lmhicks101 Posted May 24, 2022 Share Posted May 24, 2022 So I went to a buddies pond with my son today and we caught a 6-7 small bluegills and croppies in our minnow trap. The original plan was to try for mosquito fish and have my son raise them but now he wants to try with bluegills. I have them in a solo 40 breeder doing the med trio. What’s your opinion on keeping 1 or 2 in a 40 breeder with a bristle nose pleco or a hand full of corries? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tihshho Posted May 24, 2022 Share Posted May 24, 2022 Depending on the species of Bluegill they are going to get huge. The issue you've run into is now that you've medicated them I wouldn't recommend releasing them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmhicks101 Posted May 24, 2022 Author Share Posted May 24, 2022 On 5/24/2022 at 6:25 PM, Tihshho said: Depending on the species of Bluegill they are going to get huge. The issue you've run into is now that you've medicated them I wouldn't recommend releasing them. How come? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavdad45 Posted May 24, 2022 Share Posted May 24, 2022 I kept bluegill for a short time many years ago. They are filthy, huge bioload. You need massive filter system. Also, they tend to destroy everything in their environment, vegetation, substrate, .... On the other hand, they do live a long time 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmhicks101 Posted May 24, 2022 Author Share Posted May 24, 2022 On 5/24/2022 at 6:49 PM, cavdad45 said: I kept bluegill for a short time many years ago. They are filthy, huge bioload. You need massive filter system. Also, they tend to destroy everything in their environment, vegetation, substrate, .... On the other hand, they do live a long time one of them doesn’t look so good. It looks like saddle back so that’s why I dosed them. I think I’m going to let them go in a few weeks after I know they’re good and back in shape. Still aiming for mosquito fish and a crayfish for the bottom. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon p Posted May 24, 2022 Share Posted May 24, 2022 (edited) I had 2 in a 150 and they can be huge and without dna testing in some areas because of hybridization. They others thing it’s hard to vary their diet as the would have in the wild. They have huge mouths and tend to eat everything they can. And are very power full I not doubt that the could a thin glass that sold tanks are made of, mine hade by someone in the 70 build mine and the glass .50” I think it could be more. I came home day and my boys had put them in the 150 by the pool. So there was not much in there and the only the blue gill where left. Edited May 24, 2022 by Brandon p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tihshho Posted May 24, 2022 Share Posted May 24, 2022 On 5/24/2022 at 6:25 PM, lmhicks101 said: How come? Generally, once you introduce medications/chemicals to a species that was formerly wild it's best practice to not release them. Even more so once they have been kept in captivity for a while and have become accustomed to being provided food and not finding it on their own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted May 24, 2022 Share Posted May 24, 2022 Medications are one thing…. But API Stress Coat and Prime….should never be used on a food fish… so would not ever release. Cold water -When I kept them I just remember they move/destroy plants and wanted cooler water with lots of oxygen. Good Luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottieB Posted May 24, 2022 Share Posted May 24, 2022 I have had one for years in a 40breeder, I feed him the big pellets from Xtreme. Eventually I moved him into a large Rubbermaid tote by himself. They will eat anything and everything that’s in the same tank. I “rescued” mine from a couple kids that were fishing and left him in a bucket after playing with him. He was as good as dead. Now he’s my water puppy! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmhicks101 Posted May 25, 2022 Author Share Posted May 25, 2022 On 5/24/2022 at 7:41 PM, Brian said: Medications are one thing…. But API Stress Coat and Prime….should never be used on a food fish… so would not ever release. What does that do to feeder fish? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefty o Posted May 25, 2022 Share Posted May 25, 2022 i kept all sorts of game fish years ago. you will probably be okay for quite some time with 2 in a 40B, even with a bristlenose. cory's might get pecked at or killed when the bluegills get larger. as someone else mentioned, game fish tend to be poop monsters when compared to most tropicals kept in the hobby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoYankees10 Posted May 25, 2022 Share Posted May 25, 2022 I thought about trying to keep some blue gills in a empty 125 I have. I have tons in a creek that runs through my property. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted May 25, 2022 Share Posted May 25, 2022 (edited) Also if you have kept other fish in this tank before the blue gills then I wouldn't release them as theirs a risk of introducing pathogens or parasites into the wild population of blue gill that they haven't come into contact with before thats why it's generally not recommended to reintroduce wild caught fish once they have been in captivity Edited May 25, 2022 by Colu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmhicks101 Posted May 25, 2022 Author Share Posted May 25, 2022 On 5/25/2022 at 6:54 AM, Colu said: Also if you have kept other fish in this tank before the blue gills then I wouldn't release them as theirs a risk of introducing pathogens or parasites into the wild population of blue gill that they haven't come into contact with before thats why it's generally not recommended to reintroduce wild caught fish once they have been in captivity No this was a brand new tank. Even before I set it up I did the alcohol spray down and vinegar and salt scrub. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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