Lost goldfish

Nic · #1 08-22-2008, 06:33 PM

My goldfish have disappeared - about 10 of them overnight. I still have 2 large Koi although 1 rarely comes up to the top and lots of smaller fish that swim really fast. I realise a heron may have got them but all in one go and at night??!! I haven't had them that long as i inherited the pond in a house move - do they hide sometimes or when having babies as lots of babies have also appeared recently. They were happily swimming on monday but no sign since tuesday - any suggestions?

PeterMC · #2 08-22-2008, 07:44 PM

How big is the pond?

Can you see down into the water, or only when the fish come to the surface?

If your water was very unclear it is possible your fish could be in there without you knowing.

Take a picture if you can?

dave the wath · #3 08-23-2008, 06:45 PM

A heron could quite easliy eat that amount of fish in one "sitting", and it is possible the bird is up and hunting literally at the crack of dawn - 5ish or earlier.
I had it happen to me, the bird was in the garden at 6 when i got up, - the illegitimate,

sidtom · #4 08-24-2008, 07:18 AM

If you dont want to loose what you have left in the pond, and there is a heron about. I suggest you get a net over it asap, or a wire around the edge of the pond as herons dont like stepping over things like that.Once they have paid you a visit they have a tendancy to keep comeing back.
As Peter asked How big is your pond? and can you see to the bottom of the pond in case they are hideing?
Best of luck, let us know how you get on.

Merlin · #5 08-31-2008, 10:26 AM

Hi Nic

As already mentioned, a heron is capable of eating a large number of small fish in one go, and yes they are up and about at the crack of dawn. The larger fish may have been to big for him to grab, but that would not stop him trying. I have had a couple of cases when I first built my pond, where I found my larger fish with stab wounds from a herons beak.

.

Fish do hide now and again, if they feel that a predator is around, but by observing the pond from a distance , you should be able to see some of the fish as they come out of hiding.

Can you give us some info about your pond, size etc , above or below ground, as the more info we have , the easier it will be for us to find an answer to resolve your problem.