Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I was told that I need to put a lid on my fish because the local dogs will get the fish. We also have raccoons and hawks in the area. Has anyone ever lost any fish to these?

I have personally lost fish to kookuburas (an australian kingfisher), and i know that herrons are a big problem on fish farms

My dogs and cats are always hanging around the pool hoping one of the fish get lazy. One of my cats will even hang his tounge in the pool at night near the light where the bugs are falling into the fish, so as to mimic the bugs movement. He waits there with one of his paws set ready to strike if an unwary fish goes for the bait. Pretty smart I thought. I don't think he has gotten any, but I have sure seen him come close. We used to have a cat that would actually jump in after them, he even caught a couple. That is "rare".

this is all fun to watch for sure, BUT, if you have time for a mental picture that will make you laugh, try this....

My one year old 185 lb Mastif (dog) was very curious as to why the fish kept jumping out of the water (near the bug light at night). He stuck his nose down into the edge of the water and found out what it was all about when a Largemouth Bass took him on and actually latched on to his nose.

this was only seconded by a similar situation when the same dog saw a curious something moving around under the water and went for a peek. I unfortunately did not have a camera handy when he came up with a very disturbed look on his face and crawdad (cray fish for some) hanging on his nose. My other dog quickly helped him out by attacking and pulling the craw dad off and eating it.

You WILL have problems with birds though. If you have hawks and they think they have time for a dive with out getting run off, they WILL take your fish, no way around that except to keep it covered.

A lid will help keep children and toys out.

Also, a lid will keep fish from jumping out. I lost one like that. Found a dried body. Ick.

raccoons Will also be a big problem. My grandpa has a pond an the raccoons kept cleaning it out until he put a really good hide holes in for the fish. (Sono bricks did not work so well.

I think I had better put one of my electric fences around the tank. It keeps the raccoons away from the chickens.

Do they go after the eggs or the chickens themselves?

I haven't lost any fish in the tank from the dogs, but one stole a fish that we were going to eat for dinner

When we first set up the tank, we used fish from the local creek, including some called Spangled Perch. Spangles are grumpy buggers who don't share well, including not wanting to share 10,000L. I found a number of small fish outside the tank. We finally worked out that the Spangles were chasing the smaller fish out of the tank.

Jaymie, I am suprised that anything can jump that high. I have had fish jump out when my water level was to high. A lid does help keep fish in and keep foreign objects out.

I haven't lost any fish to wildlife yet, but I've known a couple of fish farmers who have lost quite a bit to 'wildlife'. Specifically birds being the biggest threat, and raccoons being the second biggest problem.

One crayfish farmer in central California had about one acre of Marrons and lost them all, and the only conclusion was that it was a flock of birds. I've talked to other fish farmers who have had migrating flocks land and decimate their ponds.

Another pest to be wary of is the two legged varmint!

The water level at that stage was probably about 15-20cm below the top of the tank. I found about 10 fish out on the ground, no obvious injuries, just dead. We worked out that they were downstream of the ladder and the spangle had claimed it as HIS space.

Yeah, these are troublesome in the marine aquaculture industry, especially the oyster industry, where oysters will be eaten, and occasionally teeth of the mysterious and evasive creature are left behind....

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... C09237.jpg

Crayfish farms, both North American and Australian, have had problems with poachers. As have trout and other fin fish farms.

For birds, there are a few things that can be done. There are fish safe pond dyes that can be added to the water to keep birds from seeing the fish. As well there are 'orchard' nets that can be put over them to prevent flying predators from getting in.

A plastic owl may also help with keeping birds away.


But what about something like this for other critters...

http://www.provenrepellents.com/products.php?pid=169

??

Now the price seems high to me... but what would it take to make one? A motion detector, sprinkler solenoid and sprinkler? You could also add motion detector lighting. That's a good general night time deterrent, for most things.

Wow. Thats a neat idea.

Im thinking $9 electric sprinkler valve, $12 transformer, and a $6(clearance) out door motion light and some wire... Half price..

Na, I think I will just make a one season pvc hoop house.

Have all the kids in the neighbourhood throwing objects in the vicinity of the detector, then bolting ( dreaming of my childhood again :sigh: )