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Moderator Lunker
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My second pond has for most of the warm season had a healthy feeding population consisting of 20 feed trained RES and (the number is currently up to) 22 large male BG. There also have been lots of Gambusia eating pellets, althought the number and aggressiveness of these has been reduced over the year by SMB and YP predation. (YP/SMB/RES/male BG and two 12"+ GC are the only fish present larger than a FHM. No Bullheads, Sunil!)
During the last week or so, a fair number of fish intermediate in size between the Gams and the 8.5"+ sunfish have begun cautiously taking pellets each evening. I have not gotten a good/close enough look yet to identify them. So help me figure out (WAGs heartily welcomed) which of the following or other possibilities are what is going on:
1) YP, now mostly 7" - 8", figuring out pellet feeding. (I think most likely.)
2) SMB, now mostly 9" or so, figuring out pellet feeding. (Possible, but I think they would hit pellets aggressively - that's not the case.)
3) Last year's RES spawn (3" through 6") miraculously learning pellet feeding on their own. (It could be, but don't hold your breath.)
4) Theo screwed up sexing BG and accidentally stocked one or more females, resulting spawn is of course taking pellets. (No little BG have been caught, compared to loads of little RES. It would still be better than Bullheads, I guess.)
What do y'all think? Did I miss any possibilities?
When I get conclusive info on what's eating pellets I will let you know. Winner gets the satisfaction of being right, plus, a bag of Aquamax will be purchased in your honor.
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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What do y'all think? Did I miss any possibilities? A pair of manatee have be teleported to your pond and have taken a liking to your pellets.
JHAP ~~~~~~~~~~ "My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives." ...Hedley Lamarr (that's Hedley not Hedy)
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Joined: Jul 2006
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Oh and by the way, I can think of many, many more possibilities.
Last edited by jeffhasapond; 08/05/09 02:01 PM. Reason: not enough manys
JHAP ~~~~~~~~~~ "My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives." ...Hedley Lamarr (that's Hedley not Hedy)
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Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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HSB that Dr. Frankenbruce slipped into the pond last winter while doing his Northern Pond survey. Didn't you see the foot skin imprints stuck in the pond ice?
My guess - both YP and year old RES. But could be all of the above.
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
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Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
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Notice the rings while feeding, Theo? I know my YP make a very distinctive figure eight pattern of ripples when they take pellets. If not that at least eliminates one option.
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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My smallies don't hit pellets agressively at all. They just come up to a pellet, open their mouth, and inhale.
Excerpt from Robert Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat:" "She took another microscopic bite of her sandwich, then pushed it away. Maybe she absorbed nutrients from her surroundings."
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Moderator Lunker
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Figure 8? That's interesting.
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Mine do the same thing. It's virtually a certainty that the little double ring or "figure eight" is always going to be a yellow perch. They nip at it, then their tail ticks the water surface as they make their roll.
Holding a redear sunfish is like running with scissors.
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Moderator Lunker
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I haven't seen any figure 8's yet, just a few infinity symbols.
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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I haven't seen any figure 8's yet, just a few infinity symbols. That's entirely different.
Holding a redear sunfish is like running with scissors.
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Joined: Jan 2008
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Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
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Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
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1. You must have a portal to another dimension 'neath your pond -a worm hole if you like, the ripples you notice are evidence of re-entry points. 2. Infinity is also the sign for Cygnus, God of Balance, and these fish are trying to communicate there's a battle between the followers of Apollo and Bacchus waging below. Of course if you were a RUSH or Star Trek fan you'd already have surmised as such. Jeesh!
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau
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Joined: Jan 2008
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Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
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Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,800 Likes: 69 |
There is unrest in Gallus pond there is trouble with the fish; For the Bluegill want more pellets but the bass ignore their wish.
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau
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Joined: May 2004
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Moderator Lunker
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Why don't you go Roll the Bones, TJ. Now that I know what I'm looking for, I can see a fair number of Figure 8's in the lighter pellet hits on the pond. You've really got to look at them quick, as the ripple loci are so close together (like, a small YP length apart) that it all turns into a circle by the time it is 3-4 feet in diameter. I'm still waiting for direct evidence from a caught YP that it has eaten pellets.
Last edited by Theo Gallus; 08/12/09 07:37 AM.
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
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Joined: Jan 2008
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Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
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Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
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Posts: 8,800 Likes: 69 |
Worm hole, epic battles between Greek Gods, or YP, I suppose. I feel the latter is a little less entertaining, however.
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau
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Joined: Jul 2006
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Just keep in mind Theo that if two of them are feeding in close proximity they might form a figure 16.
Nice poem TJ, now how about a limerick...
There once was a yellow perch from Ohio,
JHAP ~~~~~~~~~~ "My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives." ...Hedley Lamarr (that's Hedley not Hedy)
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Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
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Figure 8's huh? What are you guys smoking?
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Moderator Lunker
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Definitely YP. I got a good look at stomach contents tonight, and it was made by Purina.
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
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Joined: Jan 2008
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Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
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Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,800 Likes: 69 |
I am happy to hear your YP are feasting on pellets. Is this a new development or have they always been feeding, I wonder? Is their growth consistent [accelerated] with pellet feeding? PS: I think you should appropriately refer to them for now on as your Cygnus Fish
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,615 Likes: 5
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Definitely YP. I got a good look at stomach contents tonight, and it was made by Purina. Bummer, I was really, really hoping you had Manatee.
JHAP ~~~~~~~~~~ "My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives." ...Hedley Lamarr (that's Hedley not Hedy)
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Joined: May 2004
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Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
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I am happy to hear your YP are feasting on pellets. Is this a new development or have they always been feeding, I wonder? Is their growth consistent [accelerated] with pellet feeding? Fairly new behavior. I hope their growth rate pickes up as a result. PS: I think you should appropriately refer to them for now on as your Cygnus Fish Let's not Rush into anything.
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
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