In many instances the RES available may be pretty small...especially when buying them off the truck. Do you know what sizes they have? It's hard for a 2" RES to avoid predation in an already established pond. Size of the RES will of course determine the price you have to pay.
I've heard two schools of thought on the GC, one says to stock in advance of the vegetation, as a preventative measure, while the other advocates waiting to see if a problem arises before stocking a fish that may denude your pond of ALL vegetation. Personally, I don't think one would hurt, and I'm so paranoid about vegetation that I probably would try it. If it's starving, muddying the bottom, or eating pellets intended for other fish, you should be able to remove ONE.
Dang it...Yolk beat me to it!
Last edited by sprkplug; 09/05/13 01:44 PM.
