Was wondering if anybody has ever had any expierance with these fish and how they handle tank life?
Peacock Bass
- Thread starter BAYSLAYER
- Start date
I couldn't give you an "overview" of tank life for them as not every one is exactly the same. At least the ones I've kept over the years weren't. I can help you if you have any specific questions about them. Some things I can recommend are as follows
1. They need a very large tank and they grow pretty fast
2. They eat a bunch and are messy eaters. I wouldn't suggest any tankmate that isn't at least twice as long as the peacock and at least one and a half as wide as it's mouth fully open.
3. They will jump at things above the tank
4. They are pretty hardy fish given the proper water conditions and a good maintenance schedule
5. They have great personalities and will recognize you as the "food person". This sometimes becomes a problem however as a few of the ones I've had will churn the water when you're around the tank beggin for food. This sometimes required a mop to clean up the mess they made after feeding.
6. I could NEVER get any of mine to take anything but live food. Becareful with feeding live minnows and such. It's a very good idea to make sure the bass gets the minnow a soon as it hits the water. You do not want the fish crashing into the side of the tank while chasing a food item.
7. It's pretty difficult to find homes for them once they out grow your tank. Unless you can provide for the fish when it's around 20 inches or have someone that is willing to take them I would suggest you not purchase them. People will also backout on taking them once they get larger also and most LFS don't have the room nor desire for such a large fish.
1. They need a very large tank and they grow pretty fast
2. They eat a bunch and are messy eaters. I wouldn't suggest any tankmate that isn't at least twice as long as the peacock and at least one and a half as wide as it's mouth fully open.
3. They will jump at things above the tank
4. They are pretty hardy fish given the proper water conditions and a good maintenance schedule
5. They have great personalities and will recognize you as the "food person". This sometimes becomes a problem however as a few of the ones I've had will churn the water when you're around the tank beggin for food. This sometimes required a mop to clean up the mess they made after feeding.
6. I could NEVER get any of mine to take anything but live food. Becareful with feeding live minnows and such. It's a very good idea to make sure the bass gets the minnow a soon as it hits the water. You do not want the fish crashing into the side of the tank while chasing a food item.
7. It's pretty difficult to find homes for them once they out grow your tank. Unless you can provide for the fish when it's around 20 inches or have someone that is willing to take them I would suggest you not purchase them. People will also backout on taking them once they get larger also and most LFS don't have the room nor desire for such a large fish.
Thanks for the info, thats really helpfull, Im a fisherman so I just love those fish and I know they get huge quick but I do have a place to take them once they get bigger. But the two that I had just died on me, one last night and the other today, nitrite is just booming in my new tank and I think that was the problem but the last one I got I bought and I think it had ich so that didnt help but everything you said was pretty much the same expierance as i had, they reconized me as a feeder and they would eat alot and they are mean. Thanks again.
That's great you have a place to take them. I had a hard time finding homes for them when they got around 16 inches. A friend of mine kept them also. His method of disposal involved a filet knife and a fry pan after they got bigger. 
Better than putting them in a local waterway though I guess.
Better than putting them in a local waterway though I guess.Yea theres a tackle store around where I live where they allready have one in there about 6 pounds that just devours anything put in there, rats, mice, goldfish, crappie, and bluegill. Ive never tried eating them but not a bad idea if you have nowhere to put them and they wont survive really anywhere except like florida's waters and hawaii gets to cold everywhere else, but I did think about that.
Ive had a one That got to be about8 inches, then jumped outta the tank, i was really bumed, i got him to eat pellets to(throw them at water, as hard as u can, eventually the fish will hit it) I have two right now, both whom ive haveing a hella of a time with trying to eat pellets, i have one Royal peacock(chichla intermedia) and a regular one with the 3 bars (cichla temensis) this is the one if find most common locally. Anyone with any info on getting this fish to eat dry foods would be greatly appreciated. The link above, i belive the site is down. thanks
I wouldn't suggest eating them when they get larger. Many of the medications that are used to treat disease and such things linger around in the tissues of the fish that you consume and simply aren't good for you.
YIPE!!! Yeah, pfish is long gone... administrative bs. Good news though, most of the users and information have moved to www.waterwolves.com. You may want to try this to get info on pbass. (I promise this one works.)