What do baby grass pickerel eat?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

Bamabrian81

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 5, 2009
8
0
0
Alabama
I just got a baby grass/redfin cross pickerel from paul. It is about 3 inches long. I have a tank with about 12 minnows in there with him but he is not quite big enough to eat them. So far i havent seen him eat any of the bloodworms i put in there. He also has been staying on the bottom alot. Is that normal? Any help would be appreciated.
 
Your fish is probably still settling in. Be sure to provide plenty of cover; he may be hanging out near the bottom because he has nowhere to hide.

At that size he should eat shrimp, small or cut-up earthworms, and small fish such as guppies. Pickerel are very much visual predators; don't expect him to eat anything that doesn't move.
 
Some places carry feeder guppies. I would feel safer with home-raised or wild caught feeders. You should be able to find mosquitofish and wild ghost shrimp pretty easily in most parts of Alabama. Just be sure you carry your fishing license if you're netting fish; the DNR doesn't care how small they are.
 
My pickerel came in at 3-3.5 inchers and there eating rosy reds and todays day 2. not even after 1 min of being added to the tank yesterday they ate the guppies that were in there.
 
Welp i came home from work yesterday and the lil pickerel had been eaten. I ordered another one from paul but this one will be between 6 and 8 inches and should be able to hold his own just fine.
 
He was, there was only 2 smaller crawfish, about 12 minnows, one 3 inch bullhead catfish that doesnt come out during the day time.
 
MonsterFishKeepers.com