Brim Overtaking Pond

[palehorse]

My pond with the Koi is also home to brim. The brim this spring seem to be multiplying!!!

Today when I fed the Koi there were TONS of brim everywhere...

I like having fish in there, don't get me wrong, but this is getting ridiculous!

Any idea how to "humanly" thin out this herd without also affecting the Koi?

Thanks

[latergatorj]

wish i could provide some input- but i'm not really sure what brim is. :-P

[palehorse]

Originally Posted by latergatorj

wish i could provide some input- but i'm not really sure what brim is. :-P

Brim are like small "crappy" or sometimes know as "sun fish". They are little, eat EVERYTHING and hit things in large numbers like piranha. They are not harmful to people like piranha because they have small teeth, nor do they try to attack people. They attack other fish sometimes though, especially the young, and they HOG all the food you through in, and they multiply like rabbits!

[cichlidfreak]

I am not too sure but maybe go buy a really big (not bigger than your koy though) cichlid like an oscar or something with a hearty appitite and put him in there? Is your pond heated cuz it might stress the cichlid if it is not. and pull him out after he eats the brim, so that he does'nt turn on the koy though, if you get him a little smaller than your koy though you should very little problems there, they might get a little nipped but they will heal. If you leave the brim to get bigger though I am willing to bet that they will eat your beloved koy.

[palehorse]

Originally Posted by cichlidfreak

I am not too sure but maybe go buy a really big (not bigger than your koy though) cichlid like an oscar or something with a hearty appitite and put him in there? Is your pond heated cuz it might stress the cichlid if it is not. and pull him out after he eats the brim, so that he does'nt turn on the koy though, if you get him a little smaller than your koy though you should very little problems there, they might get a little nipped but they will heal. If you leave the brim to get bigger though I am willing to bet that they will eat your beloved koy.

No it is not heated, more like a wild enviornment, it is about 1/4 acre in size, about 15 feet deep at the deepest spot but mostly betwwen 5 and 3 feet.

This kinda fish sounds too agressive. The one lone fish might not be able to "take" the whole pond, so more then one would be needed. Then I run the risk of them breeding, then later ganging up on the Koi...

The thought of using a cast net crossed my mind...

[Barb Okla]

Back to the orignal question: I would do a trolling net and have two ppl, one on each side if the pond if not to big and you can find a net big enought to expand the area.. Wraping the net around some long boards to hold on to is a must.. Wading in some might help you here.. I would do it this way and just throw them on the ground to die away from the water so they dont' jump back in. BURY them thou, so a dog or cat does not eat them and chock on the bones... YOU can't get them all this way, but you will make a dent in the numbers.. YOU can always release the KOI out of the net with out harming them before you pull it ashore....They are smart and should go to the deep bottom when you start with the net..

Best to lay the net down into the water a few feet from where you feed them at, before you feed them, this way they are easier to catch.. slowly raise the net while they eat and get them that way..It may take 3 ppl two for the net and one to feed... You'l figure out different ways to get them gone.. A minnow trap IF they are not to big would work.. Bait it, and they swim in but cant' get out..

Just a few suggestions other than poisining the whole pond.. YOU could not add any fish for years if you go that route.. So that is out...

[cichlidfreak]

Just thought I would ask you how your brim situation is going as we have heard nothing of it, lets us know, inquiring minds want to know.

[palehorse]

Originally Posted by cichlidfreak

Just thought I would ask you how your brim situation is going as we have heard nothing of it, lets us know, inquiring minds want to know.

Still havent done anything about it, but I am planning on throwing out food in the shallow end, and when they gather, throwing a cast net on them.

[cichlidfreak]

That sounds good let me know how it goes.

[mojosmama]

in the South, people eat Brim. Pull out the big ones and fry them up! hahahahahaha. Not nice, I know but would work. Problem with it is that they are a bony fish and can't be filleted to my knowledge.