Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose mixing crappie

Is it bad to mix black and white crappie? why?

An interested bump.

masterbasser, like everything else in life, it all depends. Black crappie have smaller gill rackers and thus can use micro organizatisms better. White crappie need bigger forage like small fish. Black crappie tend to be in clear water and white crappie in muddy water.

We have both in our lake and they both do fine. Our lake is very predator heavy and except for BG, we get very little reproduction. I have to keep adding crappie to keep the population up.

We need to know the size of your lake, other species and goals to give you better advise on your lake.

These are the places to look for info on crappie in ponds. They are an excellent example of the quality of this forum. The first link below is to the exact question you ask. The second is to our collective outstanding work on Crappie in ponds.

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=000402#000002

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=20;t=002275;p=1


Evaluation of F1 Hybrid Crappies as Sport Fish in Small Impoundments
MICHAEL L. HOOE and D. HOMER BUCK

Illinois Natural History Survey, Sam Parr Biological Station, Rural Route 1, Box 174, Kinmundy, Illinois 62854, USA

Abstract.—Growth and reproductive characteristics of reciprocal F1 and F2 hybrid crappies–white crappies Pomoxis annularis × black crappies P. nigromaculatus–were examined to determine if hybrids are better suited for stocking in small impoundments than their parent species. Relative weight gains of the reciprocal age-0 F1 and F2 hybrid crappies were not significantly different (P = 0.55), but the relationship may have been masked by differences in initial sizes of the test fish. Second-year relative growth rates of both reciprocal F1 hybrids were significantly greater than growth of either of the parent species and, with one exception, than growth of the reciprocal F2 hybrids. The reciprocal F1 hybrid crappies were capable of backcrossing with their parent species, and both reciprocal F1 hybrid male crappies had viabilities equal to those of their parent species. Egg viability for the F1 hybrid black crappie female × white crappie male appeared equal to that of the parent species and greater than that of its reciprocal hybrid. Recruitment in ponds was highest for the pure species, intermediate for the F1 hybrids, and lowest for the F2 hybrids. This study confirmed that F1 hybrid crappies may offer a viable alternative to stocking parent species in small impoundments, the F1 hybrid white crappie female × black crappie male being preferable to its reciprocal hybrid. We recommend that hybrid crappies be used only on an experimental basis pending a more thorough evaluation of the incidence and effects of backcrossing with parent species.