Pond Boss Forums INTRO New Forum Member Introduction Spoiled rotten BG

I'm trying to transition from hydrated fish food to dry food but am having a hard time. My BG will eat hydrated food but if I throw it dry they grab it and spit it out. I have a large population of Fhm and GSH I typically throw out thirty two percent catfish food the minnows nibble on it until it is gone while they are occupied I have been feeding different brands of 42 percent food all by hand. The BG will take the food and spit it out then the minnows will eventually eat it. Do I need to not feed the BG until they are very hungry or is there something else I can try. I have tried to adjust the level of hydration but it doesn't seem to make any difference

-Eventually- they will eat it. as it starts soaking and they start eating it, it will increase over time.

I have so many minnows that it doesn't have a chance to soften up I guess I need them to get really hungry

In my neighborhood pond, I had a similar issue with feed being consumed by Golden Shiners before the bluegill would start eating, but this was more in the early spring when the water was colder...the GSH just seemed to show up minutes earlier than the bluegill.

Now, with warmer weather and water, the bluegill show up right away, and the GSH eventually show up.

I think, on the issue of hydrating feed vs. dry feed, more fish will take to and keep in, and stay on, the hydrated feed. However, we know that dry feed does grow some big fish; heck, it may grow larger fish if less of the fish population actually take dry feed, thus leaving more dry feed for those who take it.

Thanks for the response yes the larger GSH don't seem to have any problem with the dry food the BG always get it first but spit it out then the GSH get it.. I guess I will let the water warm up some and get the BG a little hungry