need sculpin and rock bass info

[thefishgeek]

I was looking on a website when i fish caught my eye it was called if i can remember how to spell it sculpin. I think its a US native and i would like to keep one i havent found much info on it so any would be appreciated and im also looking into keeping rock bass so any info on them would be appreciated too

 

[le patron]

sculpins are cool looking fish that need cold water with pristine conditions and people have had a lot of trouble taking care of them. I think they really love live foods and thats about all I can help you with on sculpins. Rock bass are members of the sunfish family and behave as most sunfish do. If you ask Sandtiger, I'm sure he'll be able to give you help on that because he has one. He told me that they are harder to get on prepared foods, like pellets and flakes, than other sunfish. In their natural habitat, rockbass tend to hang around the same place that smallmouth bass do because they like rocky substrate and cold, clean water too

 

[nickelnutz]

I've had a couple rock bass in the past and for me it depended on the fish if it would take to pellets or not, one did right away and the other one still hasn't. Mine seemed to prefer some cover and would usually sit under it until you walked past the tank and it started begging for food. Mine seemed a bit more active in a cooler water 74-76F but will tolerate all kinds of temps (from low 60s to low 80s).

 

[Noto]

I recommend you don't fool with sculpin. They make poor community fish, as they will eat other fish up to their own size, and as said are very picky about water conditions. If you really love them you could set up a species tank with a chiller (or in a cool basement) and plenty of oxygenation.

If you want a different native bottom-dweller, look into darters. The Etheostoma species are bottom-huggers, just like sculpins, and there are many species with strikingly different patterns and colors, so you'll be sure to find one that appeals to you. Percina species are also handsome fish, but are less bottom-oriented.

Are you looking to set up a community tank? Rock bass will gobble up any darters, sculpins, or other small fish. However some sunfish, such as longears, orangespots, or redspots, make good community fish so long as your other fish are large enough. I currently have subadult dollars and redspots with various minnows, and they are doing fine.

I have no experience with adult rock bass (just got a YOY!) so I can't say much on how they do with other large fish.