Perch Tank

[Cazzo]

Hi,

Im looking for advice if anyone can help me?

Im a keen Carp Fisherman and go most weekends, as with most i started locally in a small pond float fishing for Perch.

I have recently been given a tank, i think its between 100 - 120 litres? Please dont quote me! I have this week added gravel, driftwood and plants and natural features.

I intend to go to my local pond in the middle of the woods and catch 3 or 4 small perch (2 to 3 inch tops) and add them to the tank. Now before people go onto the legality and cruelty of taking fish from their natural environment, this pond has been around for years, its in the middle of nowhere, its not governed or owned by anybody, its about 30ft in length and is filled with burned out cars and scooters! Recently while walking the dog i keep noticing dead perch floating on the surface so taking these fish is hopefully taken to a better life!

I have a large filter attached to the back of the tank and also a smaller one inside the tank which creates quite a good flow.

I have added tap water and the mixture that takes out the cholrine and it looks quite healthy and clean after a week. Also the tank is in a back room which hasnt rose above 24 degrees all week.

I intend to feed the perch on Maggots and lobworms, and if they do get bigger i have the option of getting a bigger tank.

If anyone has kept perch before or has any tips for me then i would be very greatful to hear them, i dont want to do anything wrong and make the fish suffer.

Thanks

 

[Noahs ark6]

Hello

I'm afraid setting up a tank isn't as simple as tank+water+dechlorinator= perfectly happy tank. Have you heard of something called a cycle? a cycle builds up bacteria in the filter media that break down the lethal ammonia produced by fish waste. It is an essential part of setting up a tank. Have a look in the Beginners Resource Centre for information on how to do a fishless cycle.

Upon looking at pictures of perch fish they seem quite large. Far too large to have 4 fully grown in a 120 litre tank. Why don't you keep some more "aquarium friendly fish" that have been bred and always lived in tanks?(for example-Mollies, Platys, Tetras, 1 or 2 angelfish E.T.C). Also, with Perch being large and coldwater fish, they'll make lots and lots and lots of mess. You could keep them in that tank until they got to about 3 or 4 inches, but they they'd need a substantially bigger tank.
If you're concerned about the wellbeing of the perch in the pond, ring the RSPCA

 

[Em29]

Hi - your idea sounds brilliant - but I cannot see how Perch are going to fit in the tank for any more than a couple of months before having to move up to a bigger tank. They get huge and cannot conceive of a tank big enough to house them long term. The size you are wanting are just fry sized...

You do need to cycle the tank before you add anything though. Keep us updated - would like to see some pics if you go ahead? Maybe release them after a short while?

 

[Cazzo]

Thanks so much for the advice!

I read up on the cycle, the tank has living plants in and the filter and pump has been running for a week now, im not planning to add anything until next week so it will have a good 2 and a half weeks to cycle. So far it looks clean and there are no signs of anything suspicious.

This tank is quite large (about 3-4 ft long), for the size perch i will be adding i think it's more than enough, however i understand they grow and the place i have the tank can hold somthing much larger, i think to about 5-6ft, which i wouldnt have any problem getting.

Do you know anything that could live with Perch as i know how greedy they are and tend to eat anything and everything!

Thanks again!

 

[Em29]

I am afraid I know nothing about those type of fish..I can imagine most things would be prey! In order to cycle your tank you need to be adding an ammonia source...Have you read about fishless/ fish-in cycling? This will make sure your filter has the right amount of bacteria to cope with the waste that they will produce. I think that you will need a high level of ammonia to add as Perch can be so messy..

Have a read as a fish;ess cycle takes up to 8 weeks. Mine has just finished at 6 weeks...has been a long hard wait!!!

Would love to see some pics though

 

[Cazzo]

Yep, a friend of mine has exactly the same tank, im going to take 2 of his used/dirty filter cartridges and put them into my tank for another week or so.... Hopefully his cycle will be recreated into my own tank, he has freshwater fish too.

As soon as i have it up and running i'll add some photos! Just got to catch them now! haha

There are a few videos on you tube of people feeding their perch live gold fish, bit cruel but i may try some stickleback! or is that still cruel?

 

[Em29]

I personally do not like to feed live fish to others..However I fail to see it a s cruel as these will be wild fish! I suppose it couldn't hurt but I would feel a bit sorry for the little fish being eaten. Although I have platy fry in my small tank and they have been eaten, sucked into filter etc so no different. Survival of the fittest!!

Brilliant news on the old filter material. You will be up and running in no time. Happy fishing for some new perch!!!