Thanks guys this is the kind of info you can't get out of a text book.
Because I work in the "Bug Lab" at NRRI, I have access to the scopes you mention. I like the idea of harvesting a plankton assemblage to give the pond a good start. I also know that you can get pure D. Pulex and D. magna culutres mailed to you.
I read a study where someone found that a daphnia (maybe pulex) was able to survive when 25% of the population was eaten every day! During the summer they have increadibly high reproductive rates. I will make sure that my pond starts with some inverts.
Before we order our fish is it normal to see the hatchery facilities and brood stock? Or do most hatcheries not give tours?
I know that some people in my family would gladly save the money on fish and catch some instead, although I am sure that isn't legal here. (Welcome to MN, the land where nothing is legal!)
What about Red Ears? can I get them in southern MN? I know they eat snails and don't over populate.
To stock walleyes or not? What about stocking walleye fry or fingerlings with the bluegill fingerlings? and then stocking LMB a year later? How many walleye would be safe? How many would be enough? What if you wanted them to get big enough to eat some small LMB? Maybe we would have a large minimum or catch and release only to get the most out of them.
We have lots of humps and bumbs on the bottom, we think these will be about 4 feet deep. Most of the pond should be over 10 feet with deeper holes. Hopefully weed growth won't be excessive.
Can anyone recomend good sources for fish or crayfish in MN, Western WI or Northern Iowa?
