It sounds like the fish farm is looking out for their interest instead of yours. $$$$$

The “normal” recommended stocking rate is1,000 2 inch bluegills per acre with 1,000 or x pounds of fatheads. Give them a year to spawn and add bass. Anything smaller than 2 inch will be too fragile to handle. Feed a good brand of food. Food isn’t a good place to try to look for a Tractor Supply Company bargain. I can personally recommend Optimal, Purina and Skretting.

Bass and bluegills have a symbiotic relationship. Only bluegills can spawn enough to feed bass and only bass can keep up with the spawning rates of bluegills. It’s the predator/prey relationship like coyotes and rabbits.

If you don’t stock the bass in a timely manner, the bluegills will over spawn, foul the water and die. Been there and done that.

Prior to release, float the bag in the pond to acclimate the fish to the ponds water temps.

Last bit of advice. Don’t lie to your wife about the $. You’re gonna get caught.