Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Advantages/Disadvantages of Clams/Muscles in Pond

I am in the middle of a philosophical cross roads here. In my pond I have some YP SMB a few trout that found their way in. At least one Walleye that found its way in ( from fry in stocking ) and some log perch from the seasonal creek. I have fatheads and crawfish I have added. I have bullfrogs and leopard frogs that have made their way in. Some snails also found their way in.

Where the question comes in, I was wondering what would either freshwater clams or muscles bring to the mix and bio diversity of the pond. Would they be a good addition or would they muck things up more? Any thoughts from the bivalve experts out there?

Eric :

Start with this thread with particular attention to Bill Cody's info.

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=000101;p=2#000017

Ewest, Thanks that is/was a great start! I am also looking for thoughts as to what people think about adding them to the mix and the value of them in a pond. Thanks again!

Eric, I've added clams to our lake. My purpose was to add diversity to our lake. I still think it was a good decision even though we don't see them often.

Norm, Thanks! thats why I was thinking about it as well. I wanted to add diversity but didn't want to do somehting crazy.

Where did you get yours and what variety?

One thing to think about, if is is also a swim pond, is the sharp edges of the clams, as I have stated in another forum. We are now trying to get rid of our clams because several people have cut their feet on them.

Great thoughts and points on swim pond. In my case my wife and kids would not be caught dead swimming in a pond. She is such a city girl that unless its an olympic size pool, its not made for swimming. Thus in my case its not an issue, but great point.

I thoroughly enjoyed my first swim in the pond yesterday, it was about 90 outside air temp, and upper few feet of pond felt like the PERFECT pool maybe about 75. It was awesome.....Eric, yor family dont know what their missin

As I was livin large and floatin around, I noted some dead tadpoles that wind had blown in against shoreline. Upon closer inspection they were covered with a small (1/4" or less) brown conical shelled snail/mollusk?....(if correct, thanks to ewest's link above and BC's detailed discussion). Good forage for RES?

I still have yet to stock pond, and have learned through several threads here about RES.....but cant find a local supply.

If I wanted bad enough to purchase some (RES) and have em shipped to CA, who would you (anybody) recommend??

I fish some small lakes that have clams and mussels in them.

Catfish love to eat them.

I am trying to find a place up here in Upstate NY that I can get some that are not the Zebra variety. I can walk 200 yrds away and get those nasty ones out of a big pond called Ontario!