Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Corrective stocking Fat Sleeper Goby

Any one familiar with these?

I was thinking of adding some to my pond thinking the body shape would led its self to being eaten by the predators in the pond and they will eat some of the GAMS as non of my predators reproduce thus I have no smaller predators to eat them and they are out of control eating up all the shiner eggs and fry...I think.

in a normal Bass pond every year they get thinned out by schools of hungry YOY bass. I don't have this

Fat Sleeper Goby

Bobby, I'm not sure about this specific species of Goby, but the ones that have gotten into the Great Lakes are considered invasive because they're voracious predators of eggs of native fish.

I believe it's briefly benefited the smallmouth populations, the adults have a forage option right in their wheelhouse, but who's to say what future populations will look like when their young are so few.

not the same goby...these are native to my area

However they can get bigger than I might like

Non of my predators reproduce..

after further thought I am thinking that these reaching 18" or so might be too big for what my goal for them would be.

I think I'm leaning towards attempting the pirate perch I post in another post.

BobbyRice,
I never studied it but when the Great Lakes wanted forage fish they chose alewives. Can you source those into your pond?

Just a slight correction. The great lakes never wanted the alewives as a forage fish. They came into the great lakes via the St. Lawrence seaway and were one of the first invasive species to enter the great lakes. They were a nuisance for a while dying by the millions and clogging beaches to the point bulldozers had to be used to clean them up. Then the Michigan DNR figured out (after others failed) by planting salmon in the great lakes as a way to reduce the alewives numbers. This all came with a great side effect for some of the best salmon fishing anywhere.

I don't think they "wanted" alewives, they are vary similar to threadfin shad in size and feeding habits. I don't think alewives would handle a southern hot pond any way. Threadfin would but I don't have enough open water for them not to just get eaten up to the last fish.