Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Fish disease?

While feeding my bluegill I have noticed that quite a few of them have a dark spot on the top/back of the upper fin. These fish are 4 1/2 months old. Also when I feed the fish all I see is female bluegill, lots of them, where are the males? Do I need to worry about the dark spots? I searched the forums but did not see much info on fish disease, am I overlooking it? Thanks for any info.

Alright, I'll bite. How do you know they are female at 4 1/2 months?

A black spot on the soft part of the dorsal fin is a way to help id a bluegill, it is normal. Dave most of the females are more pale in color and males more purple during spawning times.

Thanks Greg that is great to hear, so far everything has gone well with my new pond. I have ordered two books and last years magazines of pond boss as well as a subscription for current pond boss magazines. Have not received them yet and I can't wait to get them. I'm trying not to ask a million questions on here until I can "read up" a little. Thanks for your help!

Greg and/or Woody, How large is a "normal" 4 1/2 month old bluegill? Are they large enough to spawn? Obviously, at this time of year, a 4.5 month old would be larger than one born late in the year and seen during early Spring.

I never knew that you could sex small (or large) bluegills except during spawning season.

I'm not sure how large a "normal" bluegill is at 4 1/2 months. Mine were introduced in late February and at this time range between 3-5 inches in length. I'm sure that they are large enough to spawn, they have already spawned (in late May) Not sure I understand your question.

Dave, I think AL woody stocked them at 3-5 inches so they have been stocked for 4.5 months and not 4.5 months old. To answer your question on growth it depends and I think you already no on what. WHat some people don't think about is what about the bluegill born in September just before it starts to cool. It may only be 1.5 inches in March although it is 6 months of age.

I got 1000 bream (bluegill and shellcracker, I can't say that I've seen a shellcracker) through a hatchery in conjuction with the Alabama game and fish dept. When I picked them up in late Feb. they were real small, maybe and inch long, now 4 1/2 months later they are 3 - 5 inches long. They were on the bed in early June for the most part. I regularly see many small newley hatched fish in the shallows. I picked up 100 bass in late June and hope they get big eating the new bream fry!

Thanks, Woody and Greg. I had no idea that male and female bluegill had distinguishing characteristics.

Woody, Thanks for the growth info. I've always been interested in how fish grow. The relative weight charts indicate 'performance against plan' and general health information but don't tell much about real growth rates. Part of the problem in defining age/growth is influenced by geography so one chart won't fit all areas.

It sounds like the one inch bluegill fry that you started with tripled their size in 3 months. I also stocked redears and have never seen one. Hey, if you started seeing them on the beds in early June, you certainly have males.

Hey Greg, I was just re-reading my post and realized I misunderstood you. The black spot I'm talking about is on the top of the fish, you know, the part that will fin you when handling a bluegill, it's about half way back on the top of that fin.

Correction the spot is at the very rear of the top fin, the fin that you squeeze down when you hold one.

ttt

THat is the dorsal fin and the black spot is at the rear of that fin toward the tail. Yes sir you have yourself a bluegill.

Thanks alot for your reply, I will sleep better now.