Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Redear sunfish with Hybrid Bluegills

I am thinking of adding some redear sunfish to my 65x100' pond that currently has around 150 3"-5" HBG, 30 4-6" HSB and 10 small albino CC. The pond is aerated and I feed Optimal pellets twice a day.

I went with the HBG in order to limit recruitment and put the HSB in there to hopefully take care of what few offspring they produce. I ordered 12 HSB but they "put "a few extras in" and when I got home there were 35 in the bag. I lost a few in transit but the rest are thriving. I am planning to remove some next year but could leave them in.

Will the HSB be able to keep both the HBG and RES reproduction in check?

Is there a risk of the RES breeding with the HBG and ending up with an F1 or F2 hybrid that will reproduce at a level that the HSB can not keep up with?


Any other downsides to consider? I would love to add them but not if it jeopardizes the long term balance. If it work out, how many would you suggest adding given the current fish population? The ones I am considering are 2-3" so I think I can still get away with putting them in without them being eaten by the HSB.

Thanks

Is that Churchville NY. If so it is probably to cold for RES survival. You have some interesting questions.

HBG could cross with RES and the viability of survival is unknown to me - both as a cross and as to cold tolerance of the cross. RES are not prolific reproducers nor are HBG. HSB can eat 3 inch BG and RES.

Sorry,
I am in Southeast PA. Right now the HSB are in the 4-6" range. I put a pound and a half of fatheads in a month before the rest of the fish and while it looks like the numbers are starting to decline, there are still a lot in there as well as a good bit of fry.