Too many minnows

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wgarry

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 4, 2009
34
0
0
Florida
I have an odd problem. I have a pond on the east coast
of Florida, its about a 1/5 acre. The pond is fed by an artesian
well and all my fish koi, cichlids, pacu and crayfish are doing very well.

However, a few years back I cleaned the pond and go rid of all
the native fish (bass, bream) and now I have an overabundance
of minnows, thousands and thousands of them.

I know I could add a bass or two and lower the population
but it would also decimate my small cichlids and would prevent
me from adding any new koi unless they were pretty large.

I have netted and trapped them and not doing much but
keeping things at bay. I was wondering if a few aworana
might help. I had a huge one for two or three years and
he disappeared.

Any ideas I would appreciate.

Garry

I am enclosing a photo to show how bad they are.

Minnows.jpg
 
well, you can bag them all up and send them to me!! :D I really don't know man, have some friends come and net some when they need them, I would definitely appreciate the hookup!
 
cast net and give em to someone who needs feeders :D
 
Ya they would be great feeders for some friends. But i dont see a problem with throwing in an arrowana to bring it down if you just dont want them in there.
 
wgarry;2641031; said:
I have an odd problem. I have a pond on the east coast
of Florida, its about a 1/5 acre. The pond is fed by an artesian
well and all my fish koi, cichlids, pacu and crayfish are doing very well.

However, a few years back I cleaned the pond and go rid of all
the native fish (bass, bream) and now I have an overabundance
of minnows, thousands and thousands of them.

I know I could add a bass or two and lower the population
but it would also decimate my small cichlids and would prevent
me from adding any new koi unless they were pretty large.

I have netted and trapped them and not doing much but
keeping things at bay. I was wondering if a few aworana
might help. I had a huge one for two or three years and
he disappeared.

Any ideas I would appreciate.

Garry

I am enclosing a photo to show how bad they are.
Click to expand...

Throw in some smaller predatory fish like perch, crappie or rock bass. They might eat some of your baby koi but then again they won't get as big as a bass.
 
are there any threads with pics of your pond as that sounds awsome!!
depends what smaller ciclids you have?
what about spotted/florida gar they will prob leave the ciclids alone and sit at the top munchin on minnows, i would have thaught arrows would eat bigger fish than a gar
 
an aro would be a good idea. i have on just in a 120 gallon tank and i throw in like 50 small feeder goldfish and they are gone in a day or 2. and his is only a foot long. so you would need a pretty big aro. or some pretty big aros. A big cat might solve you problem, but also create another one by eating your other fish. if i lived in florida net all of them and even pay you for the minnows
 
Small predatory fish is the key but I understand your dilemma with your other fish. Is there any way to stop them getting in in the first place?

Nice looking pond, very clear. If you've got time can you post some pictures of the whole pond?
 
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