Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Creating the food chain Should i add shiners to my pond?

I have a new pond thats been filling slowly over the past year. Its a deep pond but surface area is goin to be only about an acre. I have been stocking with FHM and i believe last year i had some successful spawnings. I have lately been buying black minnows to fish with and have been dumping the left over blacks into the pond because i believe blacks and FHM are close to the same right? Anyways my main question is what would happen if i bought shiners from the bait store to fiah with and dumped the leftovers in the pond? Would the live? Would they spawn? Would they be good for my pond? I do not know the species of shiner. The menu just says medium shiners. Thanks guys.

Not sure what "black" minnows are.
Golden shiners would live in an Oklahoma pond. They are predators, limited by mouth size. They'll eat your baby fathead minnows, grow to 6-7" and then stop spawning. They have an endemic ovarian parasite which diminishes their reproduction over a couple of years. If you don't have any predators, I wouldn't stock shiners.
If you have bass, shiners could diversify the food chain...heavy on the word, "could".

Never heard of black minnows and there are several species of shiners. Not sure.

Thanks guys. Im thinkin i should stick with the fathead minnows. I appreciate your feedback.

I am surprised that yal havent heard of the blacks" minnow option. Every minnow store around the tulsa area all sell blacks. Ive heard they were fathead minnows but i dont know. I hope they are cause ive put about ten pounds of blacks* in my new pond lol

Shiners the same as fhm?
Shiners are ranging from 3-11 dollars a dozen here.
Can you raise them in an aquarium or tank?
What do you feed them?
One bait shop said the supplier told them to get whatever price they can get for them in response to the question why are their prices so high compared to other local bait shops.

Shiners are NOT the same as FHM. FHM only get to three inches or so. Shiners can reach 10-12 inches.

I've been catching some really large (10-12") golden shiners on yoyos lately using a number 8 hook intended for bluegill. Never catch them on a 4 or 6 hook... amazing what is out there when you look. Small golden shiners are never present in my bait nets, just golden topminnows and grass shrimp and small sunfish, so that lends creadance to the breeding issues.

Wow you guys are killing me. I still have ice on our pond.

I was raised in mid-Michigan so I know your pain. But trust me the fish taste better up your way in that nice cool water.

It also could mean that the majority of the smaller Golden Shiners are being eaten before they reach adulthood.