brook trout tank????

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T

Terrimary

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 31, 2011
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Would it be possible to get two small baby brook trout from my local hatchery and put them in a tank? What would the minimum tank size for them probably around 4 inches each? Also how much would a chiller cost, a think to make current, ect? From someone who has done this before about how much would it cost besides the tank to have these fish live?

Thanks.
 
Never done it, saw a tank at an aquarium before for them, I say if you can get 2 or 3 from a hatchery give it a shot, I dont think theyd die without a chiller but they wouldnt breed or anything but if you dont mind buying a chiller go for it (would like a better opinion on that). As a growout Id start with like a 30 or 55 gallon for anything under 6 inches in the 30 and 8 and under for the 55. Eventually youll need a 180 or larger depending on its growth. Good filtration is always a necessity to keep healthy fish, so always get a larger filter than recommended for the size tank youre using. Also, you need a good live food source to start cause juvies of any predatory fish are picky with eating pellets. Cost on upkeep varies, depends on what you feed it and what your plans are etc. Shouldnt cost any more than any other monster fish you'll find on the site. Hope this gives you a decent idea.
 
All trout really need to be kept below 65*F. Brookies prefer colder water than most other species, and I would think 60 or below would be needed for their long term health/survival. They don't need current, just lots of aeriaton and really clean water. I would shoot for something around 125 gallons, because trout are active and it would also help with water quality.
 
The tank at the aquarium did have a current going, im sure its not mandatory but it looks cool and powerheads help keep the tank clean by adding circulation, just be sure to give theem an area where theyre not stuck in the current
 
Chillers can be pretty expensive. From what I have seen, if you get a 75 gallon tank, a chiller would run you about $250-400. You may be able to get by without one for rainbows, but brook trout would definitely need one. I would love to try a trout tank, it just seems like they are very hard to actually keep alive.
 
find a grocery store going out of buissness. grab there seafood tank u no the one for lobsters crabs exc. chiller built into it. be perfect
 
If they are hatchery fish, you won't have to worry about starting them on live food. They start them on powdered/crumbled food as soon as they absorb their yolk sacs, so they will readily take pellets. Like others have said, they will need a large tank with cold water. This will likely be very expensive
 
I would say you need to keep it at 60 deg F at the highest and it would need to be atleast 200 gallons for the tank size and as other have said the water has to be very clean. I would suggest current as well to help aerate.
 
I know rainbow trout can take water up to around 75-78 on a very temporary basis if it is heavily aerated, but water in the 50s-60s is best long term. I would think around 70 or higher long term would be very stressful for the fish and lead to dramatically decreased lifespan
 
The way I see it is that starting up a trout tank costs roughly the same as an equivalent sized saltwater setup minus coral.
 
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