Grass carp and food chains

[StoneHeartFarm]

Re: Grass carp

Rick,

Exactly how big are these guys? I have this vision of something the size of a gator crawling up on shore and waiting for prey. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

SHF

 

[rmorgan]

Re: Grass carp

StoneHeart--So far, no household pets have disappeared, but then again, they ARE vegetarians!! When I put 'em in about exactly a year ago, they were about 10". They are now about 18-20", and full-bodied. My first post had a link to a bowhunter holding a monster, I think about 65 lbs. Some of the websites I've seen say they grow a good bit bigger in the South, which makes since given cold winter waters here in OH. Duckhunter, how big are yours after 9 years in Arkansas?!?

Rick

 

[JonE]

DOA grass carp?

Don't encourage me, I just might do it!
Seriously, I found a dead grass carp on the shore of my pond about 3 months ago. It looked as if it had some "bites" out of it. The next day it was gone. I have since seen the other grass carp.(very healthy) I also know that I have a snapping turtle about 1' shell length. Could he have snapped on a 2' long, fat grass carp ya' think?

 

[rmorgan]

Re: DOA grass carp?

Jon--If you've got something in your pond taking bites out of your fish, you better HOPE it's a snapper; else it might be one of SHF's gators! But yeah, I think that an adult snapper of that size, which I think could be 15 or 20 years old, could definitely take a whack at a big grass carp, and partially-eaten fish are the hallmark of snapper predation. Since yours has developed a taste for grass carp, I might ought to borrow him for awhile, but I'm not sure how I'd get him back to you once they're gone!

Rick

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

Re: Grass carp

Rick,

You got anything besides the turtle living in the pond? Basically, I'm thinking of putting something in the water to shock the fish out. The DNR does it here for fish surveys. They dump the stuff in the river and then walk downstream, picking up floating fish as they go. They claim it doesn't hurt the river (don't know if it hurts the fish). There is a plant "Wooly Mullein" (sp?), I think that is supposed to shock fish. Don't know if its the root, leaf, stalk or sap. I could check if you want.

SHF

 

[Duckhunter]

Re: Grass carp

I would say the 9 year olds are from 30 to 35 lbs.

 

[JonE]

Re: DOA grass carp?

You can keep him! That is if I could catch him. I've been trying for a while with no luck.
No gators in north country, I hope.