The subject of discouraging predators is a critical one in protecting your koi and keeping them healthy, and most importantly, alive. Unfortunately, because koi are colored brightly, they easily attract predators both near and far. Against a green pond, it is easy to spot koi in the pond. Predators that koi fish need to worry about are raccoons, foxes, herons and cats. When you first build your pond, you want to make sure that the water level is deep enough that herons cannot stand in it. Also, you want to build overhangs that are high enough so that mammals cannot reach in and swipe. And you want trees around to provide both shade and to block the view of flying birds. One device that works pretty well is called the Scarecrow. The Scarecrow is a motion activated sprinkler system that can be run by battery. It can be attached to a garden hose, and what happens is that when a predator gets within a certain distance the sensor makes the hose turn on full blast. That means nearby mammals will get a nasty and unsuspected cold shower.
Another suggestion to help protect koi fish from getting snatched is to put lots of plants around the edge of your pond. This will deter raccoons from being able to reach in and steal the fish. Or, another friendly trait of raccoons is to trash the pond and throwing off the balance of the pond's ecosystem which can be a real nuisance. You want to discourage this as much as you can.
In addition to tall plants, water lilies and other floating plants are good places for your koi to hide from the view of flying birds.
Besides the methods already mentioned, a fourth and very effective method of keeping predators away from your koi is plastic netting. Plastic nets that work well are the nets that people used to gather leaves in the fall. This netting can be placed on top of the pond and used as a cover to protect your fish from all predators.
One other method that some fish owners use are plastic herons. The presence of another heron prompts a hungry heron to look beyond your pond. This method can also be useful.
One problem with most of these methods is that they can backfire on you at times and actually attract predators. Now how could that be? Well, predators tend to be curious creatures and it has been noted that the presence of any of the above described methods tells tips predators off.
For more information about Koi, Koi Pond or koi Fish, please visit Azlan and Irda website at http://www.myownkoipond.com
Another suggestion to help protect koi fish from getting snatched is to put lots of plants around the edge of your pond. This will deter raccoons from being able to reach in and steal the fish. Or, another friendly trait of raccoons is to trash the pond and throwing off the balance of the pond's ecosystem which can be a real nuisance. You want to discourage this as much as you can.
In addition to tall plants, water lilies and other floating plants are good places for your koi to hide from the view of flying birds.
Besides the methods already mentioned, a fourth and very effective method of keeping predators away from your koi is plastic netting. Plastic nets that work well are the nets that people used to gather leaves in the fall. This netting can be placed on top of the pond and used as a cover to protect your fish from all predators.
One other method that some fish owners use are plastic herons. The presence of another heron prompts a hungry heron to look beyond your pond. This method can also be useful.
One problem with most of these methods is that they can backfire on you at times and actually attract predators. Now how could that be? Well, predators tend to be curious creatures and it has been noted that the presence of any of the above described methods tells tips predators off.
For more information about Koi, Koi Pond or koi Fish, please visit Azlan and Irda website at http://www.myownkoipond.com