Barring any unforeseen catastrophies, I will be picking up some HSB on Saturday. I'm going back and forth over which pond to place them in. Initially, I planned to stock them into the CC pond, thinking that would give me two species on feed, and since I'm not concerned with the BG in that pond I wouldn't need to worry over the HSB bullying the BG at feeding time.
However, there are a handful of CC in there that are 7-8 lbs. My HSB will be 6-8". How aggressive are they at feeding time? Will they hold their own against the CC, or will they be bullied out like the BG are?
I considered stocking them into the HBG pond, but I'm afraid THEY will become the bullies down the road and prevent future classes of HBG from feeding.
My native BG ponds are doing well, so I don't want to introduce bullies into them either. I think it's between the CC pond, or the HBG pond.
Which would be my best option to permit acceptable growth of both species?
I'd chose the CC pond. Those HSB are like lightening bolts striking the feed, they'll be fine with the CC. I just worry the CC may try to eat them. If they're under 10 pounds you should be OK.
The CC pond it is then. Thanks CJ!!
They will be fine in the HBG pond too. What I see happen is that the HSB feed on the outer or deeper edges of the feed. They will come into shallower water as the feed starts to get eaten. Doesn't seem to matter to the BG though. They feed right with them. I had some HBG for awhile and they were some of the more aggressive feeders.
I think you will be fine either way.
My BG and HSB do fine in the same pond. I have some HSB that are now 6+ lbs and I still have good population of 2" BG. Once my HSB hit 3 lbs I started feeding AQMX largemouth (3/4-1" pellet). I throw it out about 15 ft from shore first and let the bigger HSB and LMB start on that, then I put about 5 lbs mix of AQMX 500/600 for BG/Tilapia about 2-4 ft from shore. The real key to keep bullying down is to have good quantity.
Thanks for the input guys! Looking forward to it.
Sprk good advice here I too agree you can use either pond, and if bullying becomes an issue, feed in a couple spots. If I had a choice I'd go CC to give you some variety in that fishery. If you have concerns regarding predation from the CC, cage the HSB until they are 10" then release. You'd probably see that growth in 60 days if you feed regularly.
If you go HBG pond know that I throw AM LM by hand [there's no other way to feed it] and keep my HSB out away from shore often times before my feeder goes off. Keeps them occupied and allows my BG and YP to feed leisurely. My SMB seem to like to party with the HSB but they aren't as fast or assertive, so they have to work a little harder for their meals.
Thanks for all of the advice, the fish went in this afternoon. Naturally, my two budding pondmeisters took the opportunity to impress their cousin....
Hopefully they do well in their new home!
Which pond did you stock these in?
They went in pond #4, the CC pond. I've watched for them during feeding sessions the last two evenings, but this crazy weather has all of my fish somewhat subdued, so I'm not too worried.
This weather has been nuts, no doubt about that...