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Joined: Nov 2008
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Lunker
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Hi guys, I was out at the pond this weekend and noticed a bunch of dead FHM's. On closer inspection, I noticed that some appeared to be missing their tail fins and changing color from the back. Then I saw some living ones with a color change, some struggling to swim and their tails missing or damaged. I've got a heaping crop of spawing fatheads, so anything you can tell me would be greatly appreciated! By dlmadde at 2010-06-02 By dlmadde at 2010-06-02 By dlmadde at 2010-06-02
Last edited by Midwest Dave; 06/02/10 10:14 PM. Reason: Updated pictures
Midwest Dave, 3.5 acre lake, 47 acres timber & CRP.
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Joined: Jul 2009
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Dave, if you have crayfish in the pond, that can be a byproduct. I have seen this before and was surprised to learn they can catch up with a minnow. It's interesting that they don't eat the whole minnow or keep it for later consumption. In any event, that could be what you have going on, though it could also be something else entirely! Hang tight for some truly qualified feedback.
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Joined: Nov 2008
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Thanks Todd, I haven't seen any crayfish migrate to the pond yet. But I hope they do! I'm worried about the pink tail ends. Makes me wonder if their losing their scales?
Midwest Dave, 3.5 acre lake, 47 acres timber & CRP.
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Never seen or heard of that.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Joined: Aug 2002
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Hall of Fame Lunker
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Hall of Fame Lunker
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It's common for there to be high mortalities after spawning for fatheads especially the males. They also have a very short lifespan. If you have more males than females then you will see more spawning mortality.
Additionally the males turn very dark during spawning.
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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Joined: Nov 2008
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Thanks Cecil, but I've got plenty of big males spawning, they have turned real dark, almost look look like clown fish. The majority of these with the pink tails appear to be the females. I had a pretty big die off a few weeks back after the farmer put down anhydrous(sp?) ammonia and it rained. However, I've still got loads of healthy fish out there so it didn't kill them all.
Midwest Dave, 3.5 acre lake, 47 acres timber & CRP.
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Joined: Aug 2002
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Could very well be the ammonia as it's very toxic to fish.
Is this a new pond with only fatheads? If not, and the ammonia is the culprit, you should see other species dead too.
You need a berm or something to keep wash from the farm field out of your pond. You could get herbicides are pesticides after a heavy rain too which can also be quite toxic to your fish.
Last edited by Cecil Baird1; 06/04/10 11:08 AM.
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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Joined: Nov 2008
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This pond is pretty new. Had FHM's in for 1.5 years now, and we stocked DNR fingerling BG, RES and CC last summer. The BG are about 2" long now, LMB coming late summer.
Midwest Dave, 3.5 acre lake, 47 acres timber & CRP.
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Joined: Aug 2002
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Wow those bluegills must have been really small when you stocked them last year. Are you sure they aren't a little bigger than that?
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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