Pond Boss
Posted By: nehunter pen raised wipers - 02/18/18 11:32 PM
What size of pen would I need to raise 300 wipers From (2.5 t0 3 inches) to 5 to 7 inches for release? The pen would be a floating pen 4 foot deep and 4 foot wide with round corners, need to know how long it should be? Or would a larger all round pen be better? The 4 foot measurements are do to the fencing material coming in 4 foot widths. How much feed would it take? How long would it take? No air would be provided. If anyone has tried doing this and found it to be more cost effective to just buy larger fish please let me know? What if I would raise 500 wipers? If this works I would try bluegill next.
Posted By: Centrarchid Re: pen raised wipers - 02/18/18 11:51 PM
I typically take them through food size 1.75 to 2 lbs and start from 8" to 10" in spring having the ready for harvest by following November. When starting from smaller 1" fish in spring they can get to be just shy of the 8" to 10" size needed for following spring. Starting with larger and not getting as big, I think 60 to 90 days is all the time needed if growing during the summer. Should be on lower end of that range. A 4' x 4' cage will be OK I think if water quality is kept good. I have done on round and rectangular cages but not with purpose of comparison. Info should be out their in a masters thesis somewhere. Would look into to ways of getting water to move through the cage and economy of scale will hurt you on that. Fish would be increasing in weight by 4 to more than 8-fold so for every lb of gain assume about 1.25 lbs of gain. I would use pellets that are formulated for salmon to promote faster growth.

If no air double size of cage at least and keep out where water flow is not obstructed by shallows.
Posted By: Dinsmoreoutdoors Re: pen raised wipers - 02/19/18 01:38 PM
check this video out, they are raising HSB "whipers" in cages. Some good info. hope it helps! click on the link or copy and paste it.

https://youtu.be/iXqK7CeypJk
Posted By: Dinsmoreoutdoors Re: pen raised wipers - 02/19/18 02:18 PM
the comercial guys who raise them for food, without oxygen added use 5 fish per cubic foot in there pens so if you have a 4x4X4 pen thats 64 cubic feet, so that comes out to 320 fish per a pen!
Posted By: nehunter Re: pen raised wipers - 02/19/18 07:54 PM
Thanks lots of good info on that sight.
Posted By: Dinsmoreoutdoors Re: pen raised wipers - 02/19/18 11:34 PM
no problem glad I could help
Posted By: snrub Re: pen raised wipers - 02/20/18 01:02 AM
Interesting video.
Posted By: nehunter Re: pen raised wipers - 01/10/20 09:34 PM
Up date. I bought larger wipers 4 to 6 inches and just turned them out. I caught a few in the fall and they almost doubled in size.

Would like to buy some small fry from KEO Farms. What size netting would one need to get them to 6 inches? 1/4 inch mesh would plug up with algae awful fast. Would 1/2 or 3/4 be to large? Would I need two cages one with small mesh size and one with the larger size (3/4).How much feed would it take? 1000 fish grown to 6 OZ would be 375 lbs. gain. So would that take 10 lbs. of feed per pound of gain or some other factor when using a 40% protein feed?
Posted By: Bill Cody Re: pen raised wipers - 01/11/20 12:45 AM
Mesh size depends on the smallest size of the juveniles or YOY that you buy. Technically fish fry are considered fry only until the fish is fully scaled often at about 1/2". Then it becomes a juvenile or fingerling. Know what the expected size / length will be when you get them then buy the largest mesh size that will contain all individuals. You don't need to have a bunch or your stockers immediately swimming into the fish community. It strongly depends on the size of your stockers as to how many per cubic foot that you stock. IMO I would not buy HSB for caging any smaller than 3"-4". Remember you will need to reduce the density per cubic foot as the HSB grow to the next larger size class. Too high of stocking density can easily result in heavy losses. Cage raising fish is not as easy as it sounds.
Posted By: NEDOC Re: pen raised wipers - 01/11/20 04:34 AM
I chronicled my entire experience from Keo. I highly recommend working with them.

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=514956&page=1
Posted By: Theo Gallus Re: pen raised wipers - 01/11/20 01:53 PM
Since you didn't cage the first batch of Wipers, I suggest doing your big BG cage batch next. It should be a cheaper way to learn if you make any big mistakes.
Posted By: gehajake Re: pen raised wipers - 01/11/20 02:29 PM
When talking about mesh size I will add an experience I had, was keeping some 4' to 6" fish in a cage to be used for catfish bait so obviously didn't need a real fine mesh, we had several snakes slide in thru the mesh and gorge themselves with fish, they obviously couldn't get back out with fish inside them but the did a number on our bait fish.
Posted By: NEDOC Re: pen raised wipers - 01/11/20 03:41 PM
Originally Posted By: gehajake
When talking about mesh size I will add an experience I had, was keeping some 4' to 6" fish in a cage to be used for catfish bait so obviously didn't need a real fine mesh, we had several snakes slide in thru the mesh and gorge themselves with fish, they obviously couldn't get back out with fish inside them but the did a number on our bait fish.


Wipers are plenty cheap. I think I had mine purchased AND shipped for around 27 cents per fish.
Posted By: snrub Re: pen raised wipers - 01/11/20 09:25 PM
Originally Posted By: gehajake
When talking about mesh size I will add an experience I had, was keeping some 4' to 6" fish in a cage to be used for catfish bait so obviously didn't need a real fine mesh, we had several snakes slide in thru the mesh and gorge themselves with fish, they obviously couldn't get back out with fish inside them but the did a number on our bait fish.


I have had them do the same thing in minnow traps.
Posted By: nehunter Re: pen raised wipers - 01/14/20 06:15 PM
Any idea on how much feed it would take? Your mesh looked to be 1/2 inch NEDOC.
Posted By: NEDOC Re: pen raised wipers - 01/15/20 03:05 AM
I think the mesh in my first cage was 1/8”. But 1/4” would suffice I believe. I think I could’ve raised 1200 on a 10lb order of optimal #2, 10lbs of #4, 40 lbs Bluegill Junior and 40 lbs Regular Bluegill.

You can raise a lot more fish in a flow thru cage than you would think.
Posted By: nehunter Re: pen raised wipers - 01/15/20 04:27 AM
With the price of making a cage ($100.)and the feed ($300.) it looks like I could raise them for under 75 cents each.
Posted By: NEDOC Re: pen raised wipers - 01/15/20 01:27 PM
nehunter, you may wanna look into these net pens. I'm not sure if they'd work or not, but at the price it may be worth a try....

https://duluthfishnets.com/store/assorted-nets/small-mesh-net-pens/

BTW, I hope you have the ability to feed them a minimum of twice per day the first couple of weeks. This year I only fed them once per day and I THINK that may have really hurt my survivial and feed training. BTW, I doubt you spend that much on feed. If that doesn't work for you I know a high schooler down here raising them as an FFA project. They'll cost you 2-3$ per 5-6" fish, but save you the trouble.
Posted By: Acoursey Re: pen raised wipers - 01/15/20 03:06 PM
Originally Posted By: NEDOC
nehunter, you may wanna look into these net pens. I'm not sure if they'd work or not, but at the price it may be worth a try....

https://duluthfishnets.com/store/assorted-nets/small-mesh-net-pens/

BTW, I hope you have the ability to feed them a minimum of twice per day the first couple of weeks. This year I only fed them once per day and I THINK that may have really hurt my survivial and feed training. BTW, I doubt you spend that much on feed. If that doesn't work for you I know a high schooler down here raising them as an FFA project. They'll cost you 2-3$ per 5-6" fish, but save you the trouble.



Those nets don't last very long in sunlight/pond environs. I'd recommend net dip if you do use them.
Posted By: FireIsHot Re: pen raised wipers - 01/15/20 08:06 PM
Originally Posted By: Acoursey
Originally Posted By: NEDOC
nehunter, you may wanna look into these net pens. I'm not sure if they'd work or not, but at the price it may be worth a try....

https://duluthfishnets.com/store/assorted-nets/small-mesh-net-pens/

BTW, I hope you have the ability to feed them a minimum of twice per day the first couple of weeks. This year I only fed them once per day and I THINK that may have really hurt my survivial and feed training. BTW, I doubt you spend that much on feed. If that doesn't work for you I know a high schooler down here raising them as an FFA project. They'll cost you 2-3$ per 5-6" fish, but save you the trouble.



Those nets don't last very long in sunlight/pond environs. I'd recommend net dip if you do use them.


You beat me to it. I agree 100%, and have several nontreated "working" cages rotting as we speak. Their lifespan is determined by the length of time they're wet and in the sun, and getting a dipped net sure helps. I get mine with the green dip, not the black. The black dip is too stiff and sticky for my pampered fish.
Posted By: nehunter Re: pen raised wipers - 01/15/20 09:48 PM
Would you put a solid cover over the pen so the fish would have shade and may stop some of the growth on the side walls. The price is right.
Posted By: NEDOC Re: pen raised wipers - 01/15/20 10:18 PM
Originally Posted By: nehunter
Would you put a solid cover over the pen so the fish would have shade and may stop some of the growth on the side walls. The price is right.


They have lids for them on those links. I agree with the guys above about dipping the netting.
Posted By: Snipe Re: pen raised wipers - 01/15/20 11:25 PM
I have 4 net pens from them.. 2 I like, 2 I don't.
I bought net pen lids for all and 2 have zippers, 2 don't. The zipper is nice for quick add-remove, Plan on strapping noodles to the center of lid if using one.
If equipped with lids and a good frame it runs around 300$ for a 4x4x6.
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