Stone Bass - Ambloplites rupestris - 8-10 cm

The rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris), which grows to 15 to 25 cm, is a member of the sunfish family and originally comes from North America. Exceptional specimens become over 40 cm long, but this is rather excluded in the garden pond. The stone perch is very suitable for keeping in the garden pond. In nature it lives in weedy waters and over rocky bottoms. The high-backed rock bass has striking red eyes and a silvery body color with many small dark spots.

In winter, rock bass can easily overwinter outdoors in a pond . It should only be set up so deep that the water does not freeze through completely - approx. 1-1.30 m pond depth is a must for this. It makes sense to use an ice freezer or a pond thermostat to keep the water surface from freezing over completely. This allows gas exchange to continue so that the fish hibernating at the bottom of the pond get enough oxygen.

Rock bass like to forage at the bottom of the pond. As pure carnivores, their sunfish relatives feed on fish spawn and fry, nuisance mosquito larvae, snails, worms, crustaceans and aquatic insects. They can be used to good effect to keep the reproduction rate of fellow fish such as goldfish that are eager to reproduce in check. Their feeding activity also reduces the number of mosquitoes around the pond. Well suited for supplemental feeding of rock bass is a pond fish food for carnivorous, or carnivorous fish - supplemental feeding is especially useful when the food supply in the pond is running low.

While rock bass need the company of conspecifics, they also form territories. The pond can be planted well because rock bass do not go for the plants. Rock bass prefer clean water, so aquatic plants are important for water quality. A pond filter can also be a wise purchase. In the summer, an oxydator for the garden pond, a water feature or alternatively an air pump will ensure that the oxygen content in the pond water increases, which the stone perch greatly appreciate.

The males of the stone perch practice active brood care and guard the clutch spawned by the female. It is possible to breed the stone perch in the garden pond.

Minimum order quantity: 3 animals

Our food recommendation: The Pond Time Pond Mix Food is a balanced mixed food in flake form and floatable pond sticks for all pond fish in the garden pond. Vital ingredients support healthy growth and a functioning immune system. The highly digestible feed is well utilized and counteracts algae blooms and a germ load.