Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations BG ID?

I think I've figured out what my problem is. I've been cleaning the tanks of my own bluegill that I've raised, and I think the ones in my tanks are so compressed that I forgot how much more elongated regular bluegill are. My redears aren't nearly as healthy so they're a little more "streched out".

Bruce I only took a pic of the one side. I looked in my trap this afternoon and had a couple more in it. I will take a pic of them tomorrow and then post. What exactly should I "key" on when taking the pics? I am guessing the ear tab and the fins, anyting else.

I did put some 'gills in the pond from a couple lakes. I don't recall any of them being a RESF, but that was a few months back. Also I put a couple warmouth in for the heck of it.

Also I got a lot of "fry" fish that are really small. I am sure they are 'gills of some kind. Am I right to assume this?

I will try to post pics tomorrow.

Donnie

Ok I did a little research. I found the hatchery's web page and price list. Based on what I paid, I got regular BG. No where on thier price list do they mention CNBG. I orderd regular BG, but when they guy loaded the bags he told someone they where CNBG. At the time (and before I found this site) I really didn't understand the difference. Sounds like the fish truck guy didn't know what he was talking about. Here is the link to thier price list.

http://www.whiteoaklake.com/fish.htm

I am still gonna post the pics anyway. Maybe I did get RESF, only time will tell.

Donnie

Uhh, Bruce, that kind of sounds like bragging , except if it's in the records it's not bragging . Left-handed complaining, maybe?

FWIW here's my opinions on the fingerling ID. I don't count 'em as fer-shure Redears until I see the color of anger on their opercules. And I have seen plenty of red/orange fringes on gill opercules of RES fingerlings as big as the one(s) in DonJovi's pictures. My backup, I don't trust it 100% identifier is side bands. IMHO DonJovi's fingerling side bands are too distinct and solid to be RES. Based on these two pieces of info, I would judge his fish to be BG (or CNBG) and would definitely not include them if I was trying to segregate Redear fingerlings.

Ewest's picture of a fingerling is smaller than I have seen many/any red-lined gill tabs on, but the sidebars on it are SO distinct and solid that I would class it a BG, 100% sure, if called upon to make a BG or RES judgement.

I think body condition (tall-and-fat or skinny-and-drawn-out) can vary too much from fish to fish and seasonally for me to use it as a reliable indicator of fingerling BG versus RES identification. My criteria are designed to work like your BG sexing methods - one might miss some small RES, but be able to select fingerlings that are all RES, definitely no BGs mascarading as the angriest of all Lepomis.

Well put.

Guys here is why this is not easy for me on small fish. The 2 pics below are RES and further confuse. But it is still fun and I learn a lot by going through the process. Bruce I think by your grading process you have genetically selected for dinner plates and not pickle dishes (oval shape). With 50 g BG babies you don't see our common 5-10 g fish except in the cull bucket.

EERIE, ISN'T IT?





Bruce I know -- that's why I posted the pic.

The smaller a fish is, the harder it usually gets to superficially identify it and then one has to start using morophological features that do not vary. Looking at the gill rakers will settle this disagreement of, if it is a BG or RES. At least that is what I would do when trying to put a positive ID on small BG or RES. BG rakers will be "long and thin/slender" whereas RES rakers will be shorter and thicker/stubby".

Since DonJ's fish had a damaged opercule flap it is very difficult if not impossible to put a 100%positive ID on the fish from just a photo. DonJ's fish superficially looks like a BG but George Bush, in a photo, could look like a liberal democrat.

I got a couple pics taken the other day but I never got a chance to up load them. I am on the road for a few days (NY) and I will post pics when I get back. All in all they look the same as the 1st, but these have a noticeable (sp?) blue ear flap. I am still thinking BG, but only time will tell.

Donnie

Interestingly enough, the lower picture (frontal view) looks like Admiral Akbar from Star Wars III - Return of the Jedi.

BUMP

George is that a new post or and old one ?

My SWAG is that is a newly matured male CNBG. How big was it - looks about 7-8 in. Did you count the anal fin spines (12 in CNBG , 11 in BG) ?

What are you seeing that makes you wonder " What kind of critter is this?" ?

Eric , this is a brand new post – photos taken this morning. I “bumped” it to get it on a new page.
I didn’t count the anal fins - length probably about 8 inches.

It is the dominate whitish markings on the lower lip and jaws.
I haven’t been aware of this type markings on our fish before, but maybe suggested on your “classic” CNBG photo.

What happened? My post somehow got demoted to the prior page. Anywho, my comment is based on the lowest photo in george's latest post.

"Interestingly enough, the lower picture (frontal view) looks like Admiral Akbar from Star Wars III - Return of the Jedi."

Sunil,
I hate to be a stickler but Return of the Jedi was actually episode VI since Lucas released them out of order.

Yes I am a nerd. :rolleyes:

Then you should remember this:

"Take evasive action! Green group stick to sector 47..."

"IT'S A TRAP!!!"

Did Admiral Akbar have a close friend named Admiral Jeff?

My thread got hi-jacked by Return of the Jedi, Green group stick to sector 47, Admiral Akbar, and Howard, the Jamaican Van Driver... :p

George,
Are the BGfish old enough in the pond to have F1's crosses between BG and CNBG and be that big? Your fish is definately a male due to the spotted nape. It could also likely be a variant of a CNBG. All species have a certain degree or amount of color and morophological variation.

It is very good to see that your hands are back in good enough shape from intensive fly tying at the PB convention to again handle a fish pole.

George I have seen that light blue/white jaw on both BG and CNBG. Here is a BG with it (slightly darker). Note your fish has some light fin edges with orange color. Also its bars are fewer and wider.

Bill, my first thought was this fish was a F1 cross of native BG and CNBG.
The pond is five years old.
I had not seen this vivid coloration before.

Also wondered if the vivid jaw color was due to spawning ritual – the girls are popping wide open with eggs?

I’ve been culling for true Florida genetics but this one had to go back home.

My fingers are recovering but it takes me more time to correct typos that to write the response.
Conference was great just to meet all my old friends in person.

Eric, I thought I had remembered seeing this trait on one or more of your photo before.
My BG ID photo folder is a great resource that all you folks have contributed.

Thanks guys.

Thread High-Jacking is a sign of true friendship and good feeling.

DJT, you are correct of course, but I just can't get down with the "first" three episodes (the newest ones).

Even Return of the Jedi got to cheesey with the ewocs (sp?)?

The Ewocs' Christmas Special was the lowest point ever in Star Wars.

You guys need to be sent behind the woodshed - ask your daddy what that means...

Now see what you have done - made me hi-jack my own thread... :p

Sorry george!. As far as the woodshed, I know what it means. All good as long as Theo goes first!