where I grew up?
#15
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Posted 01 January 2008 - 12:30 AM
keep in mind he is talking males getting seldom above 5lbs. I am pretty certain most of the bass over 5lbs I have caught here in illinois have been females. I have caught a few prespawn males that were all of 5lbs though.
#16
Guest_centrarchid_*
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Posted 01 January 2008 - 10:49 AM
Observations on wild largemouth bass, northern or Florida, may not be the most accurate for confined fish. Your confined fish are unlikely to be unable to breed, constantly be held at near optimal temperatures, and not be limited in terms of food. Such factors promote more rapid growth for LMB than under natural conditions. I (while in Illinois) have had northern largemouth females pushing ten pounds at just over four years of age (from being spawned) and males exceeding six pounds. They were tank raised which is likely more similar to aquariums than natural conditions.
Also northern largemouth, if my recollection of literature is correct, do not perform as well as Florida LMB at more southern locations and trhe same is for the reverse situation. They are adapted to the conditions to which there ancestors have been challenged.
Also northern largemouth, if my recollection of literature is correct, do not perform as well as Florida LMB at more southern locations and trhe same is for the reverse situation. They are adapted to the conditions to which there ancestors have been challenged.
#17
Guest_Gambusia_*
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Posted 01 January 2008 - 12:23 PM
Most all largemouth bass over 6 pounds are females.
Males rarely exceed 4 pounds (rarely does not equal never!)
This seems to be particuarly true with northern strain bass and their hybrids
Males rarely exceed 4 pounds (rarely does not equal never!)
This seems to be particuarly true with northern strain bass and their hybrids
#18
Guest_drewish_*
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Posted 01 January 2008 - 07:07 PM
Most all largemouth bass over 6 pounds are females.
Males rarely exceed 4 pounds (rarely does not equal never!)
This seems to be particuarly true with northern strain bass and their hybrids
Read the post above yours and you'll see this is not true for captives fishes.
#19
Guest_xspainx69_*
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Posted 01 January 2008 - 09:32 PM
First of all, if and I mean IF!!!!!! You manage to keep a Largemouth Bass LONG enough to even reach its max size then you would probably need an outdoor pond.
But quit honestly I still have a 4 inch Largemouth and its been like 6 months already and I am still to this day not sure where everyone gets this idea that they will reach the size of a basketball player in one year (Sarcasm)
I would recommend not over feeding the Bass, I usually feed my Bass like once a week. This maybe the reason why he isn't growing at AMAZING rates LMAO.
But in any case you'll do fine with a 75 Gallon tank , until he outgrows it, which in my opinion will be a few years from now.
Honestly, like I said before first try to keep the fish alive then after that try to keep the fish alive and once you keep the fish alive then see how the growth rate falls in on your little beast. If he grows super fast then prepare the upgrade if not, then relax and enjoy the show.
I still have a Largemouth Bass and a Channel Cat in my 75 Gallon tank, and people here swore that they would outgrow my tank like 4 months ago HAHAHA
The Channel Cat is still only 7 inches and the Largemouth is only 4 Inches. I rest my case!
But quit honestly I still have a 4 inch Largemouth and its been like 6 months already and I am still to this day not sure where everyone gets this idea that they will reach the size of a basketball player in one year (Sarcasm)
I would recommend not over feeding the Bass, I usually feed my Bass like once a week. This maybe the reason why he isn't growing at AMAZING rates LMAO.
But in any case you'll do fine with a 75 Gallon tank , until he outgrows it, which in my opinion will be a few years from now.
Honestly, like I said before first try to keep the fish alive then after that try to keep the fish alive and once you keep the fish alive then see how the growth rate falls in on your little beast. If he grows super fast then prepare the upgrade if not, then relax and enjoy the show.
I still have a Largemouth Bass and a Channel Cat in my 75 Gallon tank, and people here swore that they would outgrow my tank like 4 months ago HAHAHA
The Channel Cat is still only 7 inches and the Largemouth is only 4 Inches. I rest my case!
#20
Guest_Irate Mormon_*
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Posted 01 January 2008 - 10:09 PM
Well, as I see it you have two choices. (There's that 50/50 thing again!)
1) Stunt your fish and keep them as long as they are able to live.
2) Feed your fish a healthy diet, be prepared to keep your fish for the rest of its life and expect that it will eventually outgrow whatever quarters you house it in.
Months may seem like a long timeline in Irate's Tank O' Death, but in other peoples' tanks a LMB might live a decade or more. I've certainly had fish live that long...and longer.
1) Stunt your fish and keep them as long as they are able to live.
2) Feed your fish a healthy diet, be prepared to keep your fish for the rest of its life and expect that it will eventually outgrow whatever quarters you house it in.
Months may seem like a long timeline in Irate's Tank O' Death, but in other peoples' tanks a LMB might live a decade or more. I've certainly had fish live that long...and longer.
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