Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Fish ID

Agree Tony; and I don't know the %.

HBG are not sterile, but do "normally" produce a very high percentage of males. I doubt even 5% of HBG are sterile, and even then, it would be due to other genetic abnormalities, not the hybridization itself.

FWIW I thought I've read the 90% number is how many are males? First I've heard that some are actually sterile.

90-95% male offspring is often quoted.

I've never seen any credible evidence of the mythical bird fish. Urmetz, you gave the almost certain cause of a stocking in flat fields, flooded by rain and pooling water. Small fish/fry can swim a long distance in 1/8" of water. If draining into a creek, many fish can swim up a 10 foot high vertical stream of water out a drain pipe.

Yep.

Sorry I meant 90% are usually male not sterile. I'll correct that.

There was no creeks or ponds around, I live in the flattest county of Ohio, also they have been many incidences of things like this occurring. I really don't care if you can understand how this could happen, have you ever picked up yellow perch eggs? Probably not but I will tell you they're very adhesive. Easy for something to attach to. I will give an example, think of a pond covered in duckweed. The pond is completely covered in duckweed. Now stick your hand in it. Notice anything? Your hand is covered in the plant species. Now think if stuck your contaminated hand in a pond with no duckweed. What happens is some of the plant drops off your hand and is in the pond that didn't have duckweed. Its not rocket science.

Simmer down Urmetz, you're among like-minded individuals, many of whom do this stuff for a living. We've had this discussion before, many times actually, and while no one has seen it all, the odds are against fish stocking via bird legs.

IMHO Never say never. Incredible things can happen.

"When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

I know it's possible. Leave it at that.

Let's explore the possibility of moving fish via eggs on bird legs.

Eggs must already be fertilized, be sticky enough to cling to the bird, yet somehow drop off once moved to different water, they must NOT dry out while the bird is flying, once in the new BOW they need to be sufficiently aerated to remain viable - hence the reason some species fan their nests, they should not be simply dropped into the mud where they might suffocate, and the puddle has to hold water long enough for the eggs to hatch, and the fry to grow.

What else?

I'm not saying that it can't happen, but I think the odds are better of me winning the Powerball.

Fish eggs are fragile. Dip your hand in a duckweed laden pond, drive a mile with your hand out the window of the car and see how many have dried out. I don't know if a fish egg could survive drying out.

Flat land or not, I'd still bet money on fish swimming from one pool/pond to another thru a flooded area, or an area that had flowing water, no matter how skinny the water was vs. eggs being transported.

The fish eggs would have to be sticky enough to stick to the bird, but not sticky enough so they fall off in the new pond. That narrows it down species wise. The eggs would not have to be cared for by a parent fish, like FHM care for their sticky eggs. The eggs could not dry out during the flight.

Lots of variables for it to happen, but I'm not saying never. Almost never? You betcha.

You guys are silly

You betcha!!!

Just to balance the debate....you're a GBH and spy a bunch of BG on the nest in shallow water. You walk through the nests to try to grab a snack. You then move on to another BOW 2 miles away. You fly at 15 miles per hour. You are there in 8 minutes and start wading.....

Ha!

Kinda chimes with George Thorogood.

Does the GBH bring along the parental male that was guarding the eggs, in order that he may continue to fan oxygenated water over them also?

Damn, ZZ Top as well...

Nope, turns out the new BOW was high in DO and they were close to hatching anyway.

Fair enough, how long can a fertilized BG egg survive out of water, and how quickly would it dry out while enduring eight minutes of a 15 mph air current?

Actually I'll apologize for starting a debate, I just was trying to express that it was possible. I won't further the debate because it really doesn't matter. The odds are extremely not likely of happening. I actually find it rather interesting how controversial it is but regardless I apologize for lashing out there a bit.

No worries man. Debates happen all the time here on PBF. It's just another learning tool and we keep it, mostly, in the right spirit.

I have no idea!

It's raining during the flight.....