Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations New pond volume question

allenjanan - Do a little homework before stocking. In a pond this small, you have to rethink the outcome and repercussions of having fish constantly reproducing in a very small pond. Can be good or can be disadvantagous. Examine and explore your goals for the pond.
Other members can provide some alternative goals. The pondowners that I encounter often want it all - not realistically possible.

In this small pond you will not be able to raise a lot of POUNDS of fish unless you utilize some intense aquaculture techniques and closely monitor the water quality. Natural production will range from about 6lbs produced by natural foods to more maybe 30-40 lbs with fertilization and artificial feeding -mgmt. Large numbers of larger sized fish (near or more than 1 lb) in a small area produce a lot of waste that has to be naturally or artifically processed to detoxify it and the living system. Large numbers of fish usually result in lower water quality (often less clarity). More fish can be done, it just takes more effort and management. If you use predator fish they need to have enough food for living healthy. Even bluegill type can get skinny bodies with low food reserves. Be prepared to deal with all these issues.

What are your goals - lots of possibilities based on goals. 1. Are your goals just to have some fish to watch and see? 2. Do you want to fish & to catch the fish?. 3. Eat them or just catch & release? 4. Is it important that they reproduce or can you, or are you willing to periodially replace a few non-reproducing fish when others are removed or die? 5 Low management or high management? 6. Feed the fish or let them survive on the pond's resources which will be few in only 0.029 ac.

Catfish DO NOT clean the bottom so do not stock them for that reason. Catfish feed near the bottom on mostly living, weak or fresh dead items. They do not eat accumulated bottom materials.


In a pond similar to yours consider utilizing non-reproducing (HSB), primary fish as single sex predators and-or panfish combined with some reproducing, small forage type species such as minnows-shiners, maybe tilapia.

Since you are in TX, an unorthodox stocking plan would involve letting the pond lay fallow during the warm seasons and then each late fall stock adult trout for fast and furious fall-winter-early spring angling action.

A pond similar to yours lends itself to growing some huge male bluegills as described in three 2006 articles in Pond Boss Magazine by Cody, Condello, & Baird. (BEHEMOTH BLUEGILLS IN SMALL PONDS; GROWING BEHEMOTH MALE BLUEGILLS Part II; THE ART OF MANAGING BEHEMOTH MALE BLUEGILLS). Some discussion on this topic is available in old threads here.

Back to my original comment - rethink and research the goals that are feasable and practical. Ask some more questions and seek some advice here and your small pond will hopefully be all it is CAPABLE of being.