Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations dead mud cat ?

This week I found the second dead mud cat floating that's the only dead fish I've found the other fish are still eating but don't understand why I'm finding them and nothing else don't get me wrong I'm glad they are dying but I've always hear they are the last ones to go any ideas what's going on

Not an expert by any stretch of the imagination. My first thought is mud cats occupy the bottom of the pond. You have some bad water down at the bottom?

But I haven't seen any channel cat floating and I stocked 55 of them

A total swag would be some disease hitting the bullheads. Can't imagine them being dead long enough to float without being eaten on by other CC or BH unless tainted somehow.

I found this link from Langston University that might shed some light.

http://www.luresext.edu/aquaculture/mortalityinponds.htm

It covers dang near every way I can think of to kill fish unintentionally. Maybe you will recognize a scenario that fits your situation.

I could probably come up with a few more. I just haven't experienced them yet.

I thought about that after I wrote it. I didn't see sucking one up a trash pump even mentioned!

Just found another dead mudcat it baffles me I don't understand,the only thing I can think of is my feeders are still throwing I turn them down to 3 seconds once a day at 3 o'clock I am seeing some old fish feed on the banks could it be they are eating and then it gets cold and kills them my other fish are still feeding only the Mudcats are the ones I see floating

If you're very concerned, you could consider sending a dead one for a necropsy. One of the guys here probably has an address for a place that performs them.