red fin pickerel

[fishyz]

I was interested in getting a native monster for my 150g tank and I came across the red fin pickerel Esox americanus americanus but I don’t know how big they get. The site I found them on said that they need plants for cover, are predators (I already figured this because they’re related to northern pike and they’re just like this), and the site also said that they need a tank of at lest 40g. Is that true that they’re small enough to live in a 40g tank or did this guy mean 400g? I would like to know how big they get too. Thanks for the help.

[CichlidAddict]

I believe they stay under a foot long. I would say 75 gallons minimum.

Try this link. (http://www.google.com)

[guppy]

A full grown one will want an 18" wide tank.

[Mourinho18]

max size about 13 inches. THey're strickly piscivores, I probably spelt that wrong. They're basically ambush predators, they hide in plants until they see an opportunity to attack. Really cool watching them eat. ANybody know where to catch them in the northeast

[Lepomis]

I kept one a few years ago, they are very easy to care for. I would not keep it in anything smaller than a 75 gallon, a lot of fun to watch eat.

[USMCtanker]

i got one that was 6" , it was a cool fish i had it for 3 days and it some how it found a way to jump out, so ya it died so make sure ur tank is well covered if u get one they love to find even the smallest crack or hole and jump out.

[dovii88]

bryan im already on it..i have places and i know guys that know where to get them..and if she catches some there mine

[ROSS]

max size about 13 inches. THey're strickly piscivores, I probably spelt that wrong. They're basically ambush predators, they hide in plants until they see an opportunity to attack. Really cool watching them eat. ANybody know where to catch them in the northeast
I've cought CHAIN PECKEREL here is connecticut they get to about 36'' and northern pike can be found in bantam lake here in connecticut also ( there has been a breeding program there for the last 30yr's... lake waramauge has chain peckerel living in it...:D

[ROSS]

here's a quick couple of pic's of a chain peckerel[IMG]in the first one I don't know what's better the fish or the guy's face :D

chain : Because of the chain like partern on the scale's..........

[Mourinho18]

bryan im already on it..i have places and i know guys that know where to get them..and if she catches some there mine


niceee, pickerel is really the native fish that I most want to keep. Awesome fish

[drewish]

A few friends and I just collected a few of these ourselves. I took 2 of them (1.5 and 2.25 inches), other guy took a 2 incher. I'm currently growing them out in separate tanks as I was told they will eat each other otherwise. One of them will end up in my 180G I'm working on getting and the other will be going to my friend's tank. You're 150G will be more than enough.
I've been told they will grow to anywhere between 9-12" with larger being the exception. I'm guessing if you get them when they are smaller, you won't have to worry about them getting too large.
Redfin pickerel have been converted to non-live food, such as smelt and raw shrimp. I'm beefing my guys up to about 5" then I'm going to attempt to convert. I've been told that the young will also take frozen bloodworms, which leaves me to believe those will also take worms when they are older.
If you're looking for an active fish, these are not them. If you are looking for a beautiful fish that is an awesome predator, these are for you. When they are not eating, they will lay still either hiding amongst plants/wood or hovering near the surface.
Are you planning on adding other fish as well?

[fishyz]

The dimensions for my 150g tank are 72"x18"x36" (I'm not sure about the last one). I've kept a fish that aren't very active before and are lurkers like this. It was a 10" long nose gar name Goober (I've now know not to ask my little brother to name my fish) that was kept in our outdoor pond. I even caught it myself. I had to let it go after two weeks (at the same spot I caught him) because I just didn't have room for Goober at the time (sadly). I love watching this fish lurk and eat. So a red fin pickerel is the perfect fish for me. Thanks for all the help guys:).

[fishyz]

Dang I forgot rest. Here's where I found the pickerel http://www.aquaculturestore.com/fwverts.html just scroll down to find them. I want to get the ones that are 1.5"-3" long not ones that 6"-11" long because I like to raise my fish from babies. I was wondering if I could feed one this small crikets, grass hoppers, these little white moths, and/or worms.

[guppy]

Dang I forgot rest. Here's where I found the pickerel http://www.aquaculturestore.com/fwverts.html just scroll down to find them. I want to get the ones that are 1.5"-3" long not ones that 6"-11" long because I like to raise my fish from babies. I was wondering if I could feed one this small crikets, grass hoppers, these little white moths, and/or worms.
Redfins are not actually obligate piscivore although that is their preferred diet, they will take almost any thing that moves. A 3" redfin would eat small guppies, tadpoles, crickets, scuds, brine,fairy,and glass shrimp, moths, small worms, tiny crayfish, etc. Larger ones also eat frogs, they don't seem to take any pellets or prepared food (at least their close relative the similarly sized grass pickerel wouldn't.

[fishyz]

Thanks guppy. I'm going to love this fish.

[Mourinho18]

Yeah, me and dovii88 are most def. gonna have to go looking for these fish. :)

[fishyz]

I posted the site where I'm going to get mine from just click on the link up above.

[USMCtanker]

i want a chain pickeral, any one wanna hook abrother up :)

[fishyz]

Click the link. http://www.aquaculturestore.com/fwverts.html just scroll down.:)

[USMCtanker]

ya iv been there and there always out

[Mourinho18]

ehhh, why pay 30 dollars for a native fish when you can catch it yourself ;)

[fishyz]

That sucks I'll see what I can find for you.:thumbsup:

[fishyz]

ehhh, why pay 30 dollars for a native fish when you can catch it yourself ;)
I want the little ones that cost $17. Plus I don't know where to catch redfins up here.

[USMCtanker]

ehhh, why pay 30 dollars for a native fish when you can catch it yourself ;)
BC I LIVE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT AND IT SO HOT AND THE ONLY WATER FOR MILES IN THIS HELL HOLE IS MY FISHTANKS LOL:grinyes:

[USMCtanker]

:thumbsup: I want the little ones that cost $17. Plus I don't know where to catch redfins up here.
thanks there cool fish thats why i want one

[fishyz]

Sorry USMCtanker I couldn't find a site for where you could get chain pickerel. I have failed you. You still could get a redfin or grass pickerel from the link.

[Brian Scott]

Not to hijack or anything but I can supply chain pickerel to anyone that wants them...by the dozen. In fact, I caught 13 of them today alone. Sizes range from 3 inches to 24 inches on average. I can get bigger ones but I will want good money for them because of the drive it takes me to go catch them.

PM me here if you're interested.

--Brian

[fishyz]

Hey Brian, you should write an articale on pickerels because I get TFH magazine and some times find myself reading you articales.

[kevin714]

Where in New Jersey are you catching them?

[ROSS]

I Ripped a 21'' chain peckeral out of lake waramuge( connecticut) on the washington town side at 9:30am this morning 15min 's and 5 cast's in to it.. lure was a traditional buck tail spinner on 8 pound test... creal limit for these sucker's here is 15'' this is going on my basment wall..:D

[ae2359]

You guys must not be fishers if you never catch these fish.

Just go out to a lake with alot of cover and fish the lake like you would for bass except with smaller lures. Make sure you fish the shoreline and also a few casts by sunken logs won't hurt.

Also remember to bend down the barbs so the hooks don't damage the fish to much.

If your looking for smaller specimens take a good sturdy dipnet and bring it up under any floating clumps of plants and algea. Young pickerel always hang out in these areas.

Also often on sunny days if you look along the shore you should be able to spot them, then comes the difficult part of catching them. When they run away they usually only dart a few feet so if you use a seine you should be able to coral them towards the shore until you can catch them.

Hope this helps.

[fishyz]

I would catch my own but all the lakes I've fished at only have pike and musky and no pickerel that I know of.