Re: birds/ponds

Thanks for your advice, Donna.  I will examine  the fish today to see if they 
suffered any damage.  
 
Actually, I did not quarantine the koi.  I know I should have, but  things 
were really crazy around here and I got them from reputable nursery  that I 
trust.  I know their pond guy.  I know that's not an excuse and  I should have 
quarantined them anyway, but things just got crazy around  here.  I have had them 
for about three weeks and I have not seen any  problems yet.
 
Eva
Long  Island, NY
Zone 6/7

In a message dated 5/11/2005 11:16:48  P.M. Eastern Standard Time, 
gossiper@sbcglobal.net writes:


Hope you  quarantined those koi before releasing them. Lotsa of sick ones out
there  lately and can kill off the entire pond...

Koi are definitely more  personable than goldfish. If you don't have
predators, you might want to  teach them to eat out of your hand... don't
worry, their teeth are way down  in the bottom of their throat, so they suck
your finger, don't bite it. It  also gives you the chance to check them for
sores or problems.

I  have everything in my pond at the moment and is one reason we are  draining
it. It is going back to being only a koi pond. Of course, I am  sure the
egret and heron will be bringing something else again... I am very  careful
with any new plant material brought in. I unpot, clean (give them a  PP bath
too) trying to keep unwanted things out of there.

In basic  terms, the eggs are in the bellies of your fish and the males have
to pin  her down against something to push the eggs out and fertilize. Of
course,  they also eat the eggs as well.... but somehow in my pond, not
enough of  the fry get eaten! (too much cover obviously) You need to check
the mother,  they sometimes get bad cuts from this.

If the babies are black, they  are goldfish and will turn other colors down
the road... if they are clear,  they are  koi.

Donna

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