Are LMB cannibals? - Pond Boss Forum

I was wondering if the biggest LMB ate the smaller ones.
If the answer is yes, my following questions are:
1) Are the LMB able to distinguish a small LMB from other fish?
2) Do they eat them in any case or only in the absence of other preys?
3) Given the food needs of an LMB, by predating the smaller ones, how is it possible for a pond to become overcrowded by LMB?

Yes.

From the time they are fry they will eat their relatives if they fit in their mouths.

For question #3, once any of the LMB reach a size too big to fit into any other LMB's mouth, then all of the LMB are competing for whatever remaining forage source exists in the body of water.

Mr Lusk told me on one of his podasts that the streamline body of a 8-10 inch lmb is more desirable than the wide bodied and sharp finned bluegill if given a choice for a mature enough lmb to eat.

Lusk says that of all the eggs laid/hatched, only .5 % will develop into a fish large enough to breed. The rest get eaten.

At the fish hatchery yesterday we were told that LMB are kept with fellow fry that hatched within a two day period. If an LMB is three days older than a cousin, the cousin will fit in its mouth and gets eaten.

Originally Posted By: Dave Davidson1

Lusk says that of all the eggs laid/hatched, only .5 % will develop into a fish large enough to breed. The rest get eaten.

Very similar to our walleye figures.. We figure 2% of our WAE hatch make year 1 (of fry released)...

I think the vast majority of fish fall into this category - they'll eat smaller siblings, cousins, even offspring.

Mother Nature is not very mothering.

Originally Posted By: ItalyBASS

I was wondering if the biggest LMB ate the smaller ones.
If the answer is yes, my following questions are:
absolutely they are
1) Are the LMB able to distinguish a small LMB from other fish?
Yes but its all just food for them
2) Do they eat them in any case or only in the absence of other preys?
They eat anything they can get in their mouth.
3) Given the food needs of an LMB, by predating the smaller ones, how is it possible for a pond to become overcrowded by LMB?

You often find many small LMB (overcrowded - not enough food for them)in conjunction with a few very large LMB (they are eating the small LMB).

The only exception I know is both LMB and BG do not eat their own young during the spawn (immediately after). The can smell/sense their own and don't eat them during that one brief time period. They will eat other adults offspring during this time.

Originally Posted By: ItalyBASS

I was wondering if the biggest LMB ate the smaller ones.
If the answer is yes, my following questions are:
1) Are the LMB able to distinguish a small LMB from other fish?
2) Do they eat them in any case or only in the absence of other preys?
3) Given the food needs of an LMB, by predating the smaller ones, how is it possible for a pond to become overcrowded by LMB?

With regard to the final question. LMB are streamlined and very fast relative to everything else in the pond. LMB can eat them AND they are easier to swallow than BG BUT I think it is much easier for a LMB to catch BG of same length. By the time an LMB reaches 10 inches it's difficult for larger LMB to capture them unless they are sick. If there are enough of them in the pond they will often be in better condition than larger LMB also. This is because they get first crack at BG YOY.

Thank you all guys.
LMB are now spawning in my pond and I've noticed schools of little ones (4-5") appeared now and swimming just below surface almost everywhere.
Maybe they feel safe because it s that time of the year they won t be eaten from bigger ones busy with the spawn?