Pond Boss Magazine
https://www.pondboss.com/images/userfiles/image/20130301193901_6_150by50orangewhyshouldsubscribejpeg.jpg
Advertisment
Newest Members
Shotgun01, Dan H, Stipker, LunkerHunt23, Jeanjules
18,451 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums36
Topics40,902
Posts557,107
Members18,452
Most Online3,612
Jan 10th, 2023
Top Posters
esshup 28,417
ewest 21,475
Cecil Baird1 20,043
Bill Cody 15,112
Who's Online Now
11 members (Boondoggle, Dylanfrely, Bill Cody, jbird5986, Deancutler, Angler8689, FireIsHot, Treeguy27, FishinRod, esshup, PRCS), 739 guests, and 171 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#252229 03/21/11 02:22 PM
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 134
D
Dave J Offline OP
Lunker
OP Offline
Lunker
D
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 134
I was thinking about adding a paddlefish to my pond-any ideas? suggestions??

Thanks

Dave J #252251 03/21/11 07:44 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,417
Likes: 793
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Online Content
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,417
Likes: 793
They are filter feeders, so you need to keep a good bloom going. Does Mi. allow them?


www.hoosierpondpros.com


http://www.pondboss.com/subscribe.asp?c=4
3/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).
Dave J #252255 03/21/11 07:52 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458
Likes: 2
C
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame
Lunker
Offline
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame
Lunker
C
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458
Likes: 2
How big if your pond and what are the water clarity levels?

Paddlefish are filter feeders. They feed on zooplankton and phytoplankton which they filter out of he water column. However, I have heard of the possibility of them being pellet trained. So there is the possibility you could source one which is pellet trained and rely on keeping them healthy through pellet feeding.

Paddlefish are river fish by nature, however they can adapt to pond life as they are capable of suriving for years in oxbow lakes isolated from rivers. You will not have to worry about reproduction even if you added more than one because their needs for successful spawning will not be met in a pond.

As a novelty fish, I don't see too much risk. They will remove some of the zooplankton that your younger game fish would also feed on. However, if you can pellet feed them you could reduce this impact. Having a 4 foot 40 pound paddlefish cruising by your dock would certainly be entertaining for guests, particularly if it was pellet trained and "friendly". A couple of species of sturgeon could also meet this novelty fish category.

I had heard Jones Fish in OH had paddlefish that were pellet trained for sale last year. You may want to contact them to see if they will be available again this year.

CJBS2003 #252731 03/26/11 07:15 AM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,714
Likes: 281
R
RAH Offline
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
R
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,714
Likes: 281
I bought a couple paddlefish from Jones last fall. I am not hopeful that they survived a major fish kill that occured due to snow covered ice this winter. I saw 50 to 100 dead BG, LMB, and CC floating in my 1.3 acre pond, and I would guess that paddlefish require higher oxigen than these species. I have not seen any live fish in the pond yet this year, but I added 10 lbs of FHM on thursday, and I don't see any of them either.

RAH #252750 03/26/11 11:43 AM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,112
Likes: 478
B
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Online Content
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
B
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,112
Likes: 478
FHM will go deep and stay deep if few or no predaors are present. Thus, with no larger fish present it is not suprising that you are not seeing the FHM. To see them try adding some crushed fish pellets near the dock or some sort of other structure.

Last edited by Bill Cody; 03/26/11 11:44 AM.

aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine -
America's Journal of Pond Management
Bill Cody #252757 03/26/11 01:50 PM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,714
Likes: 281
R
RAH Offline
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
R
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,714
Likes: 281
During the warmer weather, we see lots of small fish near our dock as we have lots of emergent plants that provide cover. I think that its just too cold.

RAH #252862 03/27/11 08:50 PM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 274
D
Moderator
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Lunker
D
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 274
Build a demand feeder. Get a piece of 4 inch PVC and drill some 1/4 or 3/8 inch holes in it and cap off the bottom. Secure it to your dock and fill with pellets. Small fish will come and suck the pellet mush from the holes.

Obviously, predators like the idea.


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

Link Copied to Clipboard
Today's Birthdays
cro, HC1968
Recent Posts
pond experience needed
by jbird5986 - 03/28/24 08:10 PM
New pond middle TN: establishing food chain?
by Bill Cody - 03/28/24 07:57 PM
Happy Birthday Bob Lusk!!
by FireIsHot - 03/28/24 07:33 PM
Relative weight charts in Excel ? Calculations?
by Boondoggle - 03/28/24 06:45 PM
Working on a .5acre disaster, I mean pond.
by PRCS - 03/28/24 06:39 PM
Fungus infection on fish
by nvcdl - 03/28/24 06:07 PM
Can anyone ID these minnows?
by Dylanfrely - 03/28/24 05:43 PM
1 year after stocking question
by esshup - 03/28/24 04:48 PM
Yellow Perch Spawn 2024
by H20fwler - 03/28/24 04:29 PM
New 2 acre pond stocking plan
by LANGSTER - 03/28/24 03:49 PM
Paper-shell crayfish and Japanese snails
by esshup - 03/28/24 10:39 AM
Newly Uploaded Images
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
by Tbar, December 10
Deer at Theo's 2023
Deer at Theo's 2023
by Theo Gallus, November 13
Minnow identification
Minnow identification
by Mike Troyer, October 6
Sharing the Food
Sharing the Food
by FishinRod, September 9
Nice BGxRES
Nice BGxRES
by Theo Gallus, July 28
Snake Identification
Snake Identification
by Rangersedge, July 12

� 2014 POND BOSS INC. all rights reserved USA and Worldwide

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5