Bluegill feeding

[the72peanut]

I caught a bluegill (at least I believe its a bluegill, I will post pics later) earlier today in a local stream in North Carolina. I placed it in my 35 gallon tank, which also holds three large fathead minnows. I tried to get him to eat, but failed. He seems hungry, goes after flakes and small goldfish pellets but simply spits everything out. He even tasted a tiny hunk of bacon and spit that out too. Is it just too soon to feed him? Or will I have to find something else he likes the taste of?

[OscarFan]

first you should probably look into getting a larger tank. that tank is to small for that stocking which could be why he is not eating.
second many fish will not eat withing the first day of being introduced into a tank. If he does not except pellets in the future try frozen blood worms, frozen krill. I also dont know much about a bluegills diet in the wild but i am going to assume it is similar to an oscar minus the fruit and such. I would try feeding him hikari bio gold for large cichlids. Good luck, neat fish, and as always pics would be nicethumbs2:

[Crispy]

They are awfully fond of earthworms. He will need a bigger tank if you plan on keeping him healthy/happy.

[lobsternoob]

Probably the fact that he's new to the tank, bluegill are not typically very picky eaters.

[the72peanut]

OK, Ill try food tomorrow. So the size of the tank is really going to be a problem? Even if he were to be the only fish in there? Getting a larger tank is just not an option for me.

[OscarFan]

OK, Ill try food tomorrow. So the size of the tank is really going to be a problem? Even if he were to be the only fish in there? Getting a larger tank is just not an option for me.
yeah sry. I would say 55g min for a bluegill

[the72peanut]

Well, that stinks. I read somewhere, maybe here, that releasing fish youve had in captivity is illegal. The illegal part doesnt really concern me too much, but if it would be bad for the well being of his species, I wont do it (what exactly is the problem with releasing them?). If that is the case I will just have to keep him in the tank, If he looks so unhappy that he would be better off dead, Ill help him out, but it sounds like keeping him will be the best option, although I understand not a very good one.

[the72peanut]

The bluegill is very interested in a small crayfish (.5") I also have in the tank. The bluegill is too small to eat him, hes only about an inch and a half long. However, he was very interested in the movement, would a small earthworm possibly work?

[OscarFan]

the problem with releasing them is when they are introduced to home aquariums they are also introduced to new diseases and my returning them to the body of water u can introduce that disease to the water and destroy the whole ecosystem.
They also sell mealworms at places like petco or petsmart that would work.

[the72peanut]

I caught a TINY crayfish from the same stream he came from, and served him to the bluegill. This was very fun to watch, but I cant do that every day and im sure feeding him things like this will make the tank messy. He also accepted a hunk of earthworm.his eating makes me think the tanks is not too small for him, at least with how small he is ATM. Hopefully he will take to flakes or pellets soon.