5 replies to this topic

[centrarchid]

Below is a video of Black Crappie doing something odd.

 

https://youtu.be/ZWAEZi8YxFY

 

 

[Matt DeLaVega]

Don't know what behavior I am seeing there. I do notice that fry orient themselves counter clockwise in round tanks. Imagine it is coriolis effect, and that they would orient themselves differently in southern hemisphere.

[centrarchid]

The counterclockwise water flow is imposed by incoming water from inlet on far end of tub. The fish then orient to swim against flow so all appearing to swim clockwise. What caught my eye is the fish clumping up, then exploding apart, only to come back together and repeat the process. It goes on all day long. Bluegill nor any black bass I work with do not do this at all.

 

We had exceptionally good feed training success with these fish, >95% easy. They are growing like weeds. I have never seen crappie do well and so quick on feed.

[MtFallsTodd]

Very cool video.

[UncleWillie]

So do you think this is feeding behavior?  The explosions of movement are reminiscent of larger schools of pelagic fish when something startles them.  Could it be that one fish darts at another to defend its space and the explosion is just all surrounding fish reacting / being startled by the sudden movement?

[centrarchid]

My guess is the fish come together for protection as they think they are hidden. They keep packing tighter until someone touches somebody else causing one or both to startle. The startled fish then starts a critical mass chain "fission" reaction.

 

When flow rate was increased to promote flushing of waste, the crappie oriented more into a proper torus and the cycling stopped.