How well do plants usually do with native fish? I have a 150 I am considering converting to native but I really like the plants in there. I was considering bluegills, pumpkinseed, etc. and something like a smallmouth bass. Will these fish simply destroy plants?
Plants in the native tank?
- Thread starter reptileguy2727
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Thank you.
Would the bass bother plants?
I would really like something big in there in addition to the smaller species. What else could work if not a smallmouth bass?
Would the bass bother plants?
I would really like something big in there in addition to the smaller species. What else could work if not a smallmouth bass?
Crappie or perch or pickerel would be a good larger native along with some species of bullhead catfish. The bass shouldnt bother the plants but the bigger one gets the more in moves and may uproot them.
I agree, 150 is just not enough space for a bass. Certain sunnies, especially bluegill and redear, get tremendous (12-14" and two pounds or more) and can provide the centerpiece you are looking for. Some of the smaller suckers, such as chubsuckers, jumprocks, and hogsuckers, hit about 18-24" and can be good tankmates for sunnies. However, they (and bullheads) are rooters and may disturb (but not actually eat) your rooted plants. The sunnies themselves will also uproot plants when nesting if there are no suitable clear spaces. Free-floating plants like hornwort should be fine; rooted plants can be wired to large pieces of decor or otherwise weighted to prevent them from being constantly uprooted.
bluegill will eat the plants as well as uproot them. Pickerel do not mess with them however, though a few pickerel in a 150 might be an empty tank
My friend has a native plant in this tank on the top with roots coming off of it and it is living just fine he has had it in there for like 4 weeks now.