I'm considering setting up a native tank one of these days. I'm thinking of maybe stocking it with 2 smallmouth bass, 2 black crappie, 2 bullheads, and 10 assorted sunfish, probably bluegill and green sunfish. I decided against largememouth, because they get so big and would probably end up eating almost everything else. Just curious what would be a good sized tank to hold all those fish. Thanks.
Suggested tank size?
- Thread starter aaronb
- Start date
My 180 was from an understanding by a quote by the OP: "I decided against largememouth". At this point, we are talking about housing 14 fish and not 16 fish. The bullhead catfish remain relativley small (<18") and the Crappies/ Sunfish should remain (<12") in the aquarium.
I would see a 180 as ABSOLUTE minimum for the 14 fish minus the LMB, where a 210 would be better.
I don't see how a 500G would be required sinse the LMB are totally nixed from the equation?
IMO the 180g would not work for adult fish. I have a 450g 8'x3' with a Texas Rio, green, green/bluegill, long ear, blue gill, red ear, oscar, and a LMB. All adult fish except the 10"LMB and Im about at the limit of my tank. I had a sand bass and white crappie but they past away this summer. I would like to replace them but not sure if I will. The oscar is just in there while Im growing out some fish in his tank but he is working great in my native tank.
IMO, the following stock (pulled from the OP) would need a bigger tank than 180:
2 Smallmouth Bass
2 Black Crappie
2 Bullheads
10 Sunfish
Yes, the tank size for this stock list would be smaller than if he wanted to go with Largemouth Bass instead, but as it is 16 fish that all get 10"+ inches will need more space than a 180 IMO.
2 Smallmouth Bass
2 Black Crappie
2 Bullheads
10 Sunfish
Yes, the tank size for this stock list would be smaller than if he wanted to go with Largemouth Bass instead, but as it is 16 fish that all get 10"+ inches will need more space than a 180 IMO.
Thanks. Well I was considering a 300 gallon, so what could I put in it of those options. A 300 96x30x24 tall would probably still be too small for lmb. Thanks again.
I think I would skip the bass altogether. Smallies aren't that much smaller than large mouths. I would also be worried about the crappie in with 10 Lepomis spp. sunfish. Crappie are rather shy and might be picked on and out competed with 10 sunfish in there. The sunfish and a bullhead or two might work in the 300 though
Still 16 fish. The OP said two SMALLmouth and then later mentioned not wanting LMB, so there were still 2 bass involved and even smallies are not small
Well glasscages makes a 280 that is 72x36x25 tall. That should be big enough, since from what I've read the max size of a smallmouth is 21 inches. What do you think? I'd like to stock around the bass, so I'm open to suggestions.
Thanks.
Thanks.