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Pond Is For The Birds 9/11/06
Hi Bob, We have a large out door pond with filters and water
falls .
We have four Koi and 4 goldfish . About a month ago we added 3 fan
tails . One disappeared . Two weeks ago one of the others started
swimming funny . Almost like her back side is partially paralyzed .
She is staying in a more shallow end of the pond because when the
other fish bump into her she can not move around well and may start
to roll backwards . It seems healthy and alert in all other ways .We
also have noticed for the first time that we have 3 babies about an
inch and 1/2 long . No idea where they came from.
We live in CT and it is starting to get a little cooler . Not that
that means anything .
Any help you can give in regards to the fan tail would be
appreciated .Thank you , Diana
<You could have had a visit by a stork or egret. One fish
disappeared because he didn't know where to hide and was eaten. The
other fish was attacked by the bird but suffered a spinal injury by
the beak and got away. Look for a scare on the back of the injured
fish. Look for large white bird droppings to confirm a visit. Not
many diseases cause this kind of problem.-Chuck>
Tasty pondfish and great blue herons 5/3/06
How do I prevent great blue herons and other predators from eating my
goldfish?
<Mmm, a few possible things to try... screening over the pond, stout
monofilament strung over same, shading of the water, a barrier near the edge,
pets on patrol, electronic detection/activation gear with strobe lights and
disco music, depredation permits and related artillery, a tray with other food
items beside... Bob Fenner>
Re: great blue herons 5/3/06
Thanks Bob,
I'll give it a try.
John
<And to be a bit more complete for browsers... if this were a smaller species of
waterfowl, there might be some chance that a "plastic owl" or other
bird-predator facsimile might scare them off... Cheers, Bob Fenner>
Pond, Koi & Ducks... actually Or, not & 5/2/06
Dear Crew,
<Scott>
I haven't writing in months and now tonight three times.
I have a 3000gal Koi pond. It has been up and running 5 years.
Never any problems. I have 12 Koi that are now quite large.
It is real neat. Problem, I live in Florida, we have not had rain in 2 months
where I live.
All the retention ponds are dry. 3 weeks ago a mommy duck showed up with 9
babies.
<Mmmm>
They come in the morning and leave mid day. They swim a bit. But with that
swimming comes
Duck poopy. I tested my pond and My Nitrites are from 0 to toxic. My nitrate are
out of range.
<Yes. Common>
I but a bottle of prime in it but I have no way of keeping the ducks out. I
don't mind them but do not want to lose my Koi.
What can I do?
<Well... it's really a matter of choice... Choosing one or the other. You can
have a koi pond OR a duck pond... not both. The waterfowl will be "too much" in
the way of "nutrient providers" for your pond to support the koi... Up to you.>
Now I will leave you all alone. Sorry for all the questions
<Bob Fenner, who would scare the ducks and keep them away>
Duck Pond - 11/26/05
Hello,
One other thing - do white ducks with red faces eat fish?
<<Muskovies, eh...yes, if they can catch them, along with crustaceans/insects,
frogs, some plant material...>>
Or does the duck poop kill them faster?
<<If this is a large, natural pond, likely the fishes will be fine...else you
will need adequate filtration to deal with the duck waste.>>
Lyn and Gwen
<<Regards, EricR>>
Duck Pond
Hello I didn't find anything related to this question. I have a duck /
goose pond approximately 2000 gallons, I have two filters hooked up one a
regular sand filter for an in ground swimming pool ( I filled it with pea
gravel ) and connected to this is a modern media filter ( in ground pool
also ). I can't and really want to figure out a way to keep it
relatively clean. I have not used or know of any chemicals available for
use and or and other grander filter system. I do have a small zoo and
good looking enclosures is a must for me. There are no fish in the pond
and it house about 20 different ducks. I have the filters set up as a
waterfall at the export side of the filters.
THANKS
BOB PILZ
<There are actual "formulae" for figuring how many water fowl one can/should
have per acres and acre-feet of ponds, lakes... a two k gallon system is just
going to be a real mess, no matter how much filtration you can affix to it. I
encourage you (if at all possible) to instead devise a system of flushing the
basin with new water, either continuously or in a pulsed fashion... draining it
from a/the bottom... about all the volume... daily. Bob Fenner, who knows what a
stinky mess these birds make>
A duck and goose = dirty pond
I initially got a 175 gallon flexible liner pond for water plants (lily's)
and maybe small guppies. However in the meantime acquired a duck and a goose,
both about two months old. Well guess who is in the pond everyday?
<Bad visual>
I have to replace the water every day or two. I want to keep duckweed in another
receptacle to feed them because they'll eat it up before it can clear the pond.
What other filtration system can I use on a pond this small-or do I have to
build them a lake!?
<More likely the latter. The 175 gallon volume is way too little to even try to
filter, keep one waterfowl/foul... I would keep changing the water. Bob Fenner>
Rita De Ferrary
St. Thomas, VI
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