An interesting thing along those lines...
I figured the easiest way to remove the HSB would be with fathead minnows on a hook. Toward that end, I picked up some FH this weekend from the fish truck at the feed store. Turned out that I couldn't keep the GG's off the fatheads...hard to catch the HSB because the GG's always beat them to the minnow.
The GG's, as I've reported previously, really like, prefer in fact, live minnows. So, it stands to reason that they will also be a source of Fx suppression.
Just for fun, I'm watching a couple of Fx growth rates in the small micro-pond. No indication of hybrid growth depression there. I wonder if the complaints of many about lack of Fx growth, stunting, GSF take-over, etc. is in fact due primarily to overpopulation rather than outbreeding depression. I kind of suspect that is the case, but can't prove it.
I'll be adding some more small HSB as time goes by. I fully intend to keep the 5 to 1 ratio in tact as best I can. Another year from now will tell us a lot more about this little experiment, but I've already learned a great deal and look forward to learning more.
