Which would be better in a 125 gallon, A Large or Small Mouth Bass. Or is this aquarium to smaal for either of them. Are they shoaling fish or single fish. And can they be fed pelllets, I understand it can be hard to train them to eat pellets. What temp. do they need. Last question, how big do they get, and are they messy.
Large or Small Mouth Bass
- Thread starter phil_ip
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Any coldwater fish is messy, and bass are no exception to this rule. Both species can top out between 12-18 inches (maybe a little larger), with a largemouth getting a little heavier due to body shape.
125 gallons would be okay for either, I would think, as long as it was a single-fish tank (which it will be anyhow, since both species will eat whatever will fit into their rather ample mouths.).
These guys tend to hang out either singly or in small groups, so keeping one alone isn't a big deal. If you get them very young, you should be able to train them to pellets or frozen food, however, an older fish will be difficult to get away from live feeders.
They like very cool water, in the low-to-mid 60's, but they can adapt to low 70's with no real problems. Higher temps will really bother them, though, so a tank in a cool place, like your basement, would be the best situation if you don't want to invest in a chiller. The main problem with the warmer temps is the fact that they are messy, and are even messier if they are more active. You'll be plagued with ammonia issues if you keep these beauties in 75 degrees...
Bass are really a great fish, if you have the resources and time to deal with them. Just be sure you NEVER release the fish back into the wild if you decide they're not for you. My advice is do LOTS of research before you buy or catch one (always being sure you're not doing something unlawful), just to make sure the species is for you before you are faced with having to place it in another home, a neighbor's pond (with permission, of course), buying a bigger tank, or having to euthanize it....of course, bass are awfully nice on a dinnerplate (although I don't think I could eat a pet, personally...)
Good luck, and sorry for the long boring post...
Hope this helps.
125 gallons would be okay for either, I would think, as long as it was a single-fish tank (which it will be anyhow, since both species will eat whatever will fit into their rather ample mouths.).
These guys tend to hang out either singly or in small groups, so keeping one alone isn't a big deal. If you get them very young, you should be able to train them to pellets or frozen food, however, an older fish will be difficult to get away from live feeders.
They like very cool water, in the low-to-mid 60's, but they can adapt to low 70's with no real problems. Higher temps will really bother them, though, so a tank in a cool place, like your basement, would be the best situation if you don't want to invest in a chiller. The main problem with the warmer temps is the fact that they are messy, and are even messier if they are more active. You'll be plagued with ammonia issues if you keep these beauties in 75 degrees...
Bass are really a great fish, if you have the resources and time to deal with them. Just be sure you NEVER release the fish back into the wild if you decide they're not for you. My advice is do LOTS of research before you buy or catch one (always being sure you're not doing something unlawful), just to make sure the species is for you before you are faced with having to place it in another home, a neighbor's pond (with permission, of course), buying a bigger tank, or having to euthanize it....of course, bass are awfully nice on a dinnerplate (although I don't think I could eat a pet, personally...)
Good luck, and sorry for the long boring post...
Hope this helps.
One more thing to keep in mind is to cover the tank you're keeping it in. I'd even go as far as blacking it out except where you lighting enters. Bass are jumpers. Both types. The smallmouth being better at it. A bug or something that looks edible above the tank could end with the fish on the floor.
Another note. Largemouth like ponds, lakes, and slow moving streams. They also can tolerate higher temps than smallmouth.
Smallmouths generally live in clear cool slow to fast moving water and are the more attractive of the two. They like current, so that would be a must. And they are the smaller of the two.
With your tank size I'd say go with the smallmouth. But in my opinion I still feel the tank size is pushing it a bit. Bigger is always better when dealing with a large fish.
Either way you decide remember that it's best to start with a small specimen. Spring is perfect for collecting them. The fish is going to be around for a while too. So keep that in mind. Both species don't mature until they are a few years old and they live much longer. It's going to be a big committment. Feeding a large bass of either type could get very very expensive.
They do make great tankbusters though. They will recognize you when you're in the room and churn up the water at the top begging for food. I've even heard stories of people hand feeding these guys.
The most important factors however has already been mentioned. MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE that you can legally posses any native fish in your home aquarium. And last but not least. NEVER EVER release the fish back into a local natural environment.
Another note. Largemouth like ponds, lakes, and slow moving streams. They also can tolerate higher temps than smallmouth.
Smallmouths generally live in clear cool slow to fast moving water and are the more attractive of the two. They like current, so that would be a must. And they are the smaller of the two.
With your tank size I'd say go with the smallmouth. But in my opinion I still feel the tank size is pushing it a bit. Bigger is always better when dealing with a large fish.
Either way you decide remember that it's best to start with a small specimen. Spring is perfect for collecting them. The fish is going to be around for a while too. So keep that in mind. Both species don't mature until they are a few years old and they live much longer. It's going to be a big committment. Feeding a large bass of either type could get very very expensive.
They do make great tankbusters though. They will recognize you when you're in the room and churn up the water at the top begging for food. I've even heard stories of people hand feeding these guys.
The most important factors however has already been mentioned. MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE that you can legally posses any native fish in your home aquarium. And last but not least. NEVER EVER release the fish back into a local natural environment.
All of the bass breeds are about the same dimensions, with the exception of striped bass, which are VERY large (and not a good choice because they are a migratory brackish fish...). Any bass is going to be about equal, all things considered. Rock bass like a little cooler water, and I'm pretty sure they get bigger than a smallie does.
The Petersen Field Guide series of books is a great place to start when researching native species, as it gives very detailed descriptions of diet, habitat, size, etc. I've used their bird books for years in birdwatching and identification. Maybe it can help you in your decision of "which fish"... They probably have a copy at your local library; if not, the books are not too expensive... really great photos and illustrations in those things...
(I'm not trying to run you off or anything, I am just offering some more information that is WAY too long for me to cut-and-paste in here...)
The Petersen Field Guide series of books is a great place to start when researching native species, as it gives very detailed descriptions of diet, habitat, size, etc. I've used their bird books for years in birdwatching and identification. Maybe it can help you in your decision of "which fish"... They probably have a copy at your local library; if not, the books are not too expensive... really great photos and illustrations in those things...
(I'm not trying to run you off or anything, I am just offering some more information that is WAY too long for me to cut-and-paste in here...)
rock bass do not get bigger than smallmouth. ive caught smallmouth in the 5# range. rockbass are aggresive and are good in a tank your size. id try 3-5 of them. go with a natural gravel and rocks and driftwood for decor. i had a rock bass and he loved worms and feeders. also enjoyed a frog
Rock bass are "pan fish" along with bluegills, sunfish, etc. Both smallmouth and largemouth get considerably larger. I haven't been fishing lately, but I think 1 lb rock bass are "monsters."
Largemouth bass and Smallmouths are not easy to take care of in an aquarium. First off the Northern Large mouth is the smallest between that and the Florida strain and it can exceed 14 pounds or more. The smallmouth is no exception. Also, you will have to get a water cooler for them because Northern Large mouths and Smallmouths I believe go through a type of hybernation in winter which is required for their survival. Also both will need massive amounts of food right before. I suggest sticking with the small Sunfishes. They can live in multiple waters from Florida to Canada and are active all year.
By the way, the world record for the Smallmouth is about 22 pounds and both the Large Mouth and Smallmouth are in the Sunfish family. Just clearing up the confusion.
By the way, the world record for the Smallmouth is about 22 pounds and both the Large Mouth and Smallmouth are in the Sunfish family. Just clearing up the confusion.
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Largemouth bass(and smallmouth sometimes) can get huge. A 7 pound fish can easily be 20" to 25". If you want to keep one, either fish would be fine. Bass only grow as large as their environment will let them. I also do not recommend feeding him pellets either. Just feed him bait. If you get it when it is smaller feed it worms. 2 to 3 worms a day should be fine. When it gets older feed it worms and bait minnows or feeder goldfish. Feeder guppies could do well for yearling bass. Also you have to remember that largemouth(smallmouth), actually I think all bass, live a long time. A yearling bass will only measure at most 9" to 10". That's pretty big for a fish that is only a year old. It also depends on where the fish came from(around where you live?). Like stated earlier northern largemouth are smaller than their southern cousins. It is the exact opposite for smallmouth. As you get further south, largemouth increase in size, with southern states having some of the largest recorded catches. Smallmouth as I said before are the exact opposite. A 2 pound smallmouth in Tennesee is citation. The record for smallmouth is 22 pounds, most likely caught in a northern state. This information is from my personal experiences and from what I have collected as a fisherman. I hope this helps you decide. I would personally go with a largemouth because I think they are cooler looking, especially when they eat.