I've had a pond with goldfish (mostly comets) and water lilies for eight years. For most of that time the fish and the water lilies have co-existed happily. A year ago the fish began to shred the lily pads and some days we'd find large chunks of lily leaves floating on the surface.
This continued until there were very few intact lily pads remaining so in the spring I removed all the lilies and repotted them. They had extensive root systems – I have no idea how old they are as they were already here when we moved into the house – so I reduced the roots, replanted them, fed them and put them back in the pond.
Two of the lilies quickly made new growth but as soon as the new lily pads reached the surface they were again ripped apart by the fish. Now all the lilies are dead.
I'd like to replace the lilies but I'm reluctant to do so if the fish are going to destroy them again.
Does anyone have any clues as to why the fish would start to destroy the lilies? They don't seem to eat the plants – just rip large chunks from the pads.
Nothing else has changed in the pond. The water is still clear and the number of fish hasn't increased or decreased. Any help would be most appreciated.
The attached photo shows the pond when it still had lilies.
Alison
This continued until there were very few intact lily pads remaining so in the spring I removed all the lilies and repotted them. They had extensive root systems – I have no idea how old they are as they were already here when we moved into the house – so I reduced the roots, replanted them, fed them and put them back in the pond.
Two of the lilies quickly made new growth but as soon as the new lily pads reached the surface they were again ripped apart by the fish. Now all the lilies are dead.
I'd like to replace the lilies but I'm reluctant to do so if the fish are going to destroy them again.
Does anyone have any clues as to why the fish would start to destroy the lilies? They don't seem to eat the plants – just rip large chunks from the pads.
Nothing else has changed in the pond. The water is still clear and the number of fish hasn't increased or decreased. Any help would be most appreciated.
The attached photo shows the pond when it still had lilies.
Alison