Hi all,

Perhaps somewhat tangential here, but within the subject line - how does one
get rid of fish? Our gold fish are reproducing at what for us is astonishing
rates. I would think that in another six months, we will need to cull them.



The term cull is used loosely here as we rescue rabbits from the animal
shelters, "save" bees that get into the swimming pool, catch and release
spiders found in the house, etc.



I thought about netting them and releasing them into a lake (we are in
SoCal), but that could be a mess. I thought about contacting PetCo and
seeing if they would take them for resale (I don't like the idea of them
being used as feed, though).



I really don't know - what is the humane way to deal with fish
overpopulation? Thank you.



best,



doug

old dirtbeard wrote:

I thought about netting them and releasing them into a lake (we are in
SoCal), but that could be a mess. I thought about contacting PetCo and
seeing if they would take them for resale (I don't like the idea of them
being used as feed, though).

Not to mention illegal and environmentally unsound.

If you live in so cal, go to your local county vector control agency and get
some mosquito fish. In the past three years we have had two only shibunkins
make it to adulthood. The rest were eaten by the mosquito fish.


San Diego Joe
4,000 - 5,000 Gallons.
Koi, Goldfish, and RES named Colombo.

On Feb 13, 12:04 am, "old dirtbeard" wrote:
Hi all,

Perhaps somewhat tangential here, but within the subject line - how does one
get rid of fish? Our gold fish are reproducing at what for us is astonishing
rates. I would think that in another six months, we will need to cull them.

The term cull is used loosely here as we rescue rabbits from the animal
shelters, "save" bees that get into the swimming pool, catch and release
spiders found in the house, etc.

I thought about netting them and releasing them into a lake (we are in
SoCal), but that could be a mess. I thought about contacting PetCo and
seeing if they would take them for resale (I don't like the idea of them
being used as feed, though).

I really don't know - what is the humane way to deal with fish
overpopulation? Thank you.

best,

doug

I bartered fish for products with local Agway dealer here in DE one
year.
RM sorry it is time to quit the koi ponding, but I understand the work
that can be too much.
As for the snapping turtles can you say Terrapin Soup??? and nope,
I'm not volunteering to catch and kill for ya!! Maybe you could grow
your own escargot???
Good luck with your retirement, DH retired 18 mos ago and it is
wonderful. We are doing more with the yard each year. Our pond is
needing some work with the filtration right now, but we have some
ideas as to easier ways to do it. Our home made filtration surely
isn't state of the arts by any means, but had kept the koi healthy if
not always visible due to algae since uv light died. If it gets to be
too much, or when it gets to be too much it willo get filled in and
planted with no9 regret for the happiness we've had from it. Son
inlaw's brother had a koi pond so he can have fish and give away the
ones he doesn't want. None of em are really good koi, and we're ok
with that. We quit buying good fish when they kept dying and the
cheaper ones didn't. They look pretty to the untrained eye.
Happy 'no' ponding, enjoy your retirement.
Nan in DE

"Olde Hippee" wrote in message
...
RM sorry it is time to quit the koi ponding, but I understand the work
that can be too much.
As for the snapping turtles can you say Terrapin Soup??? and nope,
I'm not volunteering to catch and kill for ya!! Maybe you could grow
your own escargot???

These snappers are wicked and smell foul. Some locals call them "stink
pots." I had to remove several by myself over the years. One weighed 14 lbs.
I'm not into turtle soup - UGH!

Good luck with your retirement, DH retired 18 mos ago and it is
wonderful. We are doing more with the yard each year. Our pond is
needing some work with the filtration right now, but we have some
ideas as to easier ways to do it. Our home made filtration surely
isn't state of the arts by any means, but had kept the koi healthy if
not always visible due to algae since uv light died. If it gets to be
too much, or when it gets to be too much it willo get filled in and
planted with no9 regret for the happiness we've had from it.

I've gotten many years of pleasure and fun from these ponds. I'm glad I
experienced it, but it's just too much work and it's now getting dangerous
for us. Too many water snakes, too easy to slip and fall again on a slimy
liner.... we want less work in our older years and more "fun" stuff. The
grandkids are now in HS so have no more interest in ponds and fish.

Son
inlaw's brother had a koi pond so he can have fish and give away the
ones he doesn't want. None of em are really good koi, and we're ok
with that. We quit buying good fish when they kept dying and the
cheaper ones didn't. They look pretty to the untrained eye.
Happy 'no' ponding, enjoy your retirement.
Nan in DE

Thanks Nan. I can't wait until he's fully retired. He's been semi-retired
for the past year and I love having him around. He only has a few more
months to go.
--

RM....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
rec.ponder since late 1996.
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö

"old dirtbeard" wrote in message
et...
Hi all,

Perhaps somewhat tangential here, but within the subject line - how does
one get rid of fish? Our gold fish are reproducing at what for us is
astonishing rates. I would think that in another six months, we will need
to cull them.

You can try selling them, giving them away, asking a farmer if you can put
them in his stock pond, trading them at the local Pet store or in
desperation, putting them to sleep.

The term cull is used loosely here as we rescue rabbits from the animal
shelters, "save" bees that get into the swimming pool, catch and release
spiders found in the house, etc.
I thought about netting them and releasing them into a lake (we are in
SoCal), but that could be a mess. I thought about contacting PetCo and
seeing if they would take them for resale (I don't like the idea of them
being used as feed, though).

If it's a man made lake it may be legal.

I really don't know - what is the humane way to deal with fish
overpopulation? Thank you.

Since we live in a rural area I've been able to find stock ponds on farms.
But even that outlet is getting rare as farms quickly turn into
subdivisions, Malls and Wally World stores. I have a couple of hundred GF
and koi here I need to find home for.


--

RM....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
rec.ponder since late 1996.
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö

On Tue, 12 Feb 2008 23:04:08 CST, "old dirtbeard"
wrote:

Perhaps somewhat tangential here, but within the subject line - how does one
get rid of fish? Our gold fish are reproducing at what for us is astonishing
rates. I would think that in another six months, we will need to cull them.

I have an e-mail list over 200 strong, and when people have fish to sale or
give away (even the common goldfish) someone always wants them. I
personally stick to the more uncommon goldfish, much easier to sell or
trade with the local fish store for credit.

I thought about netting them and releasing them into a lake (we are in
SoCal), but that could be a mess.

Highly illegal, and in California probably punishable by death,
imprisonment & fines, and probably in that order. ;-)

I thought about contacting PetCo

To my knowledge neither PetCo or PetsMart will take "used" fish. Look for a
petstore that isn't a chain, they're usually real good about taking
hobbyist's extras.

Ideally though, if they're just common goldfish, as someone suggested,
mosquito fish will take care of the eggs and you won't have a fry problem.
~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us

~ jan wrote:
I thought about netting them and releasing them into a lake (we are in
SoCal), but that could be a mess.

Highly illegal, and in California probably punishable by death,
imprisonment & fines, and probably in that order. ;-)

I wonder if "releasing" them would be still be illegal if done one at a
time, using a hook and fishing line?

*evil grin*

--

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Chris Barnes AOL IM: CNBarnes
Yahoo IM: chrisnbarnes
"Usenet really is all about standing around and hitting the ground
with clubs, on a spot where many years earlier a dead horse lay."

"Chris Barnes" wrote in message
...
~ jan wrote:
I thought about netting them and releasing them into a lake (we are in
SoCal), but that could be a mess.

Highly illegal, and in California probably punishable by death,
imprisonment & fines, and probably in that order. ;-)

I wonder if "releasing" them would be still be illegal if done one at a
time, using a hook and fishing line?
==================================
People here have been releasing all kinds of unwanted fish into Percy Priest
lake. So far none have naturalized. They have to stock the lake so fisherman
can catch fish.
--

RM....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
rec.ponder since late 1996.
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö

In article ,
~ jan wrote:


Ideally though, if they're just common goldfish, as someone suggested,
mosquito fish will take care of the eggs and you won't have a fry problem.
~ jan

I have always had mosquito fish, and consequently, never any goldfish
fry. Certainly kept my pond in check.

--
To reply by email, remove the word "space"

On Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:58:14 CST, Kurt wrote:

I have always had mosquito fish, and consequently, never any goldfish
fry. Certainly kept my pond in check.

They sure do. I had them in my koi ponds, and never had any fry. One cold
winter killed them off and finally I got koi fry. I've never had a problem
catching them though, just waited till they got big enough and slowly
worked at it. Many ended up in the filter, so those were real easy to
catch. Luckily, and thankfully, my koi don't spawn every year. ~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us