Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Stocking a new pond with RES, YP and SMB

Just reposting to get some input:

I really did not consider purchasing crayfish until reading stuff on PondBoss and then thinking about it for a while. So a couple questions.

1) Will papershells do OK if native tunneling crayfish are already present? I believe so. I've seen ponds with both kinds present and neither in those ponds seemed to dominate.

2) In a new pond stocked with FHM, GSH, and YP in the last 2 years, and where SMB will be added later, when is it best to add papershells? 2 years ago. But, the sooner that they are added before the SMB the better.

3) Do I need plants to be established in the pond before adding them? No, but you do need to have habitat in the pond to protect them from predation, the more the better.

4) What is the best supplier for central Indiana, and how many should be stocked per acre? I only know of one, Smith Creek in N.Y. As many as your pocketbook allows.

5) After adding papershells, how long should I wait before adding smaller SMB? If they have suitable habitat in the pond for protection (see #3 above) I would wait a week or three to let them get accustomed to their environment and figure out where the hiding places are.