Northern Pike in a tank?

S

SuperLink88

AC Members
Apr 26, 2006
12
0
0
a friend of mine is stocking his lake right now and has a couple 8 inch northern pike and he offered to let me have one, i was wondering if i could keep it in a tank for a couple months before putting him in my pond so he gets big enough that he cant swim downstream. i was thinking maybe a foot long or 14" and ill release him.

Will he survive in the tank?

If so how big of a tank does he need and what should i have plantwise?

and another local pond has a bunch of small bluegill in it, can i feed them to the pike?

the pike is going into the pond no matter what but i thought it would be cool to have it in a tank for a little bit. any input would be helpfull
 
Hmmm... the only experience I have with No. Pike is fishing for them, lol (catch and release, of course)

Honestly, I'd say don't attempt it. It would need a huge tank even if it were only going to be for a few weeks/months (atleast 150gallons)

Another problem with your idea is that in a lot of cases, a fish raised in an aquarium will have a tough time when its released into the wild (Doesn't have the same feeding sched. nor the same type of food)

And finally, as you probably already know, they are ice cold killers. It would have to be the only fish in the tank.
 
yeah i kind of got the fact that it will be the only other fish living in the tank, i think ill just put it straight into the pond/small lake.
 
A co-worker had caught a baby N.Pike while fishing. Took him home with the same intention you had. Came home one day and the pike had lept out of the tank and was dead. They are very strong fish even as juveniles. So if you decide to do it make sure you wieght down the lid.
 
Where do you live? Some one did the same thing, "just put it in his pond and hopped it would stay" here in California. The non native fish has decimated trout and bass populations, and there is no way to erradicate them without killing all other aquatic life. I would not keep it at all, in my pond nor in a tank.

If you have to keep it(assuming it is legal), I would do no less than 150-175 gallons. Larger if possible. If it will eventually be in a lake or pond you do not want to stunt it, and want enough swimming room to ensure proper muscle development.
 
shaunakadub said:
Hmmm... the only experience I have with No. Pike is fishing for them, lol (catch and release, of course)


Personally, I subscribe to the "catch and eat" theory myself. Mmmmmm, northerns in beer batter are delicious. . .

jackie
Click to expand...
 
First off I am sure it is not legal, second you would need a very large tank to house it, and third it would be very aggressive and need to be the lone occupant.

I would have to advise against it.
 
sumthin fishy said:
Some one did the same thing, "just put it in his pond and hopped it would stay" here in California. The non native fish has decimated trout and bass populations, and there is no way to erradicate them without killing all other aquatic life.
Click to expand...

Somewhat offtopic, but I find the statement at least partially ironic, since bass (Micropterus spp.) are non-native to California.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom