Thanks for asking, MotherMole.
The temp in the pond today was 58-60 ; High, 65ºF low 52ºF
The lows this week are the first to be below 50ºF at night (42º, 43º later this week) with highs only to the mid 50's.
I have been cleaning the pond between raindrops to winter prep. Getting rid of all that muck and keeping up with the leaves, etc. that are just starting to drop. Definitely going to figure something out to prevent that for next season. Ounce of prevention there will go far.
Just the slightest of color change in the trees .... should be coming soon.
How's it shaping up in your parts?
Do I have bad luck or is this normal???
SO far so good-no changes noticed but my fish are nearly asleep at the bottom with the colder temperatures.
That's good to hear ..... Mine are pretty non-active, too ....
Leaves haven't even really started to fall ... just keeping up with them, trying to keep the pond as clean as possible.
How cold is it there mm? Here the fish are still quite active and the hardy water lilies are blooming. The water temp in the pond is 61.
The air is 48 tonight and the pond was 58-60 today. They are still on the shyer side but they did start swimming around at night like they always do to look for food in the safety of darkness,
Unfortunately I've got a koi to catch and examine. He has reinjured his gill plate. It was heron speared mid spring and seemed to heal ok. Now it looks freshly reinjured, but that's not possible because the herons have moved on weeks ago. Each day it is noticeably worse. I have no clue what the real problem is. My pond surface is 20 X 30 with a 3-1/2 ft depth in one area. Catching a koi is a major military manuever. It involves darkness, my DH, a quickly employed spot light and a fervent prayer that neither one of us trips and does a header into the pond. I'll set up a plastic tub with PP for a quick dip and try to figure this out with only a spot light ( but a big one) for illumination. He is eating and behaving 100% normal so I don't think it is internal. But what?
Oh, darkness? They don't see the net coming.
With all the fish catching I had to do this summer/fall, I find that the earlier morning hours were easiest. 6 am was good because the water was cooler and the fish were slower in their movements. I hope everything is okay with your fish.
BTW Snapple: I noticed all my fish's ulcers have pretty much healed up or are nearly gone with the exception of one fish. It has a "nickle" size ulcer near the gill that hasn't gone away. Should I treat with PP and return to the pond so that it gets a chance at healing before winter hibernation or just leave it to hope it heals on it's own? This fish (and all the others) are eating well and acting normal (for being shy guys). The dimilin course of action has apparently been working-the fish are more exploratory.
L
My pond (1,000 gallon) has been around 50ºF for the most part lately, maybe dipping slightly lower.
I don't envy you having to catch anything in a pond that size, Snapple. I can't even catch them in my tiny hole of a pond. Though, I haven't had to earnestly try (knock, knock, knock on wood). Sounds like you have your technique well rehearsed.
MM: I am glad to hear the Dimilin seems to be working. My Dimilin treatments are now complete and everything seems fine. One fish still has the head of an Anchor Worm still attached, but the long sting of a body has long disappeared. The head will work its way out in time.
Now, I will begin a prevention regimen with PimaFix and MelaFix to help keep away any bacteria or fungal infections, which I worry might start now, and sleep all winter on the fish, only to awaken before the fish do in the spring. Plus, I really do like the way they smell, filling the yard with some kind of eucalyptus scent.
I am almost through with the pond cleaning and is now mostly leaf removal duties.
OK, I have stopped feedings, inspected and treated for any signs of parasite, etc., just about finished with the gunk removal, and topped off the level of the water. I will leave the filter run for few more weeks, I am guessing until the water gets down to 40ºF.
What am I forgetting??!!?? (Oh yeah, I am looking for a pond de-icer, probably should get 2, a back-up)
Yes, Yes, Yes to the deicer backup. I'm still feeding cold weather food every other day. The water temp here is 58. Temperatures are going into the high 60's low 70's during the day and 50's at night. Not really cold weather. My water lillies are blooming their heads off. It still looks like summer. Fall clean up will probably come in one huge rush. My container plants are going full bore. It's crazy.
The koi catching was a failure. I'll have to wait until I cut back the water lilies. He doesn't look any worse. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed. The fish is not exhibiting any signs of illness. He's fast, active and hungry.
When do I need to stick in a deicer? I'm not too concerned even though I am going away for a weeks time next week.
Am I being foolish to think that there isn't a chance of a freeze? In zone 5 when do you all keep the deicer in the pond and do you just run it all winter or only when the weather indicates freezing temperatures? Also, I have two deicers in case of breaking. Should I be thinking that I put both in the pond all winter or only one at a time and if the first one breaks stick in the second?
Watch the weather. When air temperatures are going to go below 40 at night you will want to start the deicer. I never shut mine off until late March/early April. Thanksgiving week is usually the start time in this part of zone 5. The point is to try to keep the water temp as stable as possible, along with keeping a hole in the ice open. Do you have a remote thermometer? Comes in handy to see what's going on at the bottom of the pond over winter. The coldest water I've ever had was 37. That was after an extended period of sub 0 temps. It's up to you about whether or not to put in the backup now. I don't put mine in unless it's necessary. They get lime scale and why clean it if you might not have to.
No, I don't have a remote therm. Do I absolutely need one? (trying to watch my pond pennies before they all float out the door. . . LOL!) I am looking to purchase the Oasis 3 vacuum in the next day or so. Any negative comments from anyone before I spend a lot on this item????
You only want a remote thermometer if you don't like going out to the pond in a sub zero blizzard to check the water temp. I just look at my monitor on the wall by the patio door every morning while sipping hot tea wearing nice warm flannel jammies.
MM I think you will like that vac. I rented the 2 and that thing even sucked up larger stones at a depth of 4 feet. Warning though if you use it in a small 100 gallon pond it will suck the water down very fast.
Why do I need to know the pond temp in the middle of winter? I have thermostats on my deicers-what am I missing? Or is this just a nice pond toy to enjoy like the underwater camera?
BTW: Anyone here have the underwater camera and watch their fish on their computer? (I heard that some crazy pond people do that -I can't imagine. . . LOL!)
Oh mm you crack me up! I just like to keep track of the temp fluctuations because if the water temp drops below 37 it adds additional stress to the fish. I throw in an additional deicer when that happens ( it isn't often) to keep it as stable as possible. You can go without knowing - but...................??
No, I've never heard of watching the koi underwater. Sheesh!
Snapp: Go to Bonnie's Plants and click on her koiCam. It doesn't work on my Mac but I have seen it working on a friend's PC-great entertainment! And guess what-for a small fortune, you too can buy one from her . . . LOl!
Actually, I don't think that they were that expensive (all things considered in the pond pricing world. . . .).
Oh drat. It went on my "most wanted" Christmas list. I might not even wait until Christmas. I can't believe I want this. Let's see. I could justify it by saying that I could finally see which predator is going after the koi. Right?
You only need one justification?? I am required to have THREE!!
:-)
The cam worked on my mac through quicktime.
Sounds like a neat toy to find under the tree, for sure!
Snapple: Do you remember how much it was? I looked at that cam a few times last winter dreaming about getting my first fishes in Spring. Little did I know what a health nightmare I would experience (fish wise, that is . . .I'm fine except for the hairline fracture in my ankle-did I mention that my sprain was a little bit more?).
$275. $315 if you need extra cable and a connector. Had my DH looking at the video today with my bestest most angelic smile. I figure if I leave it running when I'm away from the computer he might get the hint. Failing that I'll have to take the extra special steps. What with this being a family web site and all I'll leave that to your imagination.
You fractured your ankle? At the pond? That's gotta hurt! Your gonna walk funny for a while.
A couple weeks back I took a visit to another DG'ers place to see how she made concrete items to get an idea if I could make a large spitter and clumsy me twisted my ankle in her garden. I was wearing newish shoes with very little to no foot stability (but they were cute. . . ) and that was my mistake. For about 10 days, I treated it like a severe sprain (I have done this a few times before). The pain still persisted and at night was radiating like it was on fire and I wasn't getting a lot of sleep so I had it checked out and the foot doctor found a slight hairline fracture. It doesn't require a proper cast-this week I wore a tape cast, and next week I wear some type of shoe cast. It really hurts at times i the arch area but it is improving. It's more annoying than anything! On top of this, I fly to England to see my in-laws and hate the idea of walking all over the airport in Chicago and then flying all those hours. It will probably be pretty swelled up upon arrival.
As long as they were cute!! :-)
Being injured in the foot is the worst, I think. Of all the things, I want mobility most. Glad to hear you took the initiative to see the doctor and things are healing.
I am jealous you are going to England, as I haven't been over to Europe since the Millennium Celebrations.
I am not sure, but maybe the flight attendants can move you to someplace you can put your ankle up more comfortably?
I hope you got some stellar spitter ideas out of all this!! :-)
Hello from England. I went to a garden center and a pond store today with my MIL. Great day for me! My ankle is doing well (and incidently we flew out in these awesome BED seats in business class (nothing like frequent flyer upgrades . . .). I wish my garden was in the same zone as my MIL's. Her pond and the plants look great!
I'm wondering how my fish have been doing this past week . . . Hopefully still healing!
my deepest sympathies on the hairline fracture! not weeks, many moons. I tore the ligament in my ankle 7/22/08 n just got released to work, but the swelling doesnt stop, n i was xtra tired while it hurt. The physical therapy was to keep the ankle aimed the right direction as it healed, n limber, but my love became that 'game ready' machine that was a water filled wrap that ballooned around my ankle as water circulated (iced water). I would actually get to see my ankle! And it felt awesomely good. Seems to be a lot of ankles lately that r giving out on us....
On another note, your tadpole additions from neighboring water looks to b a recurring source of your fishes ailments, even plants and rocks can carry those ailments-any rocks we find we sterilize with high heat, n quarantine in other chemicals b4 adding, but rocks in the bottom I've always found to create more probs than solutions. Plants undergo pre-treats n quarantine as well-n that includes the purchased plants! Step safely! Best wishes!
Ditto on the rocks. They cause problems with bacteria and parasites.
Can't wait to see some trip pictures, MotherMole! Glad to see you were quite comfy on the flight over, too! Enjoy your trip, and you can relax and mend when you get home.
:-)
I was wondering through all of your problems if you were adding fish or whatever from different sources. It really is best to find a good source and stick with them. The cheap fish are not that cheap as you are finding out. I purchased some cheap fish and on top of turning out UGLY, I got anchor worm with them. Talk about trying to catch fish in a big pond!!!! Mine is 9000 gal. Thank goodness they all healed but I learned my lesson, go to a trusted person to purchase fish. I go direct to the breeder now to get my fish.
Good luck and hope you don't have any more trouble now that you got rid of the rocks in the bottom.
Got back today, FIL getting grumpy in his old age . . . I feel lucky that my (normally relaxed and well mannered) husband didn't start a yelling match with old "grumpy". FIL too set in his ways to have grandchildren! LOL!
No, to the cheap fish and it was a reliable source. The fish looked beautiful as well! I quaranteened all fish after the initial purchase. The only diversion from the source was late in the summer (after fish illnesses started and were treated and looked to be completely healthy) and this was from a Japanese Importer. These three fish were also quaranteened as well as dipped with a few preventatives. They too, caught something from the others eventually and had to be in the hospital tanks as well. Throughout the medically treatments I found these three fish to be exceptionally feisty compared to my original fish. These three foreigners jumped and wriggled and tossed and turned WAAAAAYYYYY more than the domestics. They just seemed so much more lively even compared to when I first got the original fish. They are very beautiful specimens of koi with better than average markings and colors and on top of that they have more vigor and fight in them. It will be interesting to watch and compare the fish over the Winter into Spring. BTW; The Japanese Koi didn't cost more than my domestic Koi. They were about the same in price.
Glad you are back safely! Now you can get some rest! (after checking on the babies thoroughly!!)
Welcome back!
Thanks Willie and Snapple-Did you miss me (and my fish problems . . . LOL!). BTW: The ankle is doing a lot better since I got a new stretchy brace 10 days ago.
While I was gone my pond plants in the stream grew so much that they overwhelmed the stream and caused major flooding onto the patio. I was having work done on my basement whilst I was gone and my contractor was trying to figure out what was wrong with the leakage. After I tore out about 60% of the stream plants the flooding stopped. The contractor was so surprised at such a simple solution. Thank goodness I have an automatic refill on my pond. Also, I had a lot of leaves in the pond. I ordered the Oasis 3 vacuum and it should arrive in a day or so.
My fish are all almost impossible to catch. You can tell the Koi from the goldfish in the way they jump. The goldfish are very easy to catch, the Koi jump out of the water to avoid the net. One of my Koi jumped out of the stock tank constantly when it was young. I swear it had a death wish. It also got itself stuck in a 1/2 block in the tank, I still don't know what it was doing in there. The silly fish had to turn sideways to get in there.
My koi tended to jump the most when they had parasites and /or the fish lice. They don't jump anymore. They are still very hard to catch but not jumping! Watch your fish, just in case they are like mine.
Mine didn't have parasites at the time.
I have been through a bout of Anchor Worm though so I kinda understand some of your problems this year. We had to catch mine out of a 7000 gallon lower pond and it was dark also by the time we caught them all.
I had the 2 - 5"Koi in a 50 gallon container and this one has always been a jumper. DH found it one day in the garage floor completely dry and he threw it back in the tub and went about his business, I came by later and found it in the floor again, I threw it back in. This is also the one that got caught in the 1/2 block. it is the nosiest fish I have.
One of mine still jumps if I am near the pond. Probably me remind me to feed them. I never catch it jumping I just hear the splash. When I hear it splash I know they want fed. They don't do that if DH or anyone is with me.
I noticed the flashing behavior when they had Anchor worm. I treated it with Praziquantel. I didn't think of looking for it on EBAY. Good idea.
Ebay has plain ol' Prazi, no namebrand, and sells it for very cheap!
Linda,
Welcome back. Glad the ankle is feeling better. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to get around when one of your ankles is bandaged up or in a cast.
Carolyn
Carolynn: LOVE, LOVE, your fish! I love the long fins on the one in the back (orange) and the one with the two tones (orange underneath) and silvery top, and the other long fins. Really beautiful! I only have one long fin left in my pond and it was a buttery color a few months ago but now has a lot of white patches of color on it. This is the fish that has lived through all the health ills of the summer. This is the only fish I have left in the pond that still has an ulcer. I often wonder if I should humanely destroy this fish because I fear that this is the fish that is carrying all the disease in the pond (is my thinking even logical?)
Anyway, I can see myself getting a few butterfly koi next year if my other koi survive the winter. Otherwise it is goldfish!
Linda
I have to agree! Awesome school you have, Carolyn.
I saw some black butterflies at The Fish Store, but didn't get any. The more I thought of them, the more I wanted one, or two. Of course, when I went back the next week they were already gone!
I haven't the heart to cull .... I, personally, would set up a small, separate tank to baby the ulcered koi in. At least then it is out of the main pond.
Linda/Willie,
Thank you. DH and I have been through our problems with fish health and Linda I do understand your line of thinking. Personally I would not be able to euthanize him myself. - My husband has the same line of thinking though, so I do understand.
I do think that alot of the problems you had were as a result of the rocks on the bottom of your pond. Also, not sure where I read the posting, but somebody had mentioned to find a good koi dealer and stay with that dealer. DH and I did that starting about 5-6 years ago and really haven't had much in the way of problems since then. The koi from the place that I do business come over from Japan every year and she quarantines the whole lot of fish for 3 weeks before they are put up for sale, with their company not opening in the Spring until sometime in April. Because of this, I have been able to add fish right from her farm to my pond. She is a bit pricey, but I spend far less on koi than having to medicate an entire pond.
Both of you being in larger metropolitan areas, you should be able to find koi dealers that do this.
I would love to see pictures of your ponds and your fish.
Carolyn
