Pickerel

[cer]

What does a pickerel require in the home aquaria?:hmm3grin2orange:

[Red]

Wood and lots of plants, floating and non floating..

[Northernguy]

What kind of pickeral cer?

[Crispy]

pickeral hate light... they are a bottom dwelling species and their eyes are very sensitive to any kind of light. They also like to school. I'd advise a huge tank/pond to keep them.

[cer]

A redfin pickerel. What do I feed it? I think the tank should be coldwater.

[labnjab]

I don't know what to feed it, but I've caught them fishing before in the lakes and ponds around here, and the water is cold here. People catch them all winter long through the ice also when the water temps are just above freezing

[Crispy]

A redfin pickerel. What do I feed it? I think the tank should be coldwater.

oh yes, definitely... with very low light.

[cer]

Who has kept a pickerel before?

[Northernguy]

Check this out cer:22:
http://myfwc.com/fishing/Fishes/pickerels.html

[cer]

That only talked about them in the wild. But when it said they eat small fish could I substitute that with feeders?

[Crispy]

That only talked about them in the wild. But when it said they eat small fish could I substitute that with feeders?

I think they'll take earthworms better than feeder goldfish. Unless you're going to buy minnows or shads.

[Northernguy]

They will eat cichlid pellets.Its probably best for them anyway.
If you want feeders raise gf or guppys!

[cer]

Is there any types of tankmates that could go with him? Would a nice tank for a pickerel be a 75 gallon?

[Crispy]

Is there any types of tankmates that could go with him? Would a nice tank for a pickerel be a 75 gallon?

pickeral get real big. I would say at least a 125 gallon. not a fish most people consider keeping all too often.

[rageybug]

The cheapest and easiest way to feed it is to buy minnows at a bait shop. Feeder goldfish are not something it would find in it's natural habitat and minnows are easy keepers. Put them in a bucket with no light or heat and they will be fine (cooler water is better). Feed minnows bread crusts and they will keep for weeks without any work!

[rageybug]

Tank mates are a bad idea. Anything that goes in that tank will be considered food. The 75 gallon tank will work for a while but 150 gallons is probably a better size once this fish gets big. The pickerel has a high protein diet and will grow quickly.

[Adrian]

Long ago, I had a preditory tank with a Musky in it. Wanna see some action, wow! I use to go down to the local pond, catch some frogs and as soon as I dropped them in, BAM!

But if you want to put another fish in there, make sure it is of the pike family. Walleye, would go well, as long as the fish is of substantial size, or some black crappie would do as well. Just remember, pickeral will eat just about anything they can fit in their mouths.

For bait fish, I would go to the local bait shop, buy a few dozen fathead minnows and dump them all in. Keep the tank coolish, and subdued lighting. I had lily pads in my tank, to help diffuse the light.

You will need a bigger tank if you wish to house these. All mine were in a 125.

[cer]

What sized tank was tha musky in?

[Northernguy]

No less than 500 gallons when full grown.
They grow fast so you need a lot of space for them and a very good lid.

[cer]

I was not planning on getting one.