My pond fish are avoiding me
 

I am new to this but is it normal? Up until now they were virtually eating
out of my hand but now rush for cover when they see me, even at feeding
time. I have reduced their feed to see if their behaviour is caused by a
lack of hunger but still no result. Is it the time of year perhaps or has
some predator frightened them?

Doug.

My pond fish are avoiding me
 

"Doug" wrote in message
...
I am new to this but is it normal? Up until now they were virtually eating
out of my hand but now rush for cover when they see me, even at feeding
time. I have reduced their feed to see if their behaviour is caused by a
lack of hunger but still no result. Is it the time of year perhaps or has
some predator frightened them?

Doug.


They have been frightened by something. Heron?

Mike


--

....................................

Don't take life too seriously, you'll never get out alive.

....................................

My pond fish are avoiding me
 

"Doug" wrote

I am new to this but is it normal? Up until now they were virtually eating
out of my hand but now rush for cover when they see me, even at feeding
time. I have reduced their feed to see if their behaviour is caused by a
lack of hunger but still no result. Is it the time of year perhaps or has
some predator frightened them?


Certainly something has/is frightening them. I trust they have somewhere to
hide at the bottom of the pond like a decent sized clay flowerpot on it's
side?
You should be reducing feed this time of year as the water temperature
reduces anyway, and stop altogether once the temperature gets below 50°F.
--
Regards Bob Hobden
Posting to this Newsgroup from the W. of London UK

Predator most likely. But as the temperature reduces they will need less food.

My pond fish are avoiding me
 

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 2011-10-09 12:03:07 +0100, "Bob Hobden" said:

"Doug" wrote

I am new to this but is it normal? Up until now they were virtually
eating
out of my hand but now rush for cover when they see me, even at feeding
time. I have reduced their feed to see if their behaviour is caused by a
lack of hunger but still no result. Is it the time of year perhaps or
has
some predator frightened them?


Certainly something has/is frightening them. I trust they have somewhere
to hide at the bottom of the pond like a decent sized clay flowerpot on
it's side?
You should be reducing feed this time of year as the water temperature
reduces anyway, and stop altogether once the temperature gets below 50°F.

We've certainly noticed with ours that the feeding frenzy has reduced
considerably. They're still coming to the edge of the pond, waiting to be
fed but the actual taking of the food isn't as manic as in warmer months.
Just as well, they eat us out of house and home!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

I was told some time ago that goldfish should not be fed during the winter
because whilst they eat, they don't digest, and that is not good for them.

Bill

My pond fish are avoiding me
 

"Bill Grey" wrote
"Sacha" wrote in message
"Bob Hobden" said:

"Doug" wrote

I am new to this but is it normal? Up until now they were virtually
eating
out of my hand but now rush for cover when they see me, even at feeding
time. I have reduced their feed to see if their behaviour is caused by
a
lack of hunger but still no result. Is it the time of year perhaps or
has
some predator frightened them?


Certainly something has/is frightening them. I trust they have somewhere
to hide at the bottom of the pond like a decent sized clay flowerpot on
it's side?
You should be reducing feed this time of year as the water temperature
reduces anyway, and stop altogether once the temperature gets below
50°F.

We've certainly noticed with ours that the feeding frenzy has reduced
considerably. They're still coming to the edge of the pond, waiting to
be fed but the actual taking of the food isn't as manic as in warmer
months. Just as well, they eat us out of house and home!

I was told some time ago that goldfish should not be fed during the winter
because whilst they eat, they don't digest, and that is not good for them.

It's the food we feed them that is the problem, being cold blooded if they
eat it they are unable to digest it quick enough and it ferments in their
guts and causes serious problems which usually only manifest in the spring.
There will be enough "wild" food in the pond to keep them going through the
winter even if it's mild and they are moving about. Water temperature of
50°F is the important point, don't feed below that at all.
--
Regards Bob Hobden
Posting to this Newsgroup from the W. of London UK

My pond fish are avoiding me
 

On 9-Oct-2011, Janet wrote:

"Doug" wrote

I am new to this but is it normal? Up until now they were virtually
eating
out of my hand but now rush for cover when they see me, even at feeding
time. I have reduced their feed to see if their behaviour is caused by
a
lack of hunger but still no result. Is it the time of year perhaps or
has
some predator frightened them?


Certainly something has/is frightening them. I trust they have somewhere
to
hide at the bottom of the pond like a decent sized clay flowerpot on
it's
side?

I have a couple of the pond plant baskets standing on those black
skeleton/perforated plastic trays grocers use to display veg. The stacked

trays are virtually invisible and the fish use them as a secure retreat.

Thanks to all for the helpful advice. I'll have to translate the figures
into metric though :) So I can expect to see less of the fish from now on
and until next Spring? How will I know they are all OK? This little hobby is
much more complicated than I first imagined.

I have a large and heavy plant basket which partly overlays a deep section
where they can hide underneath. Also the plants at the moment are also
providing a lot of cover and I have now temporarily included a net over most
of the pond, mainly to keep the falling leaves out but it does offer
additional protection. The night predator which tries to damage my pond has
not been back in the last few days.

Doug.

Sorry if going bit off topic, actually it has been a serious issue for me as I dont want to use chemical to clean up my pond from leeches. Any one here can suggest me how to remove Leeches from your pond without chemicals.

My pond fish are avoiding me
 

"Hilma280" wrote


Sorry if going bit off topic, actually it has been a serious issue for
me as I dont want to use chemical to clean up my pond from leeches. Any
one here can suggest me how to remove Leeches from your pond without
chemicals.

Piece of raw meat on a string. Put it in the pond leave for a short while
and retrieve, remove the leeches (lovely job), and repeat........ .
You may attract other things besides leeches, tadpoles for example, so do be
careful what you kill.
--
Regards Bob Hobden
Posting to this Newsgroup from the W. of London UK

Maybe a cat is harrasing them or yes a heron.

My pond fish are avoiding me
 

"Doug" wrote in message
...

On 9-Oct-2011, Janet wrote:

"Doug" wrote

I am new to this but is it normal? Up until now they were virtually
eating
out of my hand but now rush for cover when they see me, even at
feeding
time. I have reduced their feed to see if their behaviour is caused
by
a
lack of hunger but still no result. Is it the time of year perhaps or
has
some predator frightened them?


Certainly something has/is frightening them. I trust they have
somewhere
to
hide at the bottom of the pond like a decent sized clay flowerpot on
it's
side?

I have a couple of the pond plant baskets standing on those black
skeleton/perforated plastic trays grocers use to display veg. The
stacked

trays are virtually invisible and the fish use them as a secure retreat.

Thanks to all for the helpful advice. I'll have to translate the figures
into metric though :) So I can expect to see less of the fish from now on
and until next Spring? How will I know they are all OK? This little hobby
is
much more complicated than I first imagined.

I have a large and heavy plant basket which partly overlays a deep section
where they can hide underneath. Also the plants at the moment are also
providing a lot of cover and I have now temporarily included a net over
most
of the pond, mainly to keep the falling leaves out but it does offer
additional protection. The night predator which tries to damage my pond
has
not been back in the last few days.

Doug.

You should be feeding with wheatgerm food now as that is more easily
digestable.
Leave off food when fish stay at bottom. when weather warms up next year
begin little wheatgerm until the water temperature is above 15 degrees C
then back to high protein feed until about June July when breeding season is
about over.
A little fishing wire around edge of pool raised a few inches will deter
Herons as they need to perch and wait for their prey, or use black netting
over the open part.
Regards
Gordon

My pond fish are avoiding me
 

"cineman4" wrote

You should be feeding with wheatgerm food now as that is more easily
digestable.
Leave off food when fish stay at bottom. when weather warms up next year
begin little wheatgerm until the water temperature is above 15 degrees C
then back to high protein feed until about June July when breeding season
is
about over.
A little fishing wire around edge of pool raised a few inches will deter
Herons as they need to perch and wait for their prey, or use black netting
over the open part.
Regards
Gordon


That used to be the thinking but I understand it's been reversed now and
wheatgerm is considered a bit indegestible. If we are talking Goldfish I
would use a good flake food, ie., "Tetra", if it's still available.
--
Regards Bob Hobden
Posting to this Newsgroup from the W. of London UK

My pond fish are avoiding me
 

On 14-Oct-2011, "cineman4" wrote:

"Doug" wrote in message
...

On 9-Oct-2011, Janet wrote:

"Doug" wrote

I am new to this but is it normal? Up until now they were virtually
eating
out of my hand but now rush for cover when they see me, even at
feeding
time. I have reduced their feed to see if their behaviour is caused
by
a
lack of hunger but still no result. Is it the time of year perhaps
or
has
some predator frightened them?


Certainly something has/is frightening them. I trust they have
somewhere
to
hide at the bottom of the pond like a decent sized clay flowerpot on
it's
side?

I have a couple of the pond plant baskets standing on those black
skeleton/perforated plastic trays grocers use to display veg. The
stacked

trays are virtually invisible and the fish use them as a secure
retreat.

Thanks to all for the helpful advice. I'll have to translate the figures
into metric though :) So I can expect to see less of the fish from now
on
and until next Spring? How will I know they are all OK? This little
hobby
is
much more complicated than I first imagined.

I have a large and heavy plant basket which partly overlays a deep
section
where they can hide underneath. Also the plants at the moment are also
providing a lot of cover and I have now temporarily included a net over
most
of the pond, mainly to keep the falling leaves out but it does offer
additional protection. The night predator which tries to damage my pond
has
not been back in the last few days.

Doug.

You should be feeding with wheatgerm food now as that is more easily
digestable.
Leave off food when fish stay at bottom. when weather warms up next year
begin little wheatgerm until the water temperature is above 15 degrees C
then back to high protein feed until about June July when breeding season
is
about over.
A little fishing wire around edge of pool raised a few inches will deter
Herons as they need to perch and wait for their prey, or use black netting
over the open part.
Regards
Gordon

Something keeps on pulling my plant pots out of the pond and scattering them
around the garden during the night. The fish are surviving but obviously
frightened and I have been reducing their feed as it gets colder and have
bought some wheatgerm food in reserve. I now have covered most of the pond
with black netting, to keep the falling leaves out and as a deterrent to
predators. My plan is to remove the netting during the Winter and maybe
cover the pond plants with polythene when the weather is freezing. Some of
the pond plants are quite hardy though and seem to survive below frozen
water to grow again in the Spring.

Thanks

Doug.

My pond fish are avoiding me
 

On 10-Oct-2011, "Bob Hobden" wrote:

"Hilma280" wrote


Sorry if going bit off topic, actually it has been a serious issue for
me as I dont want to use chemical to clean up my pond from leeches. Any
one here can suggest me how to remove Leeches from your pond without
chemicals.

Piece of raw meat on a string. Put it in the pond leave for a short while
and retrieve, remove the leeches (lovely job), and repeat........ .
You may attract other things besides leeches, tadpoles for example, so do
be
careful what you kill.

Why don't the fish eat the leeches? They eat tadpoles don't they?

Doug.

My pond fish are avoiding me
 

On 14-Oct-2011, "cineman4" wrote:

"Doug" wrote in message
...

On 9-Oct-2011, Janet wrote:

"Doug" wrote

I am new to this but is it normal? Up until now they were virtually
eating
out of my hand but now rush for cover when they see me, even at
feeding
time. I have reduced their feed to see if their behaviour is caused
by
a
lack of hunger but still no result. Is it the time of year perhaps
or
has
some predator frightened them?


Certainly something has/is frightening them. I trust they have
somewhere
to
hide at the bottom of the pond like a decent sized clay flowerpot on
it's
side?

I have a couple of the pond plant baskets standing on those black
skeleton/perforated plastic trays grocers use to display veg. The
stacked

trays are virtually invisible and the fish use them as a secure
retreat.

Thanks to all for the helpful advice. I'll have to translate the figures
into metric though :) So I can expect to see less of the fish from now
on
and until next Spring? How will I know they are all OK? This little
hobby
is
much more complicated than I first imagined.

I have a large and heavy plant basket which partly overlays a deep
section
where they can hide underneath. Also the plants at the moment are also
providing a lot of cover and I have now temporarily included a net over
most
of the pond, mainly to keep the falling leaves out but it does offer
additional protection. The night predator which tries to damage my pond
has
not been back in the last few days.

Doug.

You should be feeding with wheatgerm food now as that is more easily
digestable.
Leave off food when fish stay at bottom. when weather warms up next year
begin little wheatgerm until the water temperature is above 15 degrees C
then back to high protein feed until about June July when breeding season
is
about over.
A little fishing wire around edge of pool raised a few inches will deter
Herons as they need to perch and wait for their prey, or use black netting
over the open part.
Regards
Gordon

I have now installed CCTV, mainly to see what has been trashing my pond but
it also allows me to view fish behaviour and check nighttime visitors such
as foxes, etc. The CCTV also has a motion detector which is quite useful.

The fish appear when they hear me coming at feeding time and, depending on
how hungry they are, they will stay in sight or not while I am feeding them.
As I move away the fish hide but reappear after I have gone. Although the
pond temperature is close to 10C it doesn't seem to have affected their
appetites yet. They seem to like wheatgerm as well as ordinary pellets but
prefer to wait until the pellets have become moist in the water before
eating them all. I only feed once a day at around 4pm, which seems to work
OK.

I have covered the pond with netting to keep the falling leaves off and
intend removing the netting when the leaves have all gone.

Doug.