I put some duckweed into the 'baby corral' awhile back thinking the fry could nibble at the plants and hide under. This morning, I found 2 of my largest fry wrapped in the filamentous roots and dead. Apparently, they got stuck in the long roots of the oldest duckweed and couldn't untangle themselves. Needless to say, the 'baby corral' no longer has duckweed.... :(

Yikes! Killer duckweed! Duckweed helps protect the fry from predators, lowers the water temperature, and provides homes for microscopic animals. It also though may reduce the oxygen levels in the pond by suffocating the pond out if it covers every inch. Now, I can add fry strangulation to duckweed's negative side.

I know... who woulda thought?