Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Creating the food chain PK Shrimp experience

Last fall i ordered 200 PK shrimp on eBay from the guy in Louisiana. They came well packaged and alive. We have a 50 acre lake with strong population of bluegill, bass, crappie, flathead minnows, etc. We also have several areas in shallow coves with mats of alligator grass. I released the shrimp in the backs of these cover in the alligator grass mats. I didn't expect much really. 200 tiny shrimp in a 50 acre lake. Today I took my seine net and started sampling. Both coves are full of shrimp. Very pleased obviously.

Last fall i ordered 200 PK shrimp on eBay from the guy in Louisiana. They came well packaged and alive. We have a 50 acre lake with strong population of bluegill, bass, crappie, flathead minnows, etc. We also have several areas in shallow coves with mats of alligator grass. I released the shrimp in the backs of these coves in the alligator grass mats. I didn't expect much really. 200 tiny shrimp in a 50 acre lake. Today I took my seine net and started sampling. Both coves are full of shrimp. Very pleased obviously.

Thats got me interested and learning more about them. Did you grow them separately for some time or just release them? Do they do fine without moving water I just looked briefly.

I put several hundred in my pond and now they are as of last summer everywhere. Scoop up a bucket of water and you will have some . I have LMB BG BCP mud cats carp and who knows what else and the ghost shrimp do fine as long as you have weeds for them to hide in

Proper habitat does wonders.

Proper habitat does wonders.

PK shrimp are amazing - just getting back into working with the Fattigs in NE who used to provide the Pond Boss forum with shrimp orders. Hatchery has sat neglected for a decade since Dale's passing and I'm working with the family trying to help them resurrect the operation to help generate some revenue so they can keep the farm in the family and not sell. If anyone is interested in PK Shrimp feel free to reach out - would love to begin helping the Pond Boss forum and the Fattig family again.

tj@hudlandmgmt.com

I didn't do anything special, just dumped them into some thick weed mats and hoped.

Good habitat is critical for survival, reproduction, and recruitment of grass shrimp. Our mentor Bob Lusk preaches continuously about proper habitat, Good habitat is very important for producing a high quality fishery. Habitat, Habitat, Habitat.

Are PK Shrimp annual, or perennial?

Thanks

PK shrimp live basically one year. This is why habitat needs to be good for the production and SURVIVAL and growth to the next year of the offspring so they can keep the population thriving. Weed beds as dense cover are critical for having a thriving grass shrimp population. Shallow weed beds or an adjacent wetland for very good to maintaining grass shrimp and many other invertebrates as excellent forage for small fish. Habitat, Habitat, Habitat. Habitat is not just fish structure.

Thanks Bill. So winter doesn't affect them?

From what I've gathered PK Shrimp can live farther north than other freshwater shrimp. They're pretty cold tolerant.

Thanks.

I have acres of cover, so I'll take a shot at them.

Is there a difference between a PK and ghost shrimp?

PK shrimp are an abbreviated term for Palaemonetes kadiakensis/Mississippi Grass Shrimp/Glass/Ghost Shrimp. PK are cold tolerant freshwater shrimp species and establish self sustaining populations provided they are stocked densely enough and have sufficient macrophytes available to escape predation.

I'm working with the Fattigs this Summer to try and clean up the hatchery - lot's of chainsaw and clearing work to do, not to mention we have some ponds literally filled with phragmites - but hoping to make steady progress and get at least a few ponds working by Fall - which is when we will be shipping PK Shrimp.

Thanks TJ. You and Bill took care of me.

I need to order some...

TJ, have you had any success restoring the PK shrimp operation?
Had I been paying attention this past April. I would have volunteered my chainsaw services. Many years in the logging woods and even more now as an arborist leave me with a serious chainsaw addiction. I NEED to run a saw nearly every day...for peace of mind , you understand.

I'd be happy to hear an update and try to do my part to get more of these cold hardy shrimp established in our area too.

Hey fellas:

Made some progress this season, however there's a lot left to accomplish before shrimp transport is feasible. I'm hopeful Fall 2026 we will be able to get them moving - I'll be sure to post an update so anyone interested in supporting the Fattig resurgence can hop on board.

I don't know anything about the phragmites. Is there any concern about them being in with shrimp and being introduced or are they beneficial?

Phragmites are an invasive reed that typically spreads rapidly along pond edges.

I would definitely not want any of that type of seed in with my PK shrimp order. However, I have not heard of that problem. Why are you asking?

Can the PK shrimp survive in mid michigan? I would love to support the Fattigs operation with an order this fall.
jim

Thanks FishinRod!

The following in TJ's post "we have some ponds literally filled with phragmites" combined with that I've bought fathead minnows before from other vendors that had other fish / critters in with them so that prompted the question.

I trust TJ though and definitely want to get scuds and PK shrimp.