Northern California

JimV

I picked up some bluegill. Apparently the redears won't take feed--they need live food.

This month they had crayfish, which they didn't advertise. They tend to have these in the summer, but they never know how many are available until the last minute.

PineGroveDave

JimV wrote:

I picked up some bluegill. Apparently the redears won't take feed--they need live food.

This month they had crayfish, which they didn't advertise. They tend to have these in the summer, but they never know how many are available until the last minute.

So that was you! When we arrived, I heard one of the employees talking about how redears won't take feed to a customer. You were there around 10AM, yes? I was the guy in the tanktop with the british flag and skull with the words "Run or Die" on it.

We picked up about 50 crawdads.

JimV

PineGroveDave wrote:

JimV wrote:

I picked up some bluegill. Apparently the redears won't take feed--they need live food.

This month they had crayfish, which they didn't advertise. They tend to have these in the summer, but they never know how many are available until the last minute.

So that was you! When we arrived, I heard one of the employees talking about how redears won't take feed to a customer. You were there around 10AM, yes? I was the guy in the tanktop with the british flag and skull with the words "Run or Die" on it.

We picked up about 50 crawdads.

Ah, I remember seeing you!

SickRadish

PineGroveDave wrote:

JimV wrote:

I picked up some bluegill. Apparently the redears won't take feed--they need live food.

This month they had crayfish, which they didn't advertise. They tend to have these in the summer, but they never know how many are available until the last minute.

We picked up about 50 crawdads.

Do you know what species of crayfish? Aussie Redclaw or Louisiana type?

PineGroveDave

SickRadish wrote:

PineGroveDave wrote:

JimV wrote:

I picked up some bluegill. Apparently the redears won't take feed--they need live food.

This month they had crayfish, which they didn't advertise. They tend to have these in the summer, but they never know how many are available until the last minute.

We picked up about 50 crawdads.

Do you know what species of crayfish? Aussie Redclaw or Louisiana type?

We're actually not sure, but they look like the ones I used to catch out of the Tuolumne River out here in CA.

bcotton

just for accuracy, it is possible to feed train red ear sunfish. I have done it. But there's no advantage to them over bluegill other than you may like their colors more. If you cross a RES x BG or RES x Bg the offspring should be mostly male and have hybrid vigor (i.e. grow bigger/faster than either parent species)

steveholtam

My red ear sunfish eat flake food. And doesn't the fish farm feed them pellets? I'm confused.

bcotton

I have never seen feed trained red ear sunfish or crappie from a fish farm. They are notoriously difficult to feed train and I was told it was impossible by many pond biologists before i proved them wrong.

JimV

Perhaps they meant "impractical", rather than impossible? Or I may have misunderstood them.

Re the fish farm, they told me that the fish ate pond snails.

steveholtam

My sunfish also eat small floating catfish food as well. Maybe they eat whatever they can if hungry enough.

bcotton

RES are a part of most pond management plans because they have a strong mouth/jaw that can crack snail shells and yes snails are a main part of their diet. Snail control in ponds is important because snails can host parasites that are also harmful to the fish. If you have read the UVI aquaponics research papers they mention using them for snail control in their RAS.

When you say "my sunfish" are you talking about your red eared sunfish? "Sunfish" refers to a family of fish which included common freshwater species like bluegill, green sunfish, red eared sunfish, black and white crappie, black bass (largemouth and smallmouth bass) and many more.

If you got feed trained red ears without any work, then the hatchery probably did the work for you or you got very lucky. Unfortunately, feed training fish not predisposition-ed to eat commercial food is not as easy as "they will eat it when they get hungry enough".

steveholtam

I purchased my red eared sunfish from the local place most of us go to around here (Link is below). Although it dose not say the exact species name. I saw the grow tanks these fish came from, and would say there is no way these tanks could contain enough snails to feed the high volumes of fish inside of them. Too many hungry fish... And the tanks were very clean.

http://freshwaterfishco.com/fish-we-raise/

Also note that this weekend is open for public again. http://freshwaterfishco.com/news-and-events/

bcotton

maybe they do feed train their RES you should ask them.

Are they grow out tanks or holding tanks for fish they are ready to sell?

Most hatcheries grow out their fish in ponds because it's much cheaper. Of course we dont have the insane land and water costs you do.

bcotton

maybe they do feed train their RES you should ask them.

Are they grow out tanks or holding tanks for fish they are ready to sell?

Most hatcheries grow out their fish in ponds because it's much cheaper. Of course we dont have the insane land and water costs you do.

hionhifi

I'm new to aquaponics and am interested to visit a working system in my area. I'm attending a 5 day class in March with the people at Friendly Aquaponics. Before I attend that class however I'm going to build a small Aquaponics systems. Prior to doing that I'd like to see some systems in my area to get ideas and insight from knowledgeable people.

If your within 50miles of Sacramento, CA I'd love to hear from you.

Thank so much.

Thomas

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