How to Keep Bass in Fish Tanks

The largemouth bass is so named because its jaw protrudes well past the eye. These are predatory fish and produce a lot of waste matter, so your aquarium requires adequate filtration in the form of a correctly sized canister filter. Largemouth bass are hardy and interesting aquarium fish. Although it is a large fish, with correct care, your largemouth bass can live for a number of years in a large aquarium of over 70-gallon capacity.

Things You'll Need

  • 75-gallon aquarium with stand and canopy
  • 8-oz. bottle of chlorine neutralizer
  • Hydrometer
  • Canister filter and associated pump
  • Fist full of aquarium filter wool
  • 25-oz. nylon bag of activated carbon
  • 20 bio balls
  • Aquarium heater
  • Thermometer
  • Aquarium sand
  • Rocks
  • Driftwood
  • Largemouth bass
  • Plastic peg
  • Syringe
  • Aquarium net
  • Live insects or live earthworms
  • Carnivorous pellets
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Instructions

    • 1

      Position a 75-gallon, all-glass aquarium on a level aquarium stand. Position your aquarium in a draft-free area that does not receive direct sunlight, as this will cause unwanted algae to flourish.

    • 2

      Fill the aquarium with tap water. Add 5.5 fl. oz of chlorine remover to the aquarium and stir vigorously.

    • 3

      Adjust the thermostat at the top of the heater to read 68 degrees F and place the heater against the aquarium glass. Use the adhesive plastic suction cups to hold the heater in place.

    • 4

      Wait 24 hours and use the thermometer to check the water temperature again. Adjust the heater if required.

    • 5

      Open the lid of a canister filter and place a fist full of filter wool onto the bottom of the filter.

    • 6

      Rinse a nylon bag of activated carbon under running water.

    • 7

      Place the activated carbon on top of the filter wool.

    • 8

      Place the 20 bio-balls on top of the activated carbon.

    • 9

      Plug the canister filter into a wall power source and turn on.

    • 10

      Place the aquarium sand in a clean plastic bucket and rise under tap water. Place a handful of clean sand into a long-handled aquarium net and place the net onto the floor of the aquarium. Use a long-handled aquarium tong to grab onto the bottom of the net and to tip the sand into the tank. Repeat until you have covered the bottom of the aquarium with a thin layer of sand.

    • 11

      Place your rocks and driftwood into the aquarium to form mini-caves, but leave a lot of swimming space for the fish.

    • 12

      Open the plastic bag in which you transported the largemouth bass. Place a plastic peg to secure it. Attach the bag onto the aquarium rim with a plastic peg and use the syringe to draw up aquarium water every 10 to 15 minutes. Add this water to the bag, to acclimatize the bass to the aquarium water chemistry.

    • 13

      Catch the largemouth bass in a net after an hour and place them into the aquarium. Discard the traveling water, in case the water contains disease organisms.

    • 14

      Feed the bass live insects or earthworms to start with. The largemouth bass is a predatory fish, and is used to hunting. Add carnivore pellets to its diet gradually.