Pond Boss Forums FISH & FISHING Sunfish-Including Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass RES are fanning out beds

in my 75 gallon aquarium. I have 3 males that have darkened up and been been fanning out beds, spawning behaviour started on the full moon last week. I doubt I'll see any fry but it has been fun to watch.

The next full moon is almost here and they are back at it again, tonight one of the females in the tank is rubbing her belley on one of the males in his bed. Interesting note, my tank is in the basement with the curtains drawn, the only window is on the north side and in a spot where the moon can't ever be seen. About two weeks ago on the new moon all of the males quit fanning beds and significantly lightened up in color. Yesterday they darkened up again and started fanning again.

Many animals (fish , crabs , birds, etc.) use gravitational and magnetic sensing.

The female that was rubbing her belly on the male last night no longer looks gravid this afternoon, I don't see any eggs in the nest though.

Carolynn and I got into what I assume was a bedding group of mostly HBG males Sunday and removed and cleaned 34 of them. One right after another right in the same area. Really nice half to three quarter pounders. Was glad to remove some biomass from the pond and transfer them into glass pressure cooked jars!

They were still biting and pulling them in when we decided we had all we wanted to clean that day. May go out here in a few hours and see if we can get some more. Only a male BG once in a while and we returned them to the water.