How To Protect Baby Pond Fish From Being Eaten By Larger Koi And Pond Fish
Keep Your Baby Pond Fish Safe From Predatory Birds And Predatory Pond Fish
It's a cruel world out there and your garden pond is no different, particularly for the fry of goldfish and Koi. Unless you protect them from the larger pond fish and predatory birds they will soon become a low calorie meal.
There survival instincts will help to protect them to an extent but that may not be enough. The baby fry can still be kept in the same pond as the adult fish but they will need to be placed in protective custody, until they are big enough to fend for themselves.
How Do I Keep My Baby Pond Fish Safe From Predators
Create a fine mesh bag that is about 2ft deep from shade netting. You do not have to use shade netting but this material is soft and smooth, without sharp, hard edges. The choice of material will need to allow water to pass through it.
Attach the mesh bag, containing the baby fish to a piece of wood, foam or polystyrene. The aim is to allow the net containing the fish to float around the pond. You will need to add a few stones or pebbles to the base of the bag.
It sounds quite easy doesn’t it? The hardest part is to find the little swimmers in the first place and then to catch them. Many goldfish are black when they are born and only turn gold as they get older. For this reason they are often camouflaged by the depths of the pond and shadows. Collect clumps of weed/aquatic plants on which fish have laid eggs or in which the very young fry might be hiding and just place this in the floating bag.
This one sounds a bit crazy but works. Your fish will learn to recognize you especially if you feed them. To speed up this process move your hands as you approach the pond (or do something similar) ... just don't let the neighbors see you. Keep the movement the same every time for maximum effect.
Pond fish in general, unless they are quite large fish will often be the victim of a predatory heron, king fisher or other opportunistic bird of prey. Even the common moggy (cat) will take its chances, if allowed. One of the best ways to prevent this is to use pond netting, as a protective covering. Another alternative is to use an animal scarer. Animal scarers come in all shapes and forms. Some give off an ultra sonic high pitched tone, whilst others simply look like the predator. The majority of birds are territorial and as a result will stay away from what they perceive to be another birds territory.
