There is a big difference between a farm pond and a DIY koi pond or large fish tank. Big fish need big area. You wont see any 15-20 pound bass in tanks.... You dont even see 10 pound bass raised in captivity. Bass (and most fish) will grow to a certain size depending on the tank. If you put a bass in a 55 gallon it may reach a pound or 2 quick then slow down. You can then put that same bass in a 500 gallon and it will blow up to 5 pounds then slow down.
Large Mouth Bass in Captivity
- Thread starter clemsonguy1125
- Start date
There is a big difference between a farm pond and a DIY koi pond or large fish tank. Big fish need big area. You wont see any 15-20 pound bass in tanks.... You dont even see 10 pound bass raised in captivity. Bass (and most fish) will grow to a certain size depending on the tank. If you put a bass in a 55 gallon it may reach a pound or 2 quick then slow down. You can then put that same bass in a 500 gallon and it will blow up to 5 pounds then slow down.
You guys also need to realize that it takes the right genes for them to grow large....you could have the best conditions possible but the bass might only make it to 16"-18", just because of its genes. I heard that only 1 in 35 MILLION largemouths will reach 10lbs in the wild.
Thats true, also it's only the females that become large. Male bass max out around 4-5 lbs. When I used to raise bass in my pond you could tell males and females apart really early by the rate of growth. Females grow almost twice as fast.
Thanks guys, Ive read the average size is about 16-18 inches so I should be fine, would it be beneficial to have several small circulation pumps, or are they not nessecery in ponds. I do not see them commonly used. Ive got a 550 gph pump feeding into a filter and spilling back into the pond but may add another pump.
I have two pumps in my pond. One for the filter and one more for circulation. You probably dont need it but it wont hurt anything. Bass strive in still water but the extra circulation will help keep the pond clean. Bass eat a lot so they will create a lot of waste.
First off Go Maryland 
Back on topic what does one do when she finds out after reading this thread that her 29 is probably cruel and unusual punishment for her LMB?? Is it ok to release it back into the wild since it has been kept at home??
Back on topic what does one do when she finds out after reading this thread that her 29 is probably cruel and unusual punishment for her LMB?? Is it ok to release it back into the wild since it has been kept at home??
i dont think it was that hard for mines just starve the LMB a bit after he knows who feeds him and he`ll hit pellets
a friend of mine in TN raised a largemouth until it was 2o something inches and was 18pds until it passed away
