Abstract

Hybrid sunfish from male bluegill and female redear parents have been used to stock new ponds. Using densities of the order of 2,000 fingerlings per acre, excellent growth has been obtained. In the absence of competition from other species, the hybrids have increased by 3–4 ounces in their first growing season, and have achieved a pound in weight three summers after stocking—without the use of fertilizers. The F1 hybrids included only 2 percent females. They have spawned successfully, however, and in two ponds produced F2 broods in what seem to be fairly good numbers per female involved. The F2 brood has been exclusively male, but only 13 have been examined so far. The hybrids seem to be excellent for stocking in small ponds, provided contamination by other fish can be avoided. That is, their rate of reproduction is so slow that overcrowding does not occur, and growth is rapid throughout life. However, other fishes have appeared in all but one of the ponds stocked to date, the usual adventitious arrivals having been green sunfish and black bullheads. These fish very quickly crowd the pond and restrict first-year hybrid growth to as little as a third of an ounce.

Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call