Hi, new member!

[gigigreen]

I have a waterfall that flows into a 1000 gallon pond. I did have several gold fish that had survived going on five years. They had grown to their maximum size for my pond and were very friendly, loved to let you pet them when it was feeding time. Unfortunately, a blue heron finally found them and within a couple of days wiped them out. I've added more, but they are small. I've had my pond going on 5 years this summer. Hope to be able to share my experiences and gain helpful advice too.

 

[Shard MacD]

Hi Welcome...

So sorry about your fish, damn heron..... from what I have learned here it sounds like you may need a net to protect those new fish. Once they find an easy meal they come back. Some people put out a fake heron to keep live ones away, (have not heard if that is successful). I am not sure what has gotten an occasional fish out of my pond but I suspect a smaller cousin, green heron. But we also have Ospreys here over summer. We made the pond deeper and that has helped.

Your pond looks very nice, just love it. Great job.... beautiful. :wave:

 

[addy1]

Very nice! Welcome to our group!

Herons visit my pond and yard, I now keep a wide weave net over the pond, about 3 feet over the water. Seems to have stopped them.

 

[Becky]

Welcome to the forums! That's a beautiful pond, I'm sorry to hear about the heron though.

 

[don't ask]

welcome

gigigreen, sad time indeed when we lose a fish. Whether our fault or not. hopefully you'll have better luck with no heron coming around, but have heard they have a good memory and may come back, even if it's a year or more later

 

[HTH]

I suffered a similar loss from a raccoon about 10 years a go and I know it hurts. I had 10 inch orange long tailed goldfish in a pond on my deck. The nasty thing killed them but did not not eat them. I guess he did not know about catch and release.

Not sure with the heron but it may not be interested in small ones? anybody?

 

[addy1]

I suffered a similar loss from a raccoon about 10 years a go and I know it hurts. I had 10 inch orange long tailed goldfish in a pond on my deck. The nasty thing killed them but did not not eat them. I guess he did not know about catch and release.

Not sure with the heron but it may not be interested in small ones? anybody?

Our heron eats the tiny rosey reds to the bigger gold fish. What ever it can get. I have seen it hunt even crickets.

 

[Coinr]

I've heard mixed reviews on using the fake heron to keep the live ones away. I have one next to my pond and it's not working for me. I have pictures with the fake heron on one side of the pond and the live one on the other side.