Help! My fish are disappearing - Aquarium Advice

ellert · 07-07-2005, 05:37 PM

It seems as though some animal is making the fish in my pond a late-night snack. A couple of months ago, I noticed that a couple of my fish were no longer in my pond. And, just last night, I turned on the outdoor light and saw a opossum walking along the upper part of my fence. I don't know if he's the culprit, but something like that has to be happening. A year ago, I started with three koi and three goldfish (to liven things up), and now I'm down to just two koi.

My pond is a preform and above ground. So, it's not like this animal can simply sit on the ground and "fish" out the fish. And, I've rarely seen the fish come to the surface on their own, unless I'm feeding them. Can someone please offer advise/solutions on how to get rid of predator(s)?

Much thanks!

kimberly · 07-07-2005, 05:51 PM

We had two ponds when we were in the Dallas area, one was in-ground, the other above ground. We caught a stork/crane (don't remember exactly which) fishing one day.

No advice, but thought this might help you to figure out who is eating your fish since one could easily enter the above ground one.

Kimberly

07-07-2005, 10:32 PM

There are many possibilities of critters who could be eating your fish. Opossum, raccoon, several different snakes, snapping turtles, various birds, herons, kingfishers, etc...

Do you have a good amount of hiding places for the fish? Lots of plants, driftwood, rock piles are all good hiding spots. [acronym:04c1a409e7="In my opinion"]IMO[/acronym:04c1a409e7], hiding places are your best bet, the smart fish will hide when something comes splashing around the pond, and the dumb fish, well, they're prolly gone already!

mumrah · 07-08-2005, 12:25 PM

I would recommend some netting to put over the surface of the water. I believe they sell things like this especially for ponds that are made of fish friendly material, and are also barely visible.

People usually use these things to keep their suicidal fish from turf-surfing, but i bet it would keep predators from munching on your fish.

[acronym:40401bc707="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:40401bc707],
David

ReefNooB · 07-10-2005, 01:42 AM

another thing is to get pots and cut a hole in the side and flip it upside down, and put some of your marginals on top of it to keep it down

Toirtis · 07-10-2005, 01:53 AM

A heron is my first suspicion, a raccoon my second. To scare off herons, the best thing is a good, fake heron place at pondside....a heron will not land at a pond where he already sees another heron. As to a raccoon, you will need a motion-sensor driven repellant to keep him out, or a very strong and secure (remembering that raccoons can open latches) screen lid for the pond.

ReefNooB · 07-10-2005, 02:43 AM

Another good thing to protect your pond is a nice territorial dog.... keeps out racoons, birds, opossums and anything else you can think of.

PondFond · 07-15-2005, 06:49 PM

my uncle had that problem so he strung chicken wire over his pond and attaced a car battery to the fence, Letting it have an electrical charge, the next morning the neighbour's car was dead in the water. BAD IDEA.

07-23-2005, 05:19 PM

try a pond net. they seem to work. ot a electric wire around the pond(dont like personally) but the net should work.

07-07-2005, 05:37 PM	#1
ellert Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 5	Help! My fish are disappearing It seems as though some animal is making the fish in my pond a late-night snack. A couple of months ago, I noticed that a couple of my fish were no longer in my pond. And, just last night, I turned on the outdoor light and saw a opossum walking along the upper part of my fence. I don't know if he's the culprit, but something like that has to be happening. A year ago, I started with three koi and three goldfish (to liven things up), and now I'm down to just two koi. My pond is a preform and above ground. So, it's not like this animal can simply sit on the ground and "fish" out the fish. And, I've rarely seen the fish come to the surface on their own, unless I'm feeding them. Can someone please offer advise/solutions on how to get rid of predator(s)? Much thanks!

07-08-2005, 12:25 PM	#4
mumrah Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Tallahassee, Fl Posts: 248 Images: 7	I would recommend some netting to put over the surface of the water. I believe they sell things like this especially for ponds that are made of fish friendly material, and are also barely visible. People usually use these things to keep their suicidal fish from turf-surfing, but i bet it would keep predators from munching on your fish. [acronym:40401bc707="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:40401bc707], David __________________ -David 55g: 5 clown loaches 1 common pleco 1 veiled angel 5 glofish Tap Water: [acronym:a34dbabd58="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:a34dbabd58] 7.5, 9 [acronym:a34dbabd58="Degrees of carbonate hardness"]dkh[/acronym:a34dbabd58], 11 [acronym:a34dbabd58="Degrees of general hardness"]dgh[/acronym:a34dbabd58]

07-10-2005, 01:42 AM	#5
ReefNooB Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 35	another thing is to get pots and cut a hole in the side and flip it upside down, and put some of your marginals on top of it to keep it down __________________ Tank: 55g [acronym:7132f752b1="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:7132f752b1] w/2 hot mag filters (w/d in the future)...scored tank, cab, hood, filters for $150 Fish: Cal Ryukin, R&W Ryukin, Baby Champion Panda, R&W Ranchu, Cal Ranchu, 2 Tamasaba, Pearscale, Lionhead, Black Moore, Pleco

07-10-2005, 01:53 AM	#6
Toirtis Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 6,768	A heron is my first suspicion, a raccoon my second. To scare off herons, the best thing is a good, fake heron place at pondside....a heron will not land at a pond where he already sees another heron. As to a raccoon, you will need a motion-sensor driven repellant to keep him out, or a very strong and secure (remembering that raccoons can open latches) screen lid for the pond. __________________ G. A. Christian Bilou, Zoologist/Writer Founder/Director, Reptile Rescue Alberta Vice-President, Calgary Aquarium Society www.calgaryaquariumsociety.com Polypterid/Primitive Fish/Ctenopoma/Catfish Fanatic 62 Aquariums, 2200+ total gallons, Aquarist since 1971.

07-10-2005, 02:43 AM	#7
ReefNooB Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 35	Another good thing to protect your pond is a nice territorial dog.... keeps out racoons, birds, opossums and anything else you can think of. __________________ Tank: 55g [acronym:7132f752b1="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:7132f752b1] w/2 hot mag filters (w/d in the future)...scored tank, cab, hood, filters for $150 Fish: Cal Ryukin, R&W Ryukin, Baby Champion Panda, R&W Ranchu, Cal Ranchu, 2 Tamasaba, Pearscale, Lionhead, Black Moore, Pleco

07-07-2005, 05:51 PM	#2
kimberly Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 443	We had two ponds when we were in the Dallas area, one was in-ground, the other above ground. We caught a stork/crane (don't remember exactly which) fishing one day. No advice, but thought this might help you to figure out who is eating your fish since one could easily enter the above ground one. Kimberly

07-07-2005, 10:32 PM	#3
Guest Posts: n/a	There are many possibilities of critters who could be eating your fish. Opossum, raccoon, several different snakes, snapping turtles, various birds, herons, kingfishers, etc... Do you have a good amount of hiding places for the fish? Lots of plants, driftwood, rock piles are all good hiding spots. [acronym:04c1a409e7="In my opinion"]IMO[/acronym:04c1a409e7], hiding places are your best bet, the smart fish will hide when something comes splashing around the pond, and the dumb fish, well, they're prolly gone already!

07-15-2005, 06:49 PM	#8
PondFond Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 103	my uncle had that problem so he strung chicken wire over his pond and attaced a car battery to the fence, Letting it have an electrical charge, the next morning the neighbour's car was dead in the water. BAD IDEA. __________________ Jason nature_boy395@yahoo.com jay_jrich@hotmail.com check out my site : http://everything-4-me-site.tripod.com/ --------------------------------------------------

07-23-2005, 05:19 PM	#9
Guest Posts: n/a	try a pond net. they seem to work. ot a electric wire around the pond(dont like personally) but the net should work.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Disappearing Fish	jbm555	Freshwater & Brackish - General Discussion	4	09-18-2007 12:26 PM
My fish keep disappearing!	Puriti	Freshwater & Brackish - General Discussion	7	12-20-2006 11:18 PM
The disappearing fish. . . =(	cJw	Freshwater & Brackish - General Discussion	9	03-24-2005 04:38 PM
Disappearing Fish!	adelinamz	Freshwater & Brackish - General Discussion	7	04-14-2004 04:37 PM
Disappearing Fish	ericsze	Saltwater Fish Only & FOWLR	0	01-21-2004 08:46 PM