Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Cant see any bluegills

People,

Stocked my 1/8 acre pond with 30 small bluegills in September. pH was 5.5 or so. Took a week or so for me to add 4 bags fine powdered ag lime, and pH was now 6.8. Other pond life included frogs, crayfish, gambuzia minnows. Oxygen measured around 5ppm. I had bluegills and LM FL bass in here from 2004-2011, when all died in a fish kill.

I cant see any fish in my pond. I tried fishing with a tiny hook/bread/corn with zero bites. Could all 30 have died with no apparent sign? No floating fish, no big Herons to eat them that I can see. Any other way to determine if any fish in my pond?

How long did you acclimate the 30 bg before adding them, and did you add water from your pond slowly to new fish. Don’t know the ph of newly added fish….. could have shocked them if ph was drastically different…. Just thinking

Basically you are looking for 1 bluegill in an area that is 10'x18'. What size BG did you stock?

So, you are saying that you have had absolutely no other fish in there for the past 12 years other than the gambusia? The O2 levels are minimal for the bluegills. What time of day did you take the O2 reading? What did you use to measure it?

Thanks, Pat. I did not acclimate at all. I did measure the temp from the pond where I caught them, and my pond, temp was both close to 75 deg F. The pH from the pond I took them from was 7.0. Can pH difference really "shock"/kill them? maybe that was my problem.

The BG;s were small- from 2.5" to about 3". Yes, no other fish in that pond other than gambusia. They seem to be immune to just about any variation in water chemistry! So hardy! I took a sample of the pond water at about 8AM. Then tested it before noon- sample bottle tightly closed/sealed. I measured the O2 level via classical wet chemistry methods for DO. I am not convinced yet that such a pH change of 1.5 units can kill fish. But I am not a pro, so feedback appreciated. Still learning.

Also wondering why the do is that low, no wind? Long period of no sun? Did you stock the gams?

Wow, good to know about the low DO. So, what should it be? remember, I yet do not have any aeration devices, so pond must depend on sunshine, which there is plenty here! Also, currently there is about 30% coverage of muskgrass. I am trying to rake it out.

What is a gam?? Minnows? They have been here since 1998. They were always here.

Gambusia

Right now, I have what I call an infestation of muskgrass. tried to rake out much, then a week later, looks like I did nothing. Blooming like crazy. No sense investing in an aeration system, with all that muskgrass, I figure. What should one do? Poison all the algae, then start from scratch, including the gambuzias?

Is there an EFFECTIVE muskgrass killer?

OR, do I even have muskgrass, as sources say it does NOT have flowers, but my aquatic "grass" has sprouts of yellow flowers. How can it be? If not muskgrass, what is it? I wil try to post a good picture!!

Found a picture:

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/utricularia-inflata/

Had no idea. This is both a muskgrass/stonewort/bladderwort?? I have tons of it. How I got it is a mystery.

another picture here:

https://www.al.com/news/g66l-2019/0...t-killing-machine-in-alabama-swamps.html

You have to determine exactly what you have before a treatment can be recommended. Muskgrass is also called Chara. Bladderwort is not muskgrass. The treatment methods for Chara and Bladderwort are different. There are other plants that have yellow flowers.

Try looking here and see if what you have is listed.

https://aquaplant.tamu.edu/plant-identification/

Thanks, essup. After looking at your site and back to my link, I am convinced I have bladderwort. My link actually has the best representation, I am surprised. No matter- thats the disease I have now. No way I am investing in bluegill fingerlings with that covering now almost 1/2 my pond surface, and seems to grow bigger by the day. So disapointing.

I doubt triploid carp will solve my problem short term, although could be a good idea for long run- 3-4 of them.....

Read the link to see what your herbicide options are. https://aquaplant.tamu.edu/management-options/bladderwort/

If you are stocking fish that are even 1/2" or bigger I don't think you have anything to worry about. You are correct about the amount of Triploid Grass Carp. You could stock that many and see a lot of the plants controlled in a year.