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I was just wondering if anyone has had experience raising fathead minnows.

We have a dedicated minnow pond (1/4 ac.) with fatheads and fair reproduction. Is there anyway to improve or maximize reproduction of these little critters?

1)Does supplemental feeding work?
2)Is pond fertilization the only option?
3) (or) do nothing and hope for the best?

Thanks,

Ed

Boy, Ed, do I have a deal for you!! This same question came up at least a year ago. It just so happens that my advisor back at Colorado State worked out a lot of the details on pond culture of fathead minnows (feeding, harvest, etc.). Several people asked for copies of that report, and I had several made. Well, I just checked, and I still have a few leftovers. Post your mailing address here or send me an e-mail with your address, and I'll mail you a very nice report.

Dave :

Might I get an email copy. Email address is in the heading above above-- ewest@mnwlaw.com

Thanks. ewest

Thanks Dave,

I sent you an email with my address.

Ed

I would like a copy emailed to frankp0@cox.net

thanks

Frank

Dave,
Could you send one more please?
rkswaim@hotmail.com

I hate to pile on, but I would like an e-mail also. mdonovan@satx.rr.com . Have a great little tank for fatties. And thx for your trouble.

Ric, Ewest, Frank, and Casca. You misunderstood me! This is OLD technology. No e-mail involved. I need a mailing address, and I will then send you a photocopy of the report. E-mail was not even invented when old Doc Flickinger did this research and wrote the report. :-)

I know, I know -- I probably should get the report scanned. However, it's like 60 or 80 pages, and my scanner is WAY too slow for a report that long. :-)

Dave :

I don't want you to have to make a copy of a 60 page article for me. Maybe you could just post the highlights for all of us and we could go from there with questions. Thanks for your time which is also valuable for all of us. ewest

Dave and all-- I am editing this post to add some basic info on bait fish production from the site below which has good basic info in its fact sheets as well as other topics. Not as good as your big article but an intro. Please note it is from SRAC Southern Regional Aquaculture Center-- southern prospective and may need to be adjusted for northern climates.

http://srac.tamu.edu/fulllist.cfm

Here is SRAC home page which has tons of info and links and worth looking through for many topics.

http://www.msstate.edu/dept/srac/

ewest

Ah, the modern world arises. Thanks, Ewest.

I had a very small forage pond that started out with 1 pound of fatheads and 25 baby bluegill. I fertilized once. Both started spawning and didn't slow down. I seined twice and then couldn't get anyone on the other end of the seine. They got overcrowded and fouled the water. Everything died.

Be careful what you wish for.