Jump to content


Pickeral care help!


9 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_nerfgunner_*

Guest_nerfgunner_*
  • Guests

Posted 06 May 2008 - 03:28 PM

I'm getting a new 55 gallon tank and I would like to put bass and pike in there. Only when I catch pike there not small enough, is there anywhere in Michigan that sells them? And how often should I feed them and how warm should my tank be? Thanks hope that did not sound too demanding.

#2 Guest_jase_*

Guest_jase_*
  • Guests

Posted 06 May 2008 - 03:56 PM

I'm getting a new 55 gallon tank and I would like to put bass and pike in there. Only when I catch pike there not small enough, is there anywhere in Michigan that sells them? And how often should I feed them and how warm should my tank be? Thanks hope that did not sound too demanding.

55 is too small for bass. Remember, once you put a fish in an aquarium you can *never* release it back into the wild, so you need to accommodate the max adult size. A grass or redfin pickerel would be okay in a 55g, but I don't think bass are good tankmates for them.

Check the forums dealing with bass and pickerel here -- there are *lots* of folks lusting after pickerel, and plenty of advice on how to keep them.

Cheers, Jase

#3 Guest_nerfgunner_*

Guest_nerfgunner_*
  • Guests

Posted 06 May 2008 - 05:24 PM

Ok no bass that's ok... hmm where too find pickeral or small northern? I could try netting them or fishing for them any body have any suggestions?

#4 Guest_drewish_*

Guest_drewish_*
  • Guests

Posted 06 May 2008 - 05:38 PM

In most states pickerel are considered game fish and most likely have restrictions on them prohibiting netting.

As jase said, the only pickerel that would fit in a 55 are Esox americanus species, either redfin or grass pickerel.

Look in the Vendors section as grass pickerel will soon be available.

#5 Guest_nerfgunner_*

Guest_nerfgunner_*
  • Guests

Posted 06 May 2008 - 07:24 PM

I'm also going to look for an African Pike they look pretty cool. African pike http://aquaticpredat...mp;#entry222894

#6 Guest_airbrn1187_*

Guest_airbrn1187_*
  • Guests

Posted 07 May 2008 - 03:39 AM

A couple of the vendors on the forum sell them....I think they are about ten bucks for a small one.

#7 Guest_scottefontay_*

Guest_scottefontay_*
  • Guests

Posted 07 May 2008 - 07:29 AM

I'm also going to look for an African Pike they look pretty cool. African pike http://aquaticpredat...mp;#entry222894


I would't put a redfin in with one of those pike characins, they get too big. Trust me, you'll be very happy with a grass or redfin pickerel. You could have 2 or 3 in a 55 gal.

#8 Guest_baloo_*

Guest_baloo_*
  • Guests

Posted 22 November 2008 - 08:15 AM

hi
just thought i ask and restart this topic
i'm a great fan of pike and used to fish for them
our european pike get way too bigfor a tank so i never onsidered keeping one seriously
with your american pickerels its a different tory
but how can 3 fish that grow, according to what i have read online, to 2 fo0t live in a 55 gallon tank?
a standart 200ltr size over here is 40x14x20 inches, or 100x40x50cm and that just 6 ltr short of 55 US gallon
it would be great if you could elaborate a little on how big they grow in captivity and tell me more of the care requierments

thanx

#9 Guest_NateTessler13_*

Guest_NateTessler13_*
  • Guests

Posted 22 November 2008 - 02:51 PM

hi
just thought i ask and restart this topic
i'm a great fan of pike and used to fish for them
our european pike get way too bigfor a tank so i never onsidered keeping one seriously
with your american pickerels its a different tory
but how can 3 fish that grow, according to what i have read online, to 2 fo0t live in a 55 gallon tank?
a standart 200ltr size over here is 40x14x20 inches, or 100x40x50cm and that just 6 ltr short of 55 US gallon
it would be great if you could elaborate a little on how big they grow in captivity and tell me more of the care requierments

thanx


Well, we have a few different kinds of pickerel over here. Chain Pickerel (Esox niger) can easily grow to be over 2 feet long. A 55 gallon aquarium would not be suitable for three, let alone one. The other two types that are even considerable for most aquarists are the Grass Pickerel (Esox americanus vermiculatus) and the Redfin Pickerel (Esox americanus americanus). You might be able to infer from just the latin names of both of these fish that they are very similar. I've seen beyond my fare share of Grass Pickerel and the largest one I've ever seen in a stream was probably around 12" or so...tops. They seem to max out at that size also in an aquarium. It'd be quite rare to see them get much larger than that. I think a member here, Skipjack, had probably the largest I'd ever seen. His fish could have been 15". In my opinion, a 55 gallon might be a little small to accomidate three full grown Grass Pickerel. But, their demeanor makes them easy to house with other Pickerels of the same size. Rarely have I seen any aggression between pickerels. The only time you'll run into trouble is when you keep different size pickerels together, as the smaller ones eventually become food for the larger ones. Hope this helps.

#10 Guest_JohnO_*

Guest_JohnO_*
  • Guests

Posted 23 November 2008 - 03:07 PM

Just a suggestion - a 55 is a 'display' tank for tropical fish, tall and narrow. If at all possible, spend a bit extra and get a 75. It's wider, gives the fish more room to move around, and in the case of a long, slender fish, room to turn around.



Reply to this topic



  


0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users