Is it illegal to have some bass as pets

Cesar L · Post by **Cesar L** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 11:31 am

I was thinking of putting some baby bass in a 100 gallon tank. Does anyone know if thats illegal. And if its not how many fish do you think would be able to survive I dont want to hurt them.

Joe W. · Post by **Joe W.** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 11:33 am

I don't think it's illegal to have them, but it's definitely illegal to transport them live from a lake to your house.

Where do you plan on getting them?

sTony · Post by **sTony** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 11:37 am

NoJob wrote:I was thinking of putting some baby bass in a 100 gallon tank. Does anyone know if thats illegal. And if its not how many fish do you think would be able to survive I dont want to hurt them.

If it's not legal why proceed?

sTony

ash · Post by **ash** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 11:42 am

here is a tip if its shady you probably dont want to announce it on a public forum....

Slippy · Post by **Slippy** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 11:58 am

just to be forwarned, i had a pet bass once that started out about 2". that thing ate so much it cost too much to keep after about 6 months.

G-Ko · Post by **G-Ko** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 1:40 pm

If you are worried about the legality of the issue, go to the local fish store and get 4-5 peacock bass. They are similar to the largemouth in all aspects but coloring, and there is no legal action.

But i don't think anyone will care about a few little guys missing. In a hundred gallon tank I would only have a couple if you plan to grow them large, at a pound that space will be too limited.

Greg

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 2:00 pm

I might of had a 250 Gallon Aquarium that could of had 1 small largemouth, 1 small Smallmouth and 2 peacock bass in it. They would have ate a ton. Probably $10 a week in goldfish and crawdads.. they need at least 1 crawdad a week in order to keep them from getting "hole in the head" disease... at least that is what I was told.

They are amazingly smart and you can learn a lot from them.. including how they eat a craw.. which is very educational. Stand a craw up in defense mode and they leave it alone... only later to eat it from behind when it's not in defense mode.

Where they hang out in shade or sunlight depending on the water temperature etc..

They recognize people and follow them around the tank.. pretty cool.

For 100 gallon aquarium I wouldn't have more than 2... and never add fish after the first fish is added.. Add them all at once or don't add them. They are territorial and if they are all added together no problem.. if they are added later then they fight till the death!

Also, a 6 inch bass will be 2 lbs in 18 months in your tank - so keep that in mind! They need to eat often - several times a week and they eat A LOT! The warmer the water - the more they need to eat!

Make sure you can keep the water temperature regulated with a heater.

Not sure if it's legal or not.. so figure that out before you do anything!

Good luck.

GW · Post by GW » Tue Jun 26, 2007 2:08 pm

Hey Tom,

Did you have to run bigger filters for the Smallmouth? I have wondered about what it would take to keep a smallmouth and always thought you may need a current flowinf through the tank?

Gary

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 2:10 pm

If I had one it would of had 3 filters (typically 100 gallon aquarium size) on my 225 gallon tank. The smallmouth was fine... Fiesty SOB though... All bass are violent, but Smallies are ferocious!

My aquarium might have been 225 gallons not 250 as I previously stated.. but, in this case I need to be more specific.

Tom

Cesar L · Post by **Cesar L** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 2:22 pm

thanks guys, I was thinking maybe some spotted bass from oroville it would be fun to watch them tear up some gold fish and crawdads.

kazk · Post by **kazk** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 2:22 pm

Check the DFG regs you may need a permit for any gamefish

Chris Koda

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 2:31 pm

In my first message I said Bluegill and Crawdads originally... I was on the phone so not very focused... I would have fed them GOLFISH (From petsmart) and crawdads - if I actually had a tank!

Fixed to cover my rear...

Also, I definitely don't have a fish aquarium at all now or for the past year and a half or so.

Mike Thomas · Post by **Mike Thomas** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 2:48 pm

Hmmmm....you dont suppose there might be a hatchery or an aquaculturist around somewhere that you may be able to buy them from .....as far as I know if you were to go about this way there is nothing that could be said by any authority. I could be wrong but it might be worth checkin in to

Bassin · Post by **Bassin** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 2:56 pm

In regards to the same question....What about if you had a large pond in your back yard. Isn't there companies that supply Bass or BlueGill (for a price) if you wanted to stock it?

Mike Thomas · Post by **Mike Thomas** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 2:59 pm

Its been a few years since I looked into it.......I'm almost totaly sure if a guy were to look around he'd probly be able to find 'em. Google here I come

Mike Thomas · Post by **Mike Thomas** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 3:05 pm

Try this link. Not sure if they sell in small quantities

http://www.proaqua.com/?cf=stocking

MN · Post by MN » Tue Jun 26, 2007 3:18 pm

But you cant have a bass under 12" so if you were to catch some at a lake wouldnt it be illegal to keep them.

Tobe · Post by **Tobe** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 3:42 pm

There is a commercial dealer in Dixon that sells largemouth, Iâ€™m sure if you drove out there he would sell you one or two.

SHAFT · Post by **SHAFT** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 4:21 pm

including how they eat a craw.. which is very educational. Stand a craw up in defense mode and they leave it alone... only later to eat it from behind when it's not in defense mode.

Is this the defensive position ? do you think a craw that layed flat would work better , That is if you actually had a tank and saw this first hand !

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 5:27 pm

That is exactly my point! I wouldn't fish that baits.. Sorry River2Sea.. I would prefer to fish the huddlebug or similar (flat style craws) based on what I might have seen in my aquarium!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 5:29 pm

By the way - Peacock bass can often be found at tropical fish stores. i found mine at a small asian fish store in Brea California. They were the barred peacock bass... and were absolutely gorgeous in the aquarium! If I had largemouth and smallmouth in it as well, I would say they would get along fine.. assuming they are all added to the aquarium at the same time!

Mark Hiser · Post by **Mark Hiser** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 5:33 pm

WOW!!!! Such wisdom from such a young fella

I think you might be on to sumthin

I had a couple as pets once, but the slippery little suckers were hard to keep on the leash

Mark Hiser

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 5:35 pm

Just what I observed.. I by no means am the say all to this type of thing!

Jeff Huth · Post by **Jeff Huth** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 6:14 pm

you must have proper permits in place from DFG, AFTER your tank has been inspected by them and your fish must be transported by an approved facility.

We have had live gamefish on display at my place of employment for years, but we also have permits for each specie we've displayed, and remember you can NOT transport.Your fish must be transported by an approved facility.

Dom · Post by **Dom** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 6:43 pm

NoJob wrote:I was thinking of putting some baby bass in a 100 gallon tank. Does anyone know if thats illegal. And if its not how many fish do you think would be able to survive I dont want to hurt them.

You can request a permit from DFG for educational purposes.

This is "Jaws" When I got him he was about 6" two years later he is almost 18"

I have a wet/dry filter so the current is strong and runs across the tank longways its decorated like the Delta with plenty of ambush points which JAWS uses. I plan on returning him to the Delta so I feed him 4 doz med/large minnows every 2 weeks (about 60.00 a month).

He is pretty cool he knows when its feeding time he will dance, He will eat out of my hand, He is strong I have a imatation logs in the tank and they are heavy he will pick it up with his nose and use his mouth to scoop the rocks away to flush out any bait fish hiding from him. He will not hardly move or eat once the water temp drops below 49 and will become active when the water reaches between 50-55.

I take it hes a male becase he made a bed on the back side of the log down current this past spring. As for plastic colors its hard to say in dirty water becuase the wife like the tank crystal clean but I can tell you in the clear water he likes more natrual colors and to tell you the truth if you can blend the color in with the background he goes crazy looking for it but when he finds it he slams it with no hesitation! forget matching the hatch match the background LOL LOL.

He runs from bright wacky colors and as for crawdads he will eat em head first or tail first it dont matter he slams em(trying to break thier back) then he comes back and sucks em up he will dig em out also.

My advice is if your gonna run a tank run a BIG one with a wet/dry filtration system! I have did the 55 gal with canister filters, undergravel,etc... The tank will get dirty fast and the up keep is a pain in the rump! My tank now is 175 gal and I run a very nice wet/dry with a very powerful sub pump the current is created from tank end to tank end. I do a 25% water change every 3 months I bought a 20' pieace of clear 3" flex hose one end in the tank one out the door 5 min later I fill back up add 4 caps of clorine remover done.

Its quite an investment, I am into my set up alittle over $2,000.00
but its worth it and it sure beats the 55-100 gal maint. head ache.

Tight Lines
Dom

Mike Thomas · Post by **Mike Thomas** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 7:29 pm

probly hard to "walk without a towel too!

Mark Hiser · Post by **Mark Hiser** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 7:39 pm

I don't think you should try to go there

Or up that hill for that matter

Mike Thomas · Post by **Mike Thomas** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 7:54 pm

well theres two hills me's thinkin off and I always seem to come down em' with a little less $$$$ then I went up'em with......atleast the one south of here I've got somethin' to show for it.........not to mention a good healthy dose of wit

or something that rhymes with it

...the one north of here......well thats a completly different story

but yeah...I think you're right.....I probly shouldnt go there

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 11:16 pm

Heck, why dont ya just go to south Sacramento. Plenty of fresh fish shops that sell every sort of fish you can imagine alive. Never did understand how those places get away with it.

Fish Chris · Post by **Fish Chris** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:50 am

I bet you be hard pressed to find a Ca DFG biologists who as a kid "did not" keep a bass, bluegill, catfish, etc, in an aquarium... a bucket.... heck, a hole dug in the back yard !

Many people who are passionate about fish, like to surround themselves with fish, and learn everything about them that they possibly can.

Peace,
Fish

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:57 am

WANT ME TO GET YOU THE NAME OF WHERE WE BUY THEM HERE AT DON PEDRO........WE ARE HEADED OUT THIS MORNING TO STOCK ANOTHER $ 5,000 WORTH OF FLORIDA LARGEMOUTH IN DON PEDRO.........HATCHERY RAISED AND THEY RUN ABOUT $ 2.50 PER INCH IF I REMEMBER...

JIGS

MikeD · Post by **MikeD** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 6:48 am

Dom wrote:This is "Jaws" When I got him he was about 6" two years later he is almost 18" He eats 4 dozen med. minnows every 2 weeks.

I had to run to the other room to get my sight fishing glasses on to find him in the tank - it was my "Where's Waldo?" moment for the day...

Fish Chris · Post by **Fish Chris** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 7:36 am

Why feed him those "expensive" Shiners ? (at this point, I guess, you might not have a choice) but bass can be trained to eat just about anything.

As a kid, I had one that ate long thin strips of lunch meat (out of my fingers). I fed it left over worms and small dads sometimes too, just to supliment its diet.

Bass do have quite personality in a tank.... But my Alligator Gar, and my Pike that I kept while in Louisiana, were the coolest !

Then, my Octopus (which would run up the glass to edge of the tank, reach out a few tentacles, and take shrimp from your fingers), and my Bluespotted Stingray were awesome too.

Or my Mudskippers... Crazy little dudes. Litterally, "fish out of water" !

Peace,
Fish

markscolwell · Post by **markscolwell** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 7:46 pm

I had a 100 gallon tank with two bass and two needle nose gar when I was a kid. I loved it!!! I would swap the bass out ever 6 months because they grew so fast. They ate a ton, I would catch minnows every two weeks and dump in a hundred at a time. They would only take a day or two to eat all of them.
It was alot of work but very educational. I would have some now if someone else would take care of them.

If you want some pet bass, just go down and take a few little ones from your local waters. I can't amagine that anyone including DFG would be upset about it.

P.S. Minnow traps with bread in them catch all kinds of small fish!!

Larry Hemphill · Post by **Larry Hemphill** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 9:18 pm

If you leave a lake with live bass in a livewell or container and you get stopped by a ranger or warden - I hope you can run fast!!! It is absolutely illegal to transport live bass and DFG fines are steep!

Marty · Post by **Marty** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 10:05 pm

What about Mexican Bass with Green Cards â€“ is it still illegal

BassTraveler · Post by **BassTraveler** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 7:15 am

Here's something to think about.

Peacock Bass.
They are colorful and much more fun.
We have had them in the past and had them eating out of our hand. (Note:feed at your own risk and have a towel handy)

They are available at your local Pet Store.

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 7:20 am

OK, SIEG WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY GET INTO CLEARLAKE, WILL THE COLD WINTER KILL THEM ??

Fish Chris · Post by **Fish Chris** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 8:05 am

Hey Jigs, yes, Clear Lk. is too cold for Peacocks.... which is why they are legal for sales in tropical fish stores.

If I'm not mistaken, there are a few, small, self sustaining populations in a couple southern most Cali ponds. I know their are in South Florida. But they just "squeek by" and are not deemed a threat to native (not really, but anyway) fish.

Fish

PS, I agree with Bass Traveler though. Peacocks are beautiful, totally legal, and have a lot of personality, just like Largemouths do. A good choice for somebody with a large tank, who is considering keeping bass as a pet.

Cesar L · Post by **Cesar L** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 9:22 am

thanks guys for all the suggestions. I think I will opt for the peacock bass as a pet.

Skeeter1 · Post by **Skeeter1** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 2:07 pm

"I plan on returning him to the Delta so I feed him 4 doz med/large minnows every 2 weeks (about 60.00 a month). "

Do not return this fish to any water body. One of the main reasons you can not transport live fish is because of disease issues. Moving fish from one body of water to another without a pathology check can be very detrimental to a fishery. As anyone that has had a fish tank can tell you, you can bring home what looks to be a healthy fish from the fish store, only to have every fish in your tank belly up in a day or two. We will all be much better off if you follow through with the responsibility and keep it till it dies or off it.

Only a registered aquaculturist can transport live game fish.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 3:10 pm

Stick to Feeder Gold fish to feed the bass with. They are much cheaper... $4 or $5 a week will be good. also, make sure to add a crawdad from time to time... They need the vitamins in the shell!

Barry Watson · Post by **Barry Watson** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 4:38 pm

I believe we bought the bass and bluegills for our pond from a place in Chico called Code Fisheries. Its been 20 years so I have no idea if they are still around. I got a book from UC Davis called Pond Management and they had some tables that gave you the ratio for Bass to Bluegill you needed for the size of your pond.

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