Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Grass Carp Diet

In ponds without PROPER fertilization or artificial fish feeding, the fish community biomass is quite low compared to what many EXPECT it should be. Often clear water ponds have no more than 10 to 25 pounds of total fish per acre. Amur have been reported by some nieve people to eat larval fish; but I am convinced when stocked at normal densities and as slow swimming as these fish normally are, the predatory ability on other fish by grass carp is minimal and very little overall impact on the total fishery. However, any denuded low fertility aquatic habitat (by chemical, mechanical or biological means) usually supports less fish mass than a pond or lake with normal vegetation levels of 15% to 40% coverage. Vegetation creates habitat, refuge areas and allows fish food resources to flourish.

Other bream (or green sunfish) no doubt ate many more fish eggs than the 7 amur in your pond. The amur were probably busy keeping the vegetation consumed.