Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose what size will eat what size?

I am interested in what sizes of prey are eaten by what sizes of predator. The species I am trying to learn about are BG, YP, RES,SMB and HSB. There are FHM in the pond now along with the BG and RES. The BG are mostly 2-4" with some up to 7-8" present. The RES are now 2-5" I hope as they should be growing.

What I am hoping to learn is what prey size is too big for certain sizes of the predators. For instance can a 8" YP eat a 5" BG? - etc. etc.

I will be adding some YP and maybe SMB maybe tomorrow if they get caught. Just trying to get some additional insight on how this balancing act might work.

Can you point me to some papers that discuss what the predators eat at various stages of growth? Or share what you have learned over the years of cutting open fish?

Just cause a predator fish is able to eat a certain sized fish does not mean that the predator/forager will always eat that size of fish/food item. Numerous other factors influence the diet of opportunistic predators. None of them read the books about what they are supposed to do.

As far as I am aware, the information you ask about is not yet in one source or reference. Those data are spread throughout the literature and sometimes it is either in an obscure reference or in the grey literature. Much still needs to be published about fishes. EWEST may be able to glean some of this information from the literature that he has access to. Best and easiest thing to do in your case, is to start measuring mouth size of the specific fish you are interested in learning about. If it will fit in their mouth it is OFTEN but not always fair game to be eaten. Prey density and vulnerability ALSO always play a big part in diet of predators.