Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Question on stocking mortality rates

I started stocking my 2 acre pond this past Monday and put 400 BG 100 Redear Sunfish and 2000 fatheads in. I will finish the forage portion of stocking this coming week with an additional 400BG 100RS and 2000 fatheads.

My question to anyone who knows, what is an acceptable/normal mortality rate for stocking a new pond?

Not sure what an acceptable mortality rate would be but I do know that you can minimize it by letting the bag of fish float in the pond till the temperature is the same. Quick changes in temperature can really stress fish and make them more suseptable to parasites and infections. Next once the temps are the same in the bag water and the pond mix some pond water into the bag wait a few minutes and then mix in more this is to get them acclimated to changes in water quality. These steps will help reduce stress on your new fish. keep us posted to how many you lose.

Cautionary Note. When tempering fish inside a plastic bag containing oxygen and water be careful NOT to let the bag exposed to direct sunlight for long periods. Sunlight shining on an airfilled bag in or out of the pond with fish has the greenhouse affect and the water quickly warms beyond ambient temperatures this can easily "cook" your new fish.

Thanks for the replys. After 5 days, I've seen 5 dead BG and a handful of minnows. Hopefully won't lose to many more. That equates out to a 1% mortality rate which seems pretty good.