That makes perfect sense when you think about it, just from a quick look at the range maps for the two species. Pike are found far further north than Muskies.
Having said that,
tlindsey
...did you read through that thread for which you provided a link? What a clown parade that was! The only person on there who seemed to actually provide worthwhile info regarding the husbandry of these, or any, fish...was the poster
P
PYRU
. The OP of that thread seemed to have lifted a quote from a gas-station free handout aimed at tourist fishermen; his fanboy telling potential keepers that Muskies would prefer temps up into the 80F range was the fly on the s**tpile of that "information".
As far as long-term care...i.e. years, not the mere weeks that some refer to as "long-term"...there doesn't seem to be much info around. Will Muskie survive indefinitely in an unheated room-temperature tank? I think that
Logan487
might be the one to answer that for us...in a couple years. I am going to hazard a guess that they might live for several years, but will not be in prime condition if kept warm year-round...and might languish and eventually fall prey to some other stress-related condition. I hope I'm wrong.
wednesday13
, are you saying that you guys fish for Muskie through the ice? I love ice-fishing...and I revere Muskie...but I've never even considered the idea of combining the two. For me, Pike have always been the Bad Boys of hardwater fishing, the big guns that get the blood pumping when they cruise past the hole as you peer down into the water. That big toothy head coming through the hole when you catch one is a sight to see.
I picture myself frantically enlarging an 8-inch hole with a chisel, inches away from the jaws of a giant hooked Muskie who is too big to fit...
Sorry for the de-rail...just day-dreaming...