Forums36
Topics40,964
Posts558,005
Members18,506
|
Most Online3,612 Jan 10th, 2023
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 13
|
OP
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 13 |
Is it possible to have a low maintenance pond with HSB?
If so what would that look like in a 3/4 acre pond in northern Alabama?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,541 Likes: 845
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,541 Likes: 845 |
When you say low maintenance, what is your definition of that?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 13
|
OP
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 13 |
I'd like to create a food chain cycle and avoid manual feeding, but like some of my other posts mention I want to stay away from the bluegill.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,930 Likes: 2
|
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,930 Likes: 2 |
build a large forage base for them to feed them selves.
start at the bottom. shrimp crayfish BNM and FHM several differant types of shiners TFS possibly
once you can walk across the water on bait fish stock your HSB.... thats just my idea...Im not a pro, just sharing my opinion
Goofing off is a slang term for engaging in recreation or an idle pastime while obligations of work or society are neglected........... Wikipedia
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,151 Likes: 491
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,151 Likes: 491 |
BRice has a good recipe. Since the HSB do not reproduce you should then be able to have fairly good control of the amount of fish they consume and better able to maintain a reproducing forage base. Keep in mind that as HSB grow they will eat more fish or larger fish per year so you will likely have to occasionally reduce the number of predators. Regularly monitor the density of the forage fish.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 09/11/15 01:35 PM.
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine - America's Journal of Pond Management
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,386
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,386 |
Nathad, someone more experienced and intelligent should respond shortly but FWIW here's my 2 cents. When I was developing my pond I put in #10 of unsorted(consequently ended up with some CF, not really sure what kind or how many) FH. Then added YP, WE, and 40 HSB. You'll probably get a chuckle from this but I suffer from the "I think I know better" syndrome we all have from about the age of 5. My pond is only about 1/4 acre. Needless ta say but I will, the HSB eliminated ALL the slow, dumb(which was ALL of them) FH in a matter of weeks. Immediately called and whined to Dr Perca and was told "I wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer" and then advised to add some plants and then SPS and BNM. and to remove around 30 HBS. I did and those forage species have spawned and thrived. It's not hard if ya know what yer doin or listen to someone who actually does. If this advice has already been posted, please excuse me as it took several hrs for me to complete this response. I am very busy and had to squeeze this in between lunch, Jerry Springer, Dr Phill, Judge Judy and re-baiting the minnow trap. Good luck, Busy Bob-O
Do nature a favor, spay/neuter your pets and any weird friends or relatives.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,099 Likes: 23
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
|
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,099 Likes: 23 |
If you wanted a couple different catchable species, Hybrid Striped Bass and Hybrid Crappie using golden shiners, fathead/bluntnose minnow Redear Sunfish and yellow perch would be very near maintenance free, replacing any HSB and HBC removed, when needed.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,541 Likes: 845
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,541 Likes: 845 |
+1 for adding the RES, especially if you will be swimming in the pond.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,151 Likes: 491
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,151 Likes: 491 |
RES when spawning will bump swimmers who wade in the beach area among the spawning nests.
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine - America's Journal of Pond Management
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,930 Likes: 2
|
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,930 Likes: 2 |
My tilapia in my pond were nibbleing my back while I was in the pond doing some work. One even was tugging on a flap hanging from my trunks...
They have eaten evey little bit of every thing and are hungry.
this is off topic , but I went from manually removing FA in the spring to having to feed them as I see some that are looking skinny becuase they have eaten all the natural food the pond offers. (This is my forage pond with no predators)
Goofing off is a slang term for engaging in recreation or an idle pastime while obligations of work or society are neglected........... Wikipedia
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 13
|
OP
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 13 |
BRice has a good recipe. Since the HSB do not reproduce you should then be able to have fairly good control of the amount of fish they consume and better able to maintain a reproducing forage base. Keep in mind that as HSB grow they will eat more fish or larger fish per year so you will likely have to occasionally reduce the number of predators. Regularly monitor the density of the forage fish. Would HSB and RES be a working food chain? I believe I understand the RES to not be fast enough reproducers for a LMB pond, but since the numbers of the HSB would be defined, thought the RES might work for them. Please correct me if I am wrong about RES not being a strong enough food supply for LMB or even SMB as that was a route I had hoped to go initially. Thanks for all the advice and ides thus far!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,151 Likes: 491
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,151 Likes: 491 |
If you don't use too may HSB per number of RES then that is a workable stocking combination. Add and remove HAB based on numbers of small 1"-4" RES that are present. It would probably be a good idea to let the RES spawn at least once before adding any HSB. Adding golden shiners may allow one to stock a few more HSB per acre. The main problem that I see with the RES-HSB combo is a pond may not produce enough mollusks and favored invertebrates to grow lots of big RES.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 09/16/15 01:08 PM.
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine - America's Journal of Pond Management
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,898 Likes: 146
|
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,898 Likes: 146 |
Unfortunately in my pond I may have a RES, HSB, and GOLDFISH pond. I have FHM but my limited number of put and take perch have taken them out (started with 100 perch in 1/3 acre pond). So I'm left with controlling perch population with angling or predation, removing eggs if possible, lots of GSH and fry as a forage option, and by next spring a scenario where there will be nearly unlimited number of goldfish. RES are in low numbers and no spawn yet after stocking 1.5" size. Next year when I decide on my apex predator I'll have to keep in mind that they need to like GSH and goldfish too I'd love to see folks do a GSH, FHM, RES (or low output sunfish like pumpkinseed) and use HSB as the apex predator either in a southern or northern pond. I do have a month or two in the fall when the spring stocked tilapia have lots of babies which will fill in a little niche for additional forage but by November they disappear. Your southern pond probably has a little different spin on things. If you could hand feed your RES the OPTIMAL brand fish food, then the snail shortage may be solved.
|
|
|
Moderated by Bill Cody, Bruce Condello, catmandoo, Chris Steelman, Dave Davidson1, esshup, ewest, FireIsHot, Omaha, Sunil, teehjaeh57
|
|