Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Greetings!

Newbie here that has just adopted 27 bluegill in an IBC system with one grow bed and one fish tank. I'm interested in breeding the bluegill and learned that they need a substrate in which to build their nest. I've read and learned that most people prefer to keep the fish tank bare to avoid buildup of wastes and decomposing food. So I had the idea of adding trays of gravel that the fish can build their nest in. This way, there is a nesting bed available but I can also remove the tray and clean the gravel periodically. Does anyone have experience breeding bluegill? Do you think this could work?

My system is small (one single IBC) so I am not worried if hundreds of fry are born and then get eaten. If I could maintain the population as I harvest would be ideal. Of the 27 fish I adopted, a handful are ready for harvest and one is already injured so I was thinking of harvesting it but am hesitant to unless I have a means of restocking.

My idea involves laying three plastic dish pans (about 50 cm x 30 cm and 15 cm deep) of aquarium gravel inside the fish tank with hopes that the mature males and females would do their thing. I know I can set up a separate breeding tank but I'm wondering if this might be a simple solution that provides the fish with some entertainment. Thanks for sharing your wisdom and expertise.

Welcome to the forum

Might want to look here http://extension.missouri.edu/p/G9473 and I believe there is another publication out there about using substrate in some sort of container for breeding bluegill. I tried it this year but it didn't work this time around, I think the tray was too shallow or the adults got the young before I found them. Brian has done some bluegill and crappie breeding and it should come up if you do a search.