How many people have kept crappie for pets?

**Wood_Duck** · 11-24-2011, 07:19 PM

I've been curious for awhile about having one for a pet. I've kept bluegill, largemouth, gar, and warmouth but I have never saw a crappie less than about 5". I wonder at times if there is such a thing as a baby crappie. I caught my gar/bluegills as little 1-2" babies under lights at night when chasing crappie and I got my bass and warmouth on ultralight when they were not much bigger. Never though have I saw a baby crappie. Can't see it being worth paying shipping to order any from a fish farm and I'd only want one or two and you always have to make bulk orders. I keep a baittank with minnows year round so feeding them isn't a problem. I also wonder how they'd do in a regular room temp. aquarium. I've wanted to buy a chiller so I could keep smallmouth before but they cost so dang much I just havent

**Slabs Inc** · 11-24-2011, 07:37 PM

I have never had a crappie. I have had "black perch" aka Green Sunfish in my 150 gallon. Lots of pet crappie on YouTube. I never thought about a chiller, I do know your water would be room temp and that makes for hungry fish. My perch ate like crazy. How many gallon you got???

**hunter7711** · 11-24-2011, 08:02 PM

I used to have a 55 gal tank full of 1 - 2 inchers. In my youner days when I fished for cats, we sould seign the rivers for red horse minnows and would always catch some of the little ones.

**Wood_Duck** · 11-24-2011, 08:16 PM

probably a 10 gallon till it got about 6" or so that way my tank bully(warmouth) wouldn't be so inclined to pick on it. that's the most aggressive little turd i have ever saw. when i drop a fathead in, it usually never hits the water before it's swallowed.