Some females may lay up to 4, eggs per season. Spawning typically begins when water temperatures reach 60 to 65 F and may continue until the temps exceed 85 F. This will include the spring and most of the summers, with the exception of the very hottest part of July and August, and then into the early fall.
Fry can mature and spawn within 4 to 8 weeks of hatching. Nesting Substrate: Although fatheads may make a small teacup size nest on the pond bottom, they prefer to deposit their eggs on the underneath surface of rocks, plants or logs. They prefer to spawn upside down! In new ponds, pallets, boards, plastic drums or tires may offer additional spawning substrate. However, in many of the production ponds at American Sport Fish Hatchery, we often use waxed cardboard boxes that are disassembled and placed on the surface of the pond.
These boxes will float for a long time, but will gradually biodegrade and disappear from the pond. Waxed boxes can be found at many grocery stores, as they are used to pack and ship frozen meats.
Production of fathead minnows can be greatly increased by adding this type of spawning substrate to most new ponds, but especially those ponds that have very little spawning substrate. Value: Fatheads are slow swimmers and provide ideal food for young bass. Fatheads spawn early and often, creating an immediate source of food for fingerling bass. Bass fingerlings are very predacious and will exhibit accelerated growth if an adequate source of small live fish is available. As discussed, new pond stockings can benefit from stocking fathead minnows, however, established ponds or lakes benefit very little from stocking these minnows.
In new ponds the original minnows have no predators and can grow to sexual maturity and produce food for the young bass and bluegill. In established or older ponds the minnows have little chance to live to sexual maturity and serve directly as food for the established bass population.
Since it takes approximately 10 pounds of minnows to convert to a pound of bass, this is a very expensive method to attempt to improve bass growth or condition. As biologists, we seldom recommend stocking any forage fish that does not produce food. In established lakes, intermediate bluegill, golden shiners or threadfin shad would likely be better choices. Consult a fisheries biologist before making that decision.
If you are stocking a new lake or pond , a small investment in fathead minnows will yield a big reward! Break-Up Country. Elements Agua. Elements Terra. Shadow Grass Habitat. Explore All Patterns. Back About Our Story. Meet Our Staff. National Pro Staff.
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How Big Do They Get? How Long Do They Live? Fatheads only grow to about mm 2. Most of these little fish live for only 1 year. On rare occasions a fathead makes it to 3 years old. What Do They Eat? Fathead minnows are considered an opportunist feeder. They eat just about anything that they come across, such as algae, protozoa like ameba , plant matter, insects adults and larvae , rotifers, and copepods. What Eats Them? In lakes and deeper streams, fatheads are common prey for crappies, rock bass, perch, walleyes, largemouth bass, and northern pike.
They also are eaten by snapping turtles, herons, kingfishers, and terns.
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