Keeping rock bass

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ColeFishing

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jan 5, 2012
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Ohio
What are some goo tips for keeping rock bass? Additional info below.

A biology Eco project is going on at my school and in one of the classes some girl managed to catch a baby(1.5") rock bass. This is an inacceptable fish for the project because you can not keep them
In a self sastaining tank. The teacher wants me to take it so I told her I'll pick it up Friday. It's going in a 10G tank with a 3/4" LMB and a 2" fantail darter until it starts eating pellets. Then it will be move to a 30 and so one. Here's a pic of the tank.


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Keep the water cool (room temp is fine), and otherwise they're like any other fish. They need clean water, they'll eat most stuff at that size, especially frozen foods, and they generally get about a foot long max in aquaria.
They are sometimes skittish at that size so you need plenty of hiding places. As they grow they can get aggressive, and for a mutifish tank you need a 75g+ with lots of decorations for territory.
 
ShadowBass said:
Keep the water cool (room temp is fine), and otherwise they're like any other fish. They need clean water, they'll eat most stuff at that size, especially frozen foods, and they generally get about a foot long max in aquaria.
They are sometimes skittish at that size so you need plenty of hiding places. As they grow they can get aggressive, and for a mutifish tank you need a 75g+ with lots of decorations for territory.
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He's going in a 1400G. I'm just going to start him in a ten. Do you have one?


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The following is what I gleaned with my experiences with three individuals a few years ago (ended up giving the three musketeers to a friend with a koi pond)
They are less aggressive than a same size Bluegills or Greens, but still very territorial unless the intruding fish is bigger - in that case the Rock Bass may have a range of reactions depending on the individual. Usually, they shy away and avoid troubling any larger tankmates. If you've ever kept African Leaf Fish or either of the Crappies, Rock Bass pretty much have the same attitude: lurking territorial predators. In a small tank, your LMB will bully him if you let the LMB grow bigger than the Rock Bass. In a tank that size of his final home, the Rock can escape from virtually any conflict, so he'll probably be fine.
Best of luck!
 
Rock bass in my 265, temps are around 86 degrees. Two are getting close to the 10" mark, few 9's and some smaller. They eat anything and are, or should I say were the first to eat but now that changed to my hybrid bluegill, he's the biggest fish in the tank besides the flathead. They all have the spats but nothing bad. They are in with Wamouth, Hybrid Bluegill, Flathead, Bullhead, Channel, Longear Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish and used to be a Drum in there but he became dinner for the Flathead.
 
ColeFishing said:
He's going in a 1400G. I'm just going to start him in a ten. Do you have one?


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Yes I have and have had several. There's a reason my username is Shadow Bass, a species of rock bass. :p

My species has essentially the same behavior, just slightly less aggressive, and doesn't get as large. The main difference is it inhabits the southern range that Ariommus rupestris, the regular rock bass, doesn't.

If they're going in a 1400g I'd do several. With enough space they prefer to be in groups. It also cuts down on aggression toward other fish, since they will be busy interacting with each other. They need habitat the overhangs, like a big piece of driftwood. In the wild they hang around overhanging rocks and rock crevices, hence the name rock bass. But they do also hang out in root wads and fallen trees like other sunfish, usually WITH other sunfish.
 
What part of Ohio btw? I'm originally from Cincinnati area.
 
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