Re: [Killietalk] Pond Update

[Scott Davis <unclescott at prodigy_net>]

Look forward to your presentation Joe. I've not gotten to the pond building stage but have several out door containers of a 20-40-gallon nature. Unfortunately we have a terrific problem with the ubiquitous (not to mention iniquitous) raccoons. Though it "uglified" the containers, I was reduced to wrapping them in a green plastic coated chicken wire mesh to keep the varmints out. The mesh at least kept the killies safer and some notatus fry survived.

The raccoons developed a terrific appetite for water hyacinth and would sit on the mesh and bounce on them until the mesh was closer to the water. Examining the mess of fragments, a gardening friend thought at first that we had cut worms.

I'd like to find something (aversion therapy?) which wouldn't kill the raccoons but would keep them away. That probably needs to be aside from  killing or trapping them because of legal issues and cost. Also one could guess that a new gang of the masked bandits would just move in.

A pond keeper (ponder?) I met has had good luck with a six foot privacy fence and a couple of Dobermans. I'd rather not take that course though. (Picky! Picky!)

I too am intrigued with George's Aphanius pond. Thank you George for the updates. Wiser minds than mine locally have concluded that a big mistake of ours is keeping many Aphanius species warmer than need be, much to the distress of the female Aphanius.

Thanks,
Scott

Joseph Scanlan <drkillinut at mac_com> wrote: In Syracuse I will be talking about my experiences with outdoor  
pools.  Hope you will attend and tell us more about your heater and  
what it cost you to purchase and operate it.      Joe Scanlan

On Apr 9, 2008, at 12:31 PM, George & Melanie Caruso wrote:

> Last summer  I put several adult Aphanius danfordii soysali in my  
> outside pond. It is a small pond, just 55 gal. which we have mainly  
> for the birds thru the winter. I put a submersible pond heater in  
> it which keeps the water from going below 32 degrees and freezing.  
> There is a small pump in it which circulates the water up into a  
> couple small pools and then back into the main pond. With our  
> weather getting into the upper 60s and low 70s now I was pleasantly  
> suprised to see several small fish and several larger fish flashing  
> about in the pond. I have a hardy water lily that I keep in the  
> pond and then add acouple of water hyacinths in the summer. I am  
> sure it will not be long now before I see fry swimming about as  
> well. Here in Northern Ohio we had a pretty cold winter with a lot  
> of snow so the Aphanius did pretty well I think.
> George
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