New Guy Here, Northern Pike

[Gamefishin]

K, Im kinda a crazy redneck anyway, but this proves it, that baby northern is the cutest thing ive ever seen! That pretty much does it, i want a few for my 135, so they get to big, grill em butter em and serve with a rolling rock

Well actually that is not a northern pike but a close relative from down south. They only get to 12-16" so they are a better aquarium fish. Northerns get to.........well lets just say you better have a tank like Cabelas or you're going to have to eat him.

As far as what they eat at that size, just drop some feeder minnows and watch them stalk. These fish like to stalk their prey, creep up on them, and then strike. My baby northern I had last year was the coolest fish I had until that sucker jumped out.... They feed totally different from Bass, which eats like that's their last meal.

You would think that these Pike family are predators and chase every fish around but not true. They are not aggressive fish and usually don't pay attention to other fish "it's size". However fish that are just a bit smaller then they all of sudden think it's food and will kill all fish possible.

Pikes rule.

 

[Recycling Works]

Thanks GAmeFishin, Im almost sure im going to go with a northern, its only a 135, but he will be fun while hes small at least, have had crappies and stuff, really lookin forward to a pike or bass.

Ive had a lot of fun with native crayfish over the years, no matter what i have in there, cichlids or pirhana are my usualls, the crayfish are nice little tank mates, my kids like to catch them, and i always let them throw a couple in.

Have you ever had any problems with disease from native feeders or pets? i havent but it seems lots of people here think your nuts if you throw freshly caught stuff in. Ive done it for many many years. i think its our cold water, we dont seem to have too much problem

 

[guppy]

Guppy already addresed this but it is important to keep in mind that bluegill are aggresive fish, they may kill a redfin.

Very true, bluegill can be bad actors and have been known to harrass bass their own size to death, pike and pikerel are not robust fish, great killers but not brawlers, a determined bluegill could easily injure one.
Small pikerel and pike eat insects, frogs, crayfish, and fish, a 12" pikerel will eat 3-4" bluegill, slightly larger perch, and up to 6" trout and shiners, chubs, etc. 3" soft finned fist are ideal but they will also eat whole swarms of guppies or small topminnows. Just remember that they swallow thier food whole.