Keeping Pet Bass

[jjacobs702]

About two months ago, my boss and I grew tired of work so we decided,on the clock, to go fishing in the creek behind our work. On my first cast with a nightcrawler on an baitcast icefishingpole, I landed a six inch largemouth. I had been fishin these creeks all my life and never once have i seen a bass. I had to keep him. He is currently in a 55 gal tank wich is heavily planted on one side and bare with a small piece of driftwood on the other. He has now grown to nine inches on a diet of mostly goldfish and the occaisional treat of a crawdad. His color is not as deep as i wished but I presume that's from the light penetrating the glass sides. I know at this growth rate he will not live in this tank long so I plan to move him to a 100 gal in a few months for about six to eight months then plan to build a small pond. Building a small pond will be no problem seeing as how i work for a Landscaping/Garden Center. Is there any tips anyone can give me on keeping him extra healthy in order to reach peak size. I do plan on keeping him for years. Please re-back with ANY info. null

[johnnie crain outdoors]

Bass, looks like a fun project. The bass will need a variety of food sources, including the goldfish, worms, pond minnows and crawfish to assure it gets all the vitamins etc. necessary. Without real sunshine, the bass won't get the natural color you desire while in a tank. Just be careful not to over-feed the fish, bass can live weeks without eating at all. I kept a bass for about a year and had great fun with it. I had it in an aquarium in the basement. When I'd play my electric guitar the bass would sense the vibrations and go on a feeding frenzy, those poor minnows never stood a chance. The bass would also take food from my fingers. I noticed it slept with it's chin on the floor of the tank, so leave a nice flat spot for resting. Live plants would be great for the fish, maybe some of that stuff the oriental fish eat, it seems to do well in tanks etc. The green plants give off a little oxygen and may help the bass become more natural in color. I also found my bass liked saltine cracker crumbs, I guess he liked the salt. I'd feed the minnows with it, but the bass would eat some too. When you build your pond put plenty of fish habitat in it, and bait fish. Good luck and have fun with your pet. I've done a lot of color and lure presentation tests on my bass. It really liked green, but hated blue.? Johnnie