Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Fathead minnow fry?

we have a few ponds that are muddy like that. Would GSH or FHM live in that type of water?

We are thinkg of adding a few pounds of each within a few weeks if they will make it and spawn.

Thanks

FHM would be fine and I think GSH would do OK as well. The muddy water picture was right after it filled in early June of 2011. At the time I stocked 5 dozen large FHM and 3 dozen GSH when it was still muddy. When I did my alum treatment 6 weeks later to clear the water I had small minnows everywhere.

I found a dead adult GSH floating today, it appears that something tried to eat it but couldn't quite get it down, it measured 6-3/4". I bet this was one of my original stockers.

I am starting to see a lot of fry, not sure what they are but there are a lot of them. My collection method was to use an old tea cup and simply dip the cup in the water. These could be anything but I am guessing GSH.



A closer view, there are 16 fry in this picture.



In a clear glass.



Any guesses?

I am saying GSH. They do not look like FHM fry and do look more like GSH fry to me. If there are no other species of Cyprinids in the pond, then GSH it would be.

My FHM have been thinned down quite a bit over the last year but there a few large FHM still present. I still have quite a few GSH from last summers late hatch that are now 1-1/4". I did notice that some of the slightly larger fry have a very faint black spot on the tip of the tail. Could some of these be SMB fry? I might be in trouble if they are but I still think they are GSH.

I have been looking for YP fry but have not seen any yet.

SMB fry when small are jet black. When they are about an inch to an inch and half they start to get more normal coloration but at that point, their tails become a distinct tricoloration.

Thanks CJ! I figure these are most likely GSH fry. I still have yet to see any YP or SMB fry in the pond. I do think some of my SMB have spawned in the last week or so.

It's where the black bass family gets their name. Their fry start out jet black, SMB, LMB, spotted, etc...

Does anyone have a good picture or description of what GSH eggs look like before they hatch?

A slightly opaque round sphere about 1 MM in size.