Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Mouth Gape HSB vs. LMB

This may be a reason why LMB are better at controlling BG than HSB. I caught a few LMB from a buddy's pond, and a HSB. BIG difference in mouth gape.

HSB was 18.25" long, and weighed 3.18# Mouth gape was pretty round, and measured 2"

A few different LMB were measured; here one that was of comparable length, albet 3/4" shorter. 17.5" long, and weighed 3.0# Gape was more oval shape, 2 5/8" high by 3" wide.

Agreed!

Good to get the actual measurements, thanks.

I'm surprised the difference wasn't even greater.

It would be on bigger fish. % is about 65%.

Wouldn't the gape stay relatively the same on a same-length fish, but one with a higher relative weight?

I'd really like to see a comparison of what size sunfish can be successfully captured and eaten by LMB, SMB and HSB.

I'm worried about what is in my put-and-take/catch-and-release pond that is mostly HBG and CC -- with seasonal tilapia, two koi, and a dwindling supply of fatheads.

A few weeks ago I put in five SMB to hopefully control some of the HBG offspring. I'm seeing just way too many fingerlings that look like GSF. I'm hoping I won't have to drain this pond down and seine or poison it, as the 2-inch HBG I put in 14 months ago are now 8-9 inches, very thick, and they are real rod benders. I've put additional HBG in three times since then. The 4-inch CC I put in 14 months ago are now about 12-14 inches, and real husky.

catmandoo how big are your koi?

i am afraid to put koi in my pond because they'd
get eaten.

i cant seem to find large koi for sale at a decent price:
Large Koi on e-bay ---> Expensive!

wouldn't a koi need to be at least 9 inches long
to have a chance in pond with black bass in it?

ZEP,

I don't think I'd buy from the dude on e-Bay that you reference.

I put about 5-inch koi in my new pond last year. They went in about the same time as 4-5 inch channel cats, and 2-3 inch hybrid sunfish. As far as I can tell at feeding time, they are now about 12-14 inches.

Koi in this area go for about $1 per inch from the reputable pond-fish dealers where I get my pond fish -- such as bluegill, hybrid bluegill, catfish, trout, etc.

After I posted what I did above, I'm thinking I may have three koi in that pond, instead of just two. I believe I bought two at about $5 each, and they added in one extra for good luck. (I also bought a whole bunch of other fish from them that same day.)

A friend grew and raised about a dozen koi last year in a 275 gallon aquaponics tank. Unfortunately, we had a bad storm that took out his power for about three days. All of his fish died when he lost power/aeration. But, the 3-4 inch koi he put in about May, grew to about 8-9 inches by August, and there were lots of fry in the tank before it turned to a stinky mess.

thanks catmandoo.

yes the e-bay seller is way2high

actually after i posted i called an older retired guy that has a place down about a 1/2 mile from our place that sharpens chainsaws. he has worked on our chainsaws. i noticed he had a large koi pond when I was over there once. so i told him i'd like to buy a few large koi from him if he was ever interested and he was agree-able. he says he has too many koi anyway and he'd be glad to sell just few larger one's for like $10-15 each. so i may buy 4 or 5 from him.