New Smallmouth Bass!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Again, the smallmouth isnt eating! The largemouth still eats, but I never see it, ill just see his fat stomache! They both still get spooked really easily, everytime I go to the tank, they run for cover! I dont have any test kits, but could the water be bad? I dont know what else to try, theres alot of cover in the tank(fake plants, caves, etc) wouldnt you think they would feel safer?
 
It could easily take a month or 2 for it to settle down.
 
A small powerhead would help there, they also require a higher O2 level than LMBs do.
 
Cooler moving water, rocky cover and a high amount of DO should all be provided with a smallmouth, with that the water should be nice and clean, minimal nitrAtes. It took my rock bass almost a week to eat frozen food (bloodworms, mysis, beefheart, krill and brine shrimp) so I imagin yours will come around as long as you provide it with what it needs and keep it stress free.
 
drewish said:
What type of filtration are you using? Smallies come from moving water and they will probably be more comfortable in a decent current. A lot of their food swims by them and they dash after it.
Click to expand...
There are only a few rivers in Colorado that have smallies, but many of the lakes do. I caught this one from a local reservoir. The filter does create some current in the tank though. There is a cave, a piece of driftwood, and several other larger rocks, along with some fake plants. Also there is a sponge filter, so Im sure that will put a lot of oxygen in the water. Ive had it for about 2 weeks now, and it seems to be getting a little more settled in. I dont know why it was eating fine for a few days but then it stopped! I did a 50% water change yesterday, and the lm ate a few miinnows, and the sm seemed interested but didnt really chase them. Maybe its just getting used to its new surroundings, but I gave Bassman 1 and his is eating all the time, its already starting to learn where the food comes from!
 
fisher12889 said:
Again, the smallmouth isnt eating! The largemouth still eats, but I never see it, ill just see his fat stomache! They both still get spooked really easily, everytime I go to the tank, they run for cover! I dont have any test kits, but could the water be bad? I dont know what else to try, theres alot of cover in the tank(fake plants, caves, etc) wouldnt you think they would feel safer?
Click to expand...

well i have pretty much the exact same filtration system you have so i dunno...maybe the smallie feels threatend by the lm???
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom