60 replies to this topic

[Michael Wolfe]

Gotta love Nocomis! And I love the success you are having with your pond.

[littlen]

Very cool, Yeahson.  One envious NANFA member over here. 

[MtFallsTodd]

Make that two envious NANFA members. This has me rethinking my Koi pond. It wouldn't take much to make it suitable for natives. Thanks!!

[Doug_Dame]

Must be great to see the success after so much hard work. I am impressed as heck at how many of the species have spawned. Did you do anything to make some "safer for fry" zone? Unlike most natural ponds, you don't have any distinct shallow areas. 

 

Thanks for sharing. 

[Evan P]

Thank you all for the kind comments. Michael, I certainly love Nocomis, but they have gotten to be a bit overwhelming! Doug, as for fry safe havens, there are a lot of nooks and crannies between rocks in the riffle section, as well as in the structure of the plant shelves. Water lillies seemed to be greatly helpful for my Blackstripe Topminnows, which spawned consistently for the entire summer. They did suffer more considerable predation, especially once the fall arrived and the surface growth became less dense, but if I had my fry system ready at the time, I could have pulled out several dozen. There was also very dense growth of a plant that looks very similar to najas grass, but showed up on its own last year and returned this spring. Between those two, I had really great fry survival rates. Cyprinella fry seemed to suffer the greatest predation, and I think that primarily has to do with the fact that they tend towards more open water.

[NotCousteau]

That's awesome! Any darter fry survive?

[Evan P]

I saw maybe 3 or 4 juvenile darters, but considering they are usually 4 feet below the surface, there very well could be more.

[Chasmodes]

Very cool.  I want one 

[Betta132]

Awesome! 

Have you considered some sort of floating plant to help Cyprinella fry survive? Maybe plant some water lilies in pots near the surface so they can be contained but will reach the surface and provide cover. 

[Evan P]

Thank you! I do have water lillies growing from 3 feet under the surface. They return every year and the shoots create a tangle of cover, but the Cyprinella fry seem to tend towards open water.

[sbtgrfan]

Unbelievable. That is awesome. I'm jealous. Saving this thread for when I have a yard and win the lottery.

[mattknepley]

Kinda makes my plastic kiddie pool Gambusia preserve that much more embarrassing! Great work, Yeahson!

[Casper]

One day Son of Yeah may see a real cement pond.

[Evan P]

Thank you both! Don't be embarrassed, Matt! Tub ponds are great, and I would like to have more going myself. I hope to try out Bluefin Killies in a tub next summer. 

 

Casper, I would love to come see yours some time! I think I may be making an SE trip next year, so I will be in touch.

[ponds]

Construction of pond project is good. I too think of building of the pond. I shall buy tomorrow all pond kits

Edited by ponds, 27 November 2015 - 08:18 AM.

[Evan P]

The pond is doing well once again. With a new pump, it has gone from a pond to a raceway. The Blackstripe Topminnows are less than pleased, but the newly added Redside Dace and Rainbow Shiners are joyous! I really would like to get some more Hydrophlox. Redlip Shiners and Whitefinned Yellowfin Shiners are both on my list of wants. The Stonerollers and tubercled and about to spawn, and the Horneyhead Chubs are close behind. I've spotted a few plump Rainbow Darters, but haven't made out any males yet. The Bleeding Shiners and Bluntface Shiners have been running up and down the pond, chasing potential mates. Ahh, that time of year again! Hopefully I can get some pictures up this weekend.

On a down side, I think the water is a bit faster than my Backwater Longears really like. I am heading down to Missouri soon, so I may have to pick up some of those higher gradient Ozark Longears. If anyone is interested in some of my Backwater Strain, let me know. I have young from 0.5-1 inch available, as well as a trio of adults.

[9darlingcalvi]

What part of Minnesota are you from? I live in Moorhead...I was wondering if you had any crayfish

[Evan P]

I am from the SE corner, and no, no crayfish. They are far too destructive to keep with anything else living, whether it is plants or fish.

[9darlingcalvi]

oh, true, I am setting up a 10 gallon with a long and rocks for either a Rusty, Northern, Signal or Red Swamp crayfish. just search "new cray" and you will find it.

[Isaac Szabo]

Cool. Sounds like lots of good things are going on in your pond/raceway. I'm looking forward to seeing some photos.