Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations fish still dying

I'm having a hard time figuring out what's going on. I assumed it was turn over that killed the first round, but every week something else dies. At first a few smb died. Then all the smb with some WE and YP showed up dead. Last weekend, small redear, small Bluegill, even GSH. This weekend, I found the grass carp dead. Thank God none of my HBG have died, but I'm wondering when the die off will end. I must also say that the numbers are not huge--but still!!! My buddy just down the road also has some dying fish, and he has never had any in over 20 years. Is this normal with a turnover event, or is something else at play. We have been dry. Pond was down a couple feet, but we got nearly 2 1/2 inches this week. Now, lots of tadpoles piping.

Your weakened fish may be dying even after your turnover is long over.

Do you have any run off from streets or culverts into the ponds?

Something doesn't sound right to me. IMHO I would send a few for necropsy and end the mystery. FWIW I would definitely not stock any replacement fish till I had a definitive answer. Just my 2 cents

3z, when the first die-off occurred, we hadn't had rain in weeks. The water clouded up like it does when turnover occurs, and I observed some small, struggling fish in the shallows before the casualties started showing up. Then it just persisted--even after a 2+ inch rain. I thought O2 depletion affected the larger fish. Aside from the grass carp, the biggest fish in my pond are the HBG. It must be those tough GSF genes making them survive.

Bill, I am worried about having few predators. I did have an opportunity to get some more WE and some HSB but decided to wait until I'm satisfied this event is over. I guess this will allow my FHM to rebound and give my HBG's more room and opportunity to grow even bigger.

It's been sad for the last two weekends to see all the buzzards circling my pond and landing nearby. Honestly though, the numbers aren't huge--probably just over 100 that I've found.