Originally Posted By: LAT88
The pond is fertile (agricultural run off) & It filled last weekend. If I kept a few pairs in a 285 gallon tank, will the they spawn & is it possible the eggs will be fertilized?


When I cage spawned my YP I believe Bill recommended a 5:1 m/f ratio, but he can qualify this. For successful project I'd recommend at least 10 f and 50 m just to hedge your bets.

My cage spawning worked ok - YP spawned and laid fertlized eggs on woody debris spread across the bottom of the cage. YP hatched and swam out of cage into the grow out pond, then I brought in cages and returned the adult YP to the main pond cages. I believe I used a 5:1 ratio m/f.

I neglected to fertilize the pond so fry survival was lower than I'd hoped due to lack of forage [zooplankton]. I've since addressed this issue for growing out other species of fish - alfalfa pellets or cottonseed meal are cheap and keep a good bloom going all Spring and early Summer and then I allow the FHM to feed the growing fish.

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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