Hey all I finally decided to join the forum! Ive been reading posts and threads on here for the past three months researching. That being said I have a few questions I am hoping a more experienced Monster keeper could assist me with. I am looking to either get a cahin or tiger musky and make a species specif tank. Possibily a male northern as I know they do not reach the lengths of thier female counterparts. I preferable would like to go the route of a Chain just due to the shear size of the alternatives. That being said it seems nearly impossible to find any for purchase. I have seen some redfin/Grass on aquabid but that is about it. Sachs avaibility seems to be slim to none as well. However I can aquire a Musky/Tiger Musky or Northern from a local hatchery in Ohio. of the three I could obtain whicj in your opinion is the best option? I know the Tiger stays smaller than its cousins and is a bit hardier as it can handle higher water temperatures. I have read northerns require a 55-70 degree temp, I can keep my aquirium at 70 just on room temp. I do not plan on buying a chiller just do to the cost. If anyone knows of a DIY chiller system that is affordable I am all ears. I know that these fish require a large commitment as thier life spans if not stunted can range from 15-25 years. I plan on having a very well planted tank as I currently am growing them in my in 20 gal long now. How much shpuld I expect to feed them? Also what is your suggestions for the best type of feed fish? I know they swallow all thier pray whole so soft body fish would be preferable. Id like to be able to breed some kinf of forage fish to keep the cost down and also to aviod any kind of outside contamination. I am just preparing to start production on my DIY aquarium. My current plans are for the inside dimensions to be 96x48x24. Using these dims I should be around 475 gallons, I am going to spend the extra money to get a cherry or moghogony wood as I want to make a stand to match it. This is going to be a center piece of my home so I really want it to look sharp. What are your thoughts on the size I fear aftwr 4-6 years if I was to go the route of anything other than chain it would be to small. Anyways I appreciate all your guys help. Once I work put the final dims of what I will need ill be sure to share some photoa on your DIY page.
Advise on Chain Pickerel/Tiger Musky needes
- Thread starter OhioMFK
- Start date
I bought a tiger Muskie a few years ago,it was about ten inches at the time and wasn't aggressive at that size and it seemed to do well in the seventy eight degree water it was kept in..Unfortunately I didn't have it for very long long as it came down with a nasty fungus attack that killed it a few days after first appearing.I enjoyed watching it eat feeder goldfish but you could probably breed convict cichlids or sunfish which would be better...The tank project you have in mind sounds like a nice size for a tiger and I suggest considering one since they can take the higher temperature,they don't get as big as other types but still grow to an impressive size,and as you say,they are available to you.
I have kept both for short periods of time. Pickerel I caught at about 3" they are extremely fast. I spent hours trying to catch them. Tiger musky was purchased from a lfs. They eat a lot. I fed them small sunfish I netted or fat heads from the bait shop. They grow fast. I kept them with other fish of equal size. They are some of the best predatory fish I ever kept. Temp of Tank was in the high 70s.
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Krischardon, I appreciate the response. I was think the same thing for the temperature and size reasons. I preferably would like to get my forage fish community established as you suggested I will most likely hw the routeof sunfish as they to are readily avavailable to me, there is a very large fish hatchery about 5 miles away from me. My only concern was the height of the tank I am thinking of bumping it up to 36 possibility to 48 however that is as tall as tall as id go. Do you believe your Tiger got the fungus from cross contamination from feeders? I know where I would be purchasing mine from they all come certified disease free. I am unfortunately very un experiences in breeding fish. In your opinion what size tank and or temperature would I need for sunfish? Also if I remember correctly natives generally spawn qhen water temperatures are colder. I annot affore a chiller. Perhaps a tropical chiclid would be myy most prqctical choice howevernot the ideal one. I have a 40 gal breeder however it has just kind of been sitting. I lost a RTC due to what I believe cross contamination. However in my inexperience at the time I had him in a 50 gal which I am sure didnt help. Live and learn I suppose.
Joel, thanks for the information, where are you located unfortunately chains are not native to Ohio. I am amnavid fisherman and I have never seen a grass which are supposedly here. How long did you keep the Tiger for and what was the cause of getting rid of him and or death?
I had the tiger for about 8 months or so. I gave him away because of interest changes. I live in nj. I would catch in early summer. The chains look like small yellowish sticks on the surface. Got to be lightning quick with the net. I would imagine northerns and musky would be similar
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I had in a 75g I would have had to get rid of it sooner or later anyway. I can get you pickerel when the warmer weather comes. I don't really fish much in the cold
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Wow thatd would be awesome, I appreciate the offer. Even if I do go the route of the Tiger I would definitely be interested in a Pickerel for a second setup, considering once I get the forage fish up and running it would be a fairly simple process of building another tank. I work in logistics so I would be able to prepay for the shipping as well at a ridiculously low rate. What do you currently have? Native or Tropical?