Lesson learned the hard way.

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Push

Candiru
MFK Member
Nov 25, 2005
183
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N.Ky
Well after recently finding out from another local MFKer that there was a population of coosae bass in a nearby creek, I took it upon myself to try to grab a few to go in my friends pond until I can get my new tank. Unfortunately, the chain pickerel that my friend has kept for me over the past 2 years had other plans for his future tank mates. Both bass were missing and one very fat pickerel.

Both bass were areound the 14 inch mark and thought they were safe as the chain has never really messed with any of the other fish in the pond. Just to give a little more description the pickerel is right around 25 inches and hasn't grown much over the last 5-6 months. I really never thought he would be able to fit the bass in his mouth. Let this go out as a lesson as I know there are a few here that keep grass/redfin/chain pickerel.

I cant really say for the grass or redfin as they seem to be quite a bit more docile than the chains, however if you have a chain or looking to get one, heed my warning. What you may think to be safe may not necessarily work out the way you think it will.

I was very excited to get these two. I didn't even think they were local to me as most of the articles I have read have stated the coosae are typically only found in the eastern side of KY and can be quite hard to come by. One of the two actually resembled a SMB with a more olive/tan body with vertical bars. I was really hoping things worked out, but I guess you live and you learn.

RIP Coosae bass. :(
 
manlyfish;4567140; said:
awwwww


pics of the pickerels belly?

I'm going over later today, I'll try to catch him and get a few pics of him. Every time I try to catch him I end up bleeding though. :irked:
 
His sudden aggression might be due to the fact that hes been there for a while and established a territory. Along come the bass and he's not happy about it.
 
Thalan;4567432; said:
His sudden aggression might be due to the fact that hes been there for a while and established a territory. Along come the bass and he's not happy about it.

Could be, he has been in there with a similar size channel cat, a couple large 12-13 inch blue gill (surprised these guys haven't been taken down), a large plec. He did kill a florida gar a year or so back, however I think the gar was picking on him and he finally had enough.
 
well here he/she is as fat and happy as can be.


ddcsm102020100000021.jpg


Sorry about the poor quality, I forgot my camera and my friend had to take this with his phone and send it to me. You wouldn't believe what we went through to get this pic. Both of us were bitten (I'm still debating if my thumb and forefinger need stitches), and literally got a bath. It measured out to 27 1/8 inches from tip of lower jaw to the end of his caudal fin. So he apparently is still growing however it has come to a snail speed crawl as he measured 25 inches about 6-7 months ago (the last measuring).
 
Push;4567119; said:
Well after recently finding out from another local MFKer that there was a population of coosae bass in a nearby creek, I took it upon myself to try to grab a few to go in my friends pond until I can get my new tank. Unfortunately, the chain pickerel that my friend has kept for me over the past 2 years had other plans for his future tank mates. Both bass were missing and one very fat pickerel.

Ouch, that's rough. I don't keep any fish (yet), but I've spent quite a bit of time fishing this year, and I'll throw this out there, in case it might help others.

Now is probably not the time to try adding new fish to the same tank as a predator, especially a piscivorous species like pickerel, gar, bass etc. With the temperatures dropping, everyone is trying to stock up for winter, and I've been catching some very fat bass the last couple weeks here in NC.

The effect might not be as strong inside the house with regulated water temps, but if you have outside ponds/tanks, and you're in the northern hemisphere - your predatory fish are probably looking at everything that swims/drifts/crawls by as a tasty new meal.
 
Hoyo12;4572157; said:
lol, send him my way if you get sick of him! :D
Great looking fish, but sorry to hear about the Bass. :(

He may be a pain but he is the sole reason I am going to be spending 3-4k on a new 500+ gallon tank. That way I can get him out of the pond. I was bummed about the bass but it seems I just confirmed I will need to go with a few SMB if I do anything, as the smaller micropterus species will just become food.
 
Hoyo12;4572157; said:
lol, send him my way if you get sick of him! :D
Great looking fish, but sorry to hear about the Bass. :(

hoyo if you can, please PM me as I know of something that needs a new home if you have the room.
 
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