Largemouth bass and catfish

[Dennis Jay]

My system includes a 330-gallon tank with 50 largemouth bass that are growing quickly. They are producing more nutrients than my system can handle, so I need to cull the herd. A friend with a pond has offered to take a few bass. His pond has catfish, about the same size as my bass (6" to 8").

Will the two species coexist peacefully together? Or is this a bad idea?

[George]

They coexist in all stocked farm ponds that I know of.  Larger bass will eat small catfish and any other fish they can swallow.

What do you feed your bass?

[Dennis Jay]

Thanks for the reply, George. Bass are fed 3/16" 40% protein commercial feed. They are big enough now to eat bigger pellets.

[George]

huh.  I have one largemouth in my tank and just about every day I dig one or more large earthworms for him.  Sometimes I'm able to catch a lizard to throw to him.  I throw pellets to bluegill in the tank but have never seen the bass eat any of it.  Maybe he's holding out for the worms.  

Dennis Jay said:

Bass are fed 3/16" 40% protein commercial feed. They are big enough now to eat bigger pellets.

[George]

On second thought, will your bass adapt to life in the wild after eating pellets all their life?  Will your friend continue to feed them pellets?

[Dennis Jay]

Bass are adaptable and rather smart. I'd sure they will adapt. 30 of them are being transferred to a pond this weekend.

George said:

On second thought, will your bass adapt to life in the wild after eating pellets all their life?  Will your friend continue to feed them pellets?

[George]

Maybe I'll teach mine a few tricks.  Already he will skyrocket a few inches and take a worm out of my hand.  I get a laugh out of it every time.  

Dennis Jay said:

Bass are adaptable and rather smart.