Some Observations on Grass Pickerel

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AppStateBimmer

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 15, 2008
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Boone, NC
Hi all,

I have had my Grass Pickerel for a little under a year now, and just wanted to share some observations about it.
First off, I am beginning to question the idea that Pickerel are out competed for food by sunfish species. I have kept sunfish in the past, and I must say, the Pickerel chomps down on the feeder fish MUCH faster than any other species I have seen before. This could be a result of my next observation however. I've noticed that the Pickerel seems highly intelligent, and recognizes me upon entrance to the room. When I enter, it will come near the top of the tank, and "wait" for me to feed it. Has anyone else noticed this behavior before?

This all leads me to believe that Pickerel just might be able to live with some of the medium sized sunfish, ones with smaller mouths, and not too aggressive.

thoughts?
 
i agree they are very smart fish, and recognize when you enter / leave the room

however, i found mine to be slower eaters. even if they hadn't eaten in a few days, when i would add feeders to the tank, they would watch them for a while, then begin to stalk them, and then they would attack when they felt like it

BUT, in my tank they didnt have anyone to compete with for food, it was just the 2 of them

just curious, what size did you get them, and what was their growth rate like? Mine were TINY when i got them, maybe an inch long, and as big around as pencil lead! they grew moderately to 5-6" and then really slowed down after that ... in about a year they were only 7" and they had more than enough to eat. i am curious, because i wondered if it was just because they were in a small tank, or if this was common
 
Mine is alone in a 55, with regular feeding and water changes. I got him when he was around 1 inch or so, I had to buy the smallest feeders possible. I would estimate him to be around 7 to 8 inches already. It's interesting that yours stalks the feeders, as mine definitely will chomp them up nearly as soon as they hit the water. I only put one feeder in at a time though, as i don't want them killing the water quality by living in there.
 
How easy are they to take care of? I considered getting on but was wondering how hard it would be to get them to feed
 
buy them from Uland from the NANFA forums. He provides high quality fish at the perfect size. They will readily eat feeders. Very easy to care for IMHO, but nearly impossible for a community tank
 
my old gar was like these he would wait at the top when i walked into the room. But they get to big to fast I think i will get a pickerel next when i got the space for one.
 
I had two grass pickerel in the same tank for a few months, but one was more aggressive and attacked the other one (only 1/2" smaller) I set up another tank but I waited one day to seporate them (for water temp, etc.) and before I could move the smaller one he was killed by the big one.
The one that's left acts the same way as the first guys post.
I am not sure what would happen if I put in sunfish.
I also have a 12" tiger musky and he will attack anything you put in his tank. Hand or whatever, I have a stick I bump him with when I clean his tank.
For the people that might think its mean to hit your fish, its better then bleeding all over when you get bit. So I don't think he would get along with others.
Mike
 
Everywhere I find Redfin Pickerel, there are generally healthy populations coexisting with Pumpkinseed and Largemouth Bass populations. Not really sure about the competition thing, panfish fry are great food for pickerel.
 
srikamaraja;2955587; said:
Everywhere I find Redfin Pickerel, there are generally healthy populations coexisting with Pumpkinseed and Largemouth Bass populations. Not really sure about the competition thing, panfish fry are great food for pickerel.
Click to expand...


Coexisting in a natural ecosystem is way different than coexisting in a tank.
 
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