Progress on my Yellow Perch in a 535 gallon tank

I am reporting on my 31 yellow perch (P. flavescans) progress in their 535 gallon home. They now have 7 small bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) to keep them company. The majority of the perch were 2 ½ “to 4” when I got them in early June, with a few at 1 ½, but now the biggest is 6” to 7” and the smaller ones at 4”. This is one of the reasons I introduced 7 bluegill, one 2” runt and (6) 3”to 4” fish. The bluegills have adapted quickly and have taken up residence at the dinner table during the daily feeding frenzy. I am having a ball raising these yellow perch, because they have so much personality. They swim in schools, but they also explore individually or in pairs, and they are greedy as all outdoors. They go though ¼ pound of frozen bloodworms a day, an about 10 live red worm a month. I took your advice and added the bluegill and I’m not done adding. I will keep you guy posted on my tanks progress in months to come. Here is some videos of them feeding and living large. ENJOY!

Thanks
George

http://www.livevideo...35gal-tank.aspx

http://www.livevideo...ving-large.aspx

http://www.livevideo...535-gallon.aspx

Those are Green sunfish(L.Cyanellus) not Bluegill i saw in the video, Just to let you know...

Those are Green sunfish(L.Cyanellus) not Bluegill i saw in the video, Just to let you know...

Thanks, I didn't know, so what would be a good tankmate to add now.

Whats the heater in there for? Totally unnecessary for those fish and a drain on the wallet through your electric bill.

Whats the heater in there for? Totally unnecessary for those fish and a drain on the wallet through your electric bill.

The heater was in there when I had south americans, it is not on and it is a precaution, because my sump is in a unheated basement in Chicago and perch best grow is at 70 - 73 degrees.
George

Are you planing on eating these fish when there larger?

Edited by basssmaster, 11 July 2009 - 03:44 PM.

Are you planing on eating these fish when there larger?

Bassmaster, that is a tempting ideal, but they have so much personality it would be hard to choose, maybe if they reach 16" I might try one.

Id love to see some kind of catfish in there, maybe a smaller species of bullhead.

Id love to see some kind of catfish in there, maybe a smaller species of bullhead.

That is a excellent choice; if only anyone can think of a catfish species that won't get eaten when the perch get big, but also not get over 20" in this big tank?
Thank you
Amazon

You should put a 20lb flathead in there, and see what happends.....

Any bullhead species would be suitable tank mates.

I am reporting on my 31 yellow perch (P. flavescans) progress in their 535 gallon home. They now have 7 small bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) to keep them company. The majority of the perch were 2 ½ “to 4” when I got them in early June, with a few at 1 ½, but now the biggest is 6” to 7” and the smaller ones at 4”. This is one of the reasons I introduced 7 bluegill, one 2” runt and (6) 3”to 4” fish. The bluegills have adapted quickly and have taken up residence at the dinner table during the daily feeding frenzy. I am having a ball raising these yellow perch, because they have so much personality. They swim in schools, but they also explore individually or in pairs, and they are greedy as all outdoors. They go though ¼ pound of frozen bloodworms a day, an about 10 live red worm a month. I took your advice and added the bluegill and I’m not done adding. I will keep you guy posted on my tanks progress in months to come. Here is some videos of them feeding and living large. ENJOY!

Thanks
George

http://www.livevideo...35gal-tank.aspx

http://www.livevideo...ving-large.aspx

http://www.livevideo...535-gallon.aspx

I give you credit - that is a really ambitious set up. Still, I kind of get a "fish farm" vibe. Anyway, enjoy!

I think some crappie would look really good in that tank too. I agree with the bullhead idea