The Largemouth Bass

[Ornata01]

Hello, I have been looking around for information concerning keeping LMB in a tank however as far as numbers and recommended values go it appears to be big enough to have its own area code. I figured I would make an attempt to have a thread with info that can be hammered out. I was gonna to reply in a older thread, but upon reading to the end it was closed.

So far I have a 30 gal, I have had set up for a while with minnows just to start the tank a few weeks ago. Its currently stable as far as the tests go. which has prompted me to order some baby LMB 1-3" long to stock it. My plans are to raise them and upon proper size release them into my lake.

So far I have been obtaining most of my information from a book written by Keith A. Jones, PhD entitles Knowing Bass "The Scientific Approach to catching More Fish" It covers quite a bit of information. Dr. Jones is really an knowledgable gentleman. He is a researcher for Berkley and has studied Bass for years. I am just pointing this out to show where I have obtained my information.

pH:
I have read that bass can live a normal life with a pH of 5.0 or less. Reguarding natural lakes they vary from place to place within the lake itself I assume bass can tolerate a large range of the pH scale. With that in mind I was curious if anyone else has information to contridict it, or tried and true information first hand.

Temp:
Obviously Bass are cold water, and can withstand and live without complication in ranges of 55-85 degrees F. In the book it states the final preferred temp range for bass and prey is 80-90 degree mark. Personally it seems high to me for this area but not every area is the same. Including temp and oxygen dispersal.

Conditions of the tank/captive habitat (My opinion):
I am grabbing my idea from years of studying bass as far as the fishing aspect, where they would be in any given lake. I figure the best idea would be to set up a tank with the appearance of plants/logwith an open "Ambush area" next to it. Sorta to help the bass keep its hunting instinct. Keep in mind I plan to release them into a lake with this type of structure in majority of the lake.

Things I am not sure of and just keeping within normal range is things like Hardness/Nitrite/Nitrate things of that nature unless someone else has specific information.

I shall return, I just was looking around for different forums on my lunch break. Any and all information will be gladly accepted.

Thanks.

 

[oscarcrazy]

Honsetly sounds like you've put more thought into it than a lot of us. Generally bass will be fine in just about whatever what you put them in. Keep your ph around nuetral, your nitrate/nitrite low and your on your way. I keep mine at room temp (72-76) in tap water that is about the 7.5 range in ph and do frequent water changes. your idea for aquascaping sounds pleasing to both the eye and the fish. The only thing I would worry about is the sie of your tank and how many fish you want to put in there. I know you want to release them into your lake, but how big do you want them to be before you do so? I keep an 8in bass in a 55 with mixed sunnies and would'nt want to put him a tank much smaller.

 

[Ornata01]

The concern of the tank size is noted, however I plan to upgrade to a 75+ gal. The bass will begin at 1-3" mark. I place I have ordered them from send them in a pack of 3. I will raise two above the average prey size and release those and keep one for futher develop and learn. I look at it as a way to raise fish and then release getting more out of just stocking a lake. I will be able to see the quality of bass I am to set loose upon the lake. Its slower but in the end more rewarding...plus something to do in the winter months when fishing isn't a viable option. I know the question will come up about raising fish just to catch them later... I am a catch and release fisherman. I really don't care to eat fish.

Towards the end time to release them I will start catching forage from the lake to get them a customed to that food source. Its something that I have wanted to do for quite a while. The LMB population of the lake is strong, the fish have a nice pattern all the fins are of proper shape. I don't have any pike or muskie in the lake too far south for them to have a major predator, so stocking it in a slow manner would be best than overloading the lake. Friends and family are about the only predators they would have to fear.

Unfortunatly its a trial and error process, there maybe fish lost due to an overlooked factors but I have to start somewhere. Hopefully this will allow me to learn more about the LMB and help others in the future.

***

@Oscar I have one question. How do you keep the 8" incher from making a midnight snack out of the sunnies. Are the sunnies' size the thing thats keeping them off the menu? I have seen LMB eat things bigger than they were, well attempt to anyways.

Thanks for not chaffin over the 30 gal, I know its small however the fish are small for now as well. Alot of the forums I have read people tend to go ballistic over the size problem, without knowing what the tanks plans are for the future. This one seems to have the most general sense of knowledgable and friendly members. What people don't know about bass is they would rather not move to much, they do so to obtain better water conditions/food source. I have read countless articles/books that lead to this theory. Bass are lazy fish, hince thats why they are ambush predators. They adapt to their enviroment for the most part, like you said they are fine in just about whatever. Until one speaks to me I will focus my opinions on instances I have observed fishing, and in the future what I have observed from the tank. Its all trial and error.

 

[MDK500]

Never, ever, ever release aquarium fish into a lake as you have stated you will. The fish can introduce harmful parasites and diseases to the lake greatly affecting the ecosystem.

 

[Venom SS]

I personally wont release largemouth bass back to the lake, no matter how well you control the tank. Sorry but that is illegal and bad example for the posters.

Im so tired of hearing people say this. Is it illegal? Yes. Is it illegal to do it in a private lake that is privately owned that does not run off into any other body of water? NO. Read all the facts before you see (release back into the wild ) and fire off a cliche post about it being illegal and how youll go to hell and burn for eternity if you do. If it were such a total sin to raise fish in captivity and then release back to the wild, government fish and game agencies and hatcheries would be buried under lawsuits for the MILLIONS of fish that they raise and release in controlled environments every year.

But back to the topic at hand. I agree with the other guys here. You could in theory raise a mega bass under the right conditions, and I also agree that the fish would likely not get all of the local immunities and / or resistances to parasites and disease that they might get under wild conditions. Granted this may not be an optimal comparisson but captive Orca's dorsal fins always go limp and fold over, whereas wild ones stay errect and rigid. Makes me think that similar physical changes may occur in fish raised in captivity, although much less pronounced. There are alot of variables that occur in the wild that contribute to the huge growth of the largemouth that would be very hard to duplicate. The changing of the seasons, weather patterns, competition, the breeding cycle, variation in diet, etc. Largemouth are actually a schooling fish in a sense, and are very rarely observed in the wild alone. Almost always in small groups. Also, the largest LMB on record that have been caught in the US have been caught California. Alot of this has been contributed to the deep water lakes, rocky outcrops, consistant weather patterns, and the availability of rainbow trout as a forage. The combination of these things is very unique and these conditions are not duplicated in many, if any other region in the country. Fish over 20lbs have been caught in these kinds of areas. Duplicating these kinds of conditions in captivity might be near impossible. But, after taking them into account, maybe it is possible to come close, and raise an awesome specimen.

 

[Dr Joe]

You have a pretty good handle on things.

I'm concerned about the low pH tho. Find out what the fingerlings are raised in and match that, in the mean time check your tap water's pH (if that's what your using for the tank).If it's very far off from what the fingerlings are used to you'll have to correct it and then slowly shift it to the water sources pH. To big to a change and you'll be ordering replacement fish.(HITH is not a pretty thing)

What type of filtration are you planning? Lighting isn't a real concern, just make the plants happy.

Dr Joe

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[Venom SS]

You have a pretty good handle on things.

I'm concerned about the low pH tho. Find out what the fingerlings are raised in and match that, in the mean time check your tap water's pH (if that's what your using for the tank).If it's very far off from what the fingerlings are used to you'll have to correct it and then slowly shift it to the water sources pH. To big to a change and you'll be ordering replacement fish.(HITH is not a pretty thing)

What type of filtration are you planning? Lighting isn't a real concern, just make the plants happy.

Dr Joe

.

I had allready posted alot of good info on this thread but the spectacular auto bot deleted about 15,000 chars or more worth of 4 years first hand experience with keeping these fish. All because some guy wanted to get on here and flame. All that quality info gone, and Im not willing to repost it. That system needs to be better about determining what is garbage to be deleted and what is good.

 

[Ornata01]

You have a pretty good handle on things.

I'm concerned about the low pH tho. Find out what the fingerlings are raised in and match that, in the mean time check your tap water's pH (if that's what your using for the tank).If it's very far off from what the fingerlings are used to you'll have to correct it and then slowly shift it to the water sources pH. To big to a change and you'll be ordering replacement fish.(HITH is not a pretty thing)

What type of filtration are you planning? Lighting isn't a real concern, just make the plants happy.

Dr Joe

.

The pH is just the thing, theres really not a standard pH its a range within a lake depending on the size and surroundings the pH could range within the own lake. Dr. Jones points to the fact that bass seek out what there preference is making sacrifice say temp for food source, or pH for oxygen saturation. So I am tasked with finding a median in between this. The food sources, O2 and temp can be regulated. However I can't talk to LMB to find out what pH and other chemical factors it prefers. Lakes change depending on what is run off into the lake. About the only thing I can do is mimic the lake IE use driftwood pulled from it. What componets give the lake its properties might contribute to the tank, along with hopes it carries some of the pathogens,micro plantlife, and anything else thats natural in the lake so the tank bass can build immunities.

As far as water for the tank, I use aged tap water allow the chlorine break down. However I am planning to switch due to the fact they were talking about increasing some "safe" chemicals in our local water...whats "safe" for humans ain't safe for Mr. Scales. I'm just looking at my options at this point. All else fails theres aquarium shops around that sell water for tanks so I have access should the need arise.


EDIT:

Forgot the filtration, currently I just have an oversized H.O.T. Aquaclear. I want a cannister setup when I get my larger tank. However I am unfamilar with cannisters. I'll have to look around to find a quality brand, while were on the topic any suggestions?

 

[Polypterus]

bass seek out what there preference is making sacrifice say temp for food source, or pH for oxygen saturation.

You do understand they are ectothermic correct? also you are aware that Ph and Temp directly effect D.O. also right? So therefore these things listed are a bit off based....

There is already a great deal of Aquaculture info available on these fish (and aquatic culture in general) I suggest a review of it...

 

[ewurm]

I had allready posted alot of good info on this thread but the spectacular auto bot deleted about 15,000 chars or more worth of 4 years first hand experience with keeping these fish. All because some guy wanted to get on here and flame. All that quality info gone, and Im not willing to repost it. That system needs to be better about determining what is garbage to be deleted and what is good.

Post restored