How to Keep Crappie in an Aquarium

Catch a pet crappie., Get a relatively large aquarium., Pour gravel into the tank until it is about two inches thick., Have many hiding places in your aquarium for the crappie., Get an aquarium hood., Use lighting to crappie daytime and nighttime...

12 Steps 2 min read Medium

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Step 1: Catch a pet crappie.

    Crappie are not sold in pet stores.

    You can catch them with a net or a fishing pole.

    The small hole in their mouth from the hook will heal quickly and won't get infected if the water in your aquarium is clean.

    To learn how to catch crappie with a fishing pole, search the Internet.
  2. Step 2: Get a relatively large aquarium.

    In the wild, crappie live in large lakes and ponds.

    For small crappie, a twenty gallon tank will be fine.

    For large, adult crappie, a fifty gallon tank or more is a better choice. , Natural colored gravel will help your aquarium imitate the crappie's natural habitat.

    Make sure it is cleaned to remove dust. , Crappie like to hide and wait for prey to swim by, then they ambush.

    Crappie have very tough scales and fins, so fake plastic plants won't harm them. , Crappie aren't jumpers, but an aquarium hood would help ensure the safety of the fish. ,, In the wild, they're lake or pond can fluctuate from freezing to very warm. , Crappie are dirty fish.

    They give off a lot of waste.

    A powerful filter is essential to your fish's survival.

    Try to find one that doesn't make a lot of current.

    In the wild, the lakes and ponds crappie live in are usually stagnant. , Crappie are very sensitive to chlorine. , Wild crappie live in lakes or ponds with plenty of helpful bacteria.

    You need to simulate that to help keep them from being overly stressed.

    Let your tank cycle for a month or so before adding the crappie. , They will not eat fish flakes, pellets, or bloodworms.

    In the wild, they eat a bait fish called shad and wild minnows.

    Usually, gas stations and stores near lakes will sell live minnows for fishing bait.

    If you don't live close to one of these gas stations or stores, you can buy small goldfish to feed them.

    They will quickly adapt from shad and minnows and happily prey on goldfish.

    You can keep minnows or goldfish in a separate aquarium, and take one or two out and feed them to your crappie when it's time for him to feed, or you can keep them in the same tank.

    Feed the minnows or goldfish.

    You may be keeping them just to be eaten, but you shouldn't let them starve.

    Feed goldfish flakes, and feed minnows freeze-dried bloodworms. ,
  3. Step 3: Pour gravel into the tank until it is about two inches thick.

  4. Step 4: Have many hiding places in your aquarium for the crappie.

  5. Step 5: Get an aquarium hood.

  6. Step 6: Use lighting to crappie daytime and nighttime.

  7. Step 7: Understand that Crappie do not require heating.

  8. Step 8: Obtain a powerful filter.

  9. Step 9: Obtain treated water.

  10. Step 10: Cycle your tank.

  11. Step 11: Give your crappie a diet of only live food.

  12. Step 12: Clean the aquarium once a week.

Detailed Guide

Crappie are not sold in pet stores.

You can catch them with a net or a fishing pole.

The small hole in their mouth from the hook will heal quickly and won't get infected if the water in your aquarium is clean.

To learn how to catch crappie with a fishing pole, search the Internet.

In the wild, crappie live in large lakes and ponds.

For small crappie, a twenty gallon tank will be fine.

For large, adult crappie, a fifty gallon tank or more is a better choice. , Natural colored gravel will help your aquarium imitate the crappie's natural habitat.

Make sure it is cleaned to remove dust. , Crappie like to hide and wait for prey to swim by, then they ambush.

Crappie have very tough scales and fins, so fake plastic plants won't harm them. , Crappie aren't jumpers, but an aquarium hood would help ensure the safety of the fish. ,, In the wild, they're lake or pond can fluctuate from freezing to very warm. , Crappie are dirty fish.

They give off a lot of waste.

A powerful filter is essential to your fish's survival.

Try to find one that doesn't make a lot of current.

In the wild, the lakes and ponds crappie live in are usually stagnant. , Crappie are very sensitive to chlorine. , Wild crappie live in lakes or ponds with plenty of helpful bacteria.

You need to simulate that to help keep them from being overly stressed.

Let your tank cycle for a month or so before adding the crappie. , They will not eat fish flakes, pellets, or bloodworms.

In the wild, they eat a bait fish called shad and wild minnows.

Usually, gas stations and stores near lakes will sell live minnows for fishing bait.

If you don't live close to one of these gas stations or stores, you can buy small goldfish to feed them.

They will quickly adapt from shad and minnows and happily prey on goldfish.

You can keep minnows or goldfish in a separate aquarium, and take one or two out and feed them to your crappie when it's time for him to feed, or you can keep them in the same tank.

Feed the minnows or goldfish.

You may be keeping them just to be eaten, but you shouldn't let them starve.

Feed goldfish flakes, and feed minnows freeze-dried bloodworms. ,

About the Author

S

Stephen Tucker

Dedicated to helping readers learn new skills in cooking and beyond.

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