I lost 180 fish in the last five weeks. Examination of all the dead fish strongly suggested starvation.
Evidently you either learn to eat bits of pellets and bloodworms, or you perish.
I cleaned the tank one last time this morning, and began the process of emigration to the outdoor tanks.
I moved out all of the adult fish. We had 100% success keeping the big ones alive. They ate half and whole nightcrawlers all winter.
I moved out 210 of the little bluegill and redears that survived. They seemed to be in fair condition, but I believe that they maybe, at most, grew 2-4 mm, and barely maintained body condition. The remaining fish in the tank (maybe 150?) all seem healthy and happy, and are already back on the feed.
I took out the heater because the ambient air temperature is now above what the heater kicks on at.
I'll get some pictures eventually.
Holding a redear sunfish is like running with scissors.
