Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hello, I've discovered a drowned rat in my aquaponic fish tank. The rat hadn't swelled yet so I figure it wasn't in the system long. Should there be any cause for concern? And, what should I do next?
Thanks

Other than remove the rat and avoid splashing any of the plants in the process, there's really not much I can think of that you can do (although you should always wash the harvested produce in clean water anyway). Doesn't sound like it's been dead long so probably no different than finding a live rat in the system. Try to control the rat population in the area and keep them out of the system the best that you can. The more time you give the system before harvesting, the more you will let the normal bacterial population and the suns UV rays cut down the numbers of any problem organisms that were introduced into the system.

I know I've seen a fair number of Aussies with rat problems over the years so they may have something to add that I didn't think of

I wouldn't worry about it

Who knows what our systems are exposed to when we are not there / after dark ect

I have had a dead snake

My friend has had a couple of feral cats in his buried 5000L tank (needs a screen I keep telling him)

I worry more about uneaten feed it gets white fungus growing on it

I guess this is the problem if something has been dead in system for a long time these sort of pathogens can build up numbers very quickly.

As above control rats and mice they not only fall in your system they will eat every thing you grow and of course climb all over the rest.

Rats have very poor eyesight and follow the same track using smell so if you can find where they are coming from you can target them easily

Get a cat.....

I recently had rats chew the wiring in my cars engine bay. I looked at sonic sound deterents and purchased one on line. See how we go.

p.s. I have 2 cats haha

Thank you for your input. I'll take care of this problem.

dont think your friend needs a screen as much as some bait to get more ferals and a medal for doing his part in cleaning them up.

If he let his Cod grow instead of eating them they would get big enough to swallow the cats

Hmm.....Catfish anyone?