Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Is there such thing as a Hybrid coppernose?

I have been pouring through all the great info in your forum and to be honest, the acronyms have been a bit of a stumbling point. I bought and stocked my pond with what the hatchery called Hyrid Coppernose. I cannot seem to find any reference as to whether this actually exists or not. Did I buy regular coppernose (would not be dissappointed, just want to know).

Mook

I've never heard of a hybrid coppernose. Not that there couldn't be one!

Can you call the supplier and ask him what the 2 parent species are if you don't know already?

acronyms! try this link, i also had to ask what they were.

http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=92442#Post92442

Mook, here is a link to Common Pond Boss Acronyms.

My first thought would be Hybrid Bluegill "HBG" (Coppernose Male x Greensunfish Female).

They just got fancy with the name.

Where did you get the fish ? Can you post a pic ? I suspect that they are referring to CNBG as a hybrid (incorrect) or that they may be a mix of BG and CNBG (which are different strains of BG but are not a hybrid).

I will catch one soon and get a pic for you. I got the fish from Sheppards fish farm in Maurice LA --- http://www.shepherdsportfish.com/

he told me that is was a cross between CNBG and GSF. He also said that in his experience they cross breed back to CNBG.

Mook

It is according to their site a HBG. A pic would be great as to my knowledge we have not seen or had posted a pic of a CNBG X GSF.

The research is uncertain as to if they back cross with either parental but our collective guess is they will.

What is your goal for the pond? HBG will not alone support a LMB population.

I will be curious to see a picture of this as well, as I put some coppernose in one of my ponds that had GSF in it, so this may help me determine what fish are in the pond in the future.

Thanks

I will be putting in a whole bunch of fat head minnows this fall along with some pallets or other structure for them to spawn on. The LMB will go in sometime late May/early June according to the Hatchery.

I was told that this will give everything time for a spawn or two etc and the LMB should have plenty to forage.

Mook

Suggest you also get some 3-5 inch CNBG.

3-5 inch CNBG to go with whatever I have? I am confused - the 1/2" "hybrid CNBG" are already ?3 inches

Mook

>3 inches

Yes, stock 3" or > straight CNBG. Reason being that the Hybrids will not breed enough offspring to support the LMB population. The FHM will probably sustain them for most of the first year, but after that the FHM will be too small to sustain the LMB.

Think of it this way. How well would you grow if all you could do is eat 1 tablespoon of food, then had to walk or run around the block. That's equivalent to the 3 year old LMB eating a FHM.

Now what if you could eat a hamburger instead of the tablespoon of food while expending the same amount of energy? You'd put weight on quicker, right?

And I thought this blog was about pond and fisheries management - I think you just figured out my weight problem.

Mook

We are multi-talented and full of................analogies

Caught a couple of my fish this morning to get a closer look. They all looked the same - not sure if they are young red ear or the hybrid CNBG - thoughts? As you can tell, they are eating well as the bellies are nice and plump. I cannot believe they have gone from 1/2" to 4 1/2 inch in about a month and a half.

What ever they are they seem to be eating well!

They look like hybrids to me.

how can you tell? There are also some RES in my pond from my stocking but far outnumbered by these (above)

Mook

coloration and morphological features

HBG,

And they look different then the ones I have that are the Northern Bluegill x GSF.

That is because it is IMO a Georgia Giant or close. See below and see what you think.

Yeah Eric, I see what you mean.

thats it, looks like a match to me - thanks for all your help. I will try and take a better picture next time so that we can see the fins and more coloration - took my pics as I was heading to the office and was late.

Have you raised the IMO Georgia Giant before? Had success? Reproduction rate? reproduce back to? and finally, taste good?

Mook