Bluegill growth rate?

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Fishman0

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 3, 2009
342
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New York
Just picked up a 2.5-3" bluegill from the LFS. Ive been feeding krill and two types of Tetra flakes.
it is currently in a 10gal planted with good filtration and excellent water params. (pH:7.5, Ammonia:0ppm, Nitrite:0ppm, Nitrate:<10ppm) Water temp is kept at 76F, 50% water change every 5 days, and the light cycle is 8hs on and 16hrs off

it is stocked with an electric blue cray and a few tetras (which get picked off little by little)

what can i expect the growth rate to be?

How can i get it to grow faster?
 
my bluegill put on close to 5" in a year. i got it when it was just a little under 2" long back in january.

it won't be able to stay in a 10 gallon for long, and as soon as your cray moults, kiss it goodbye.
 
i was planning on putting it in a 75 as soon as it hit at least 4in... do you think it will injure/kill the cray when it is under 3 in? i know when it is larger it can, but i dont see how it could do it at the present time
 
yeah, when your cray moults its really soft, and the bluegill will just sit there and peck at it. you'll be fine though if your cray has a good hiding place to moult where the bluegill can't get at it.

bluegill would be much happier in a 75 gallon, and could stay there for its entire life, you should move it now :)
 
Fishman0;3704550; said:
Has anyone kept them as juviniles?
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Yes, I have on numerous occasions raised Bluegill fry in an aquarium. I have a natural springfed farm pond over 150' diameter and up to 15' deep that I clean the perimeter of leaves in early spring. With every rake full I remove, a bunch of crayfish and bluegill fry come out.

I make sure that I get them back into the pond asap, but do occasionally have a bucket on hand to bring them up to the house.

The females which are generally dull colored and plain patterened have an incrediblly slow growth rate. The males grow much faster then the females and when kept with other aggressive male bluegills the competition for food makes the growth rate increase even more.

Feed live insects (crickets) which are high protien to promote the fastest gorwth rate! Mix in earthworms (Be careful with wild ones as fertilizers can have unpredictable effects!) You know your area, and if you are in question raise you own with a minimum of 30 days in organic material. Cloneing worms is as simply as sissor cutting! You can expect a set of three 1" male bluegills to outgrow your 10G in just one month. The will easily double in size every 45 days up until 6" given enough water table. The norm for the pond is April nests, May hatch out, June - August food for 2nd yearlings and by october survivors ~ 4"!

They are HIGHLY cannibalistic!:WHOA:
 
thanks for the advice so far.

I am only keeping one at the moment so canibalism wont be an issue.

I will try to take pictures to see if anyone can assist in sexing the bluegill.

If this helps, the cheeks have irredescent blue patterns, body is grayish/blue, fins have white fringed outline.
 
Fishman0;3704745; said:
i was planning on putting it in a 75 as soon as it hit at least 4in... do you think it will injure/kill the cray when it is under 3 in? i know when it is larger it can, but i dont see how it could do it at the present time
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I agree with dsaavedra. First sluff and your crayfish is toast. Even with adequate hideing places, in 10G there is no way it survives a sluff. I have a 1.5" female bluegill in (originally intended as food) with a 4.5" pike cichlid (sp. Venezuela) and a 2.5" Red Oscar and although both have attacked her, neither has made a meal of her yet!
 
Fishman0;3704870; said:
thanks for the advice so far.

I am only keeping one at the moment so canibalism wont be an issue.

I will try to take pictures to see if anyone can assist in sexing the bluegill.

If this helps, the cheeks have irredescent blue patterns, body is grayish/blue, fins have white fringed outline.
Click to expand...

Male for sure. Females do not develop their trademark spot until ~ 3". You lucked out. You will freak out when he starts eating live food. The dot below the gills will "flash" and glow an almost red hue when he is going in for the kill! You are in for a treat!
 
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