I love my Koi they are like family to me and this morning I walked out to my beautiful 3 tier pond to discover my giant 5 year old Koi Shiny is gone with no trace. I live in IL he was very large and slow so I am guessing it was a coon like the one who attacked my others last year. I thought it was because my light didn't shut off that night which basically was a beacon for that darn coon but this time no lights and the pond is a 500 Gal pond with rocks on the bottom that they usually hide by. I spent 3 hours crying this morning he was my oldest fish his sister was killed shortly after breeding last year but left me with 4 beautiful babies that are my pride and joy. Hubby is about to commit me and told me I can’t buy anymore unless I figure out how to keep losing them. I have 7 left that I am willing to buy/do anything to keep safe PLEASE HELP. I am crazy enough to start sleeping outside to keep them safe but ummm then I am sure the luney bin will come for me before morning so please please please pros of Robyn’s fish world tell me how you keep your lil ones safe when they are outside in their ponds.

Jules

I'm so sorry about Shiny. Building a bigger pond, adding more hiding places, adding more plants, etc. will help to some extent. In the end though, the fastest, least expensive, and easiest thing to do is to net the pond. I know, it's hideous but I've resorted to having at least a partial net on my pond all year to protect the fish from the herons. Our raccoons haven't seemed to have taken many fish (none that I know go missing). Raccoons like shallow water so having a deep pond with no shelves helps to keep them out.

http://www.fishpondinfo.com/pmamm.htm

I don't mind my net, I know it keeps the fish in and the bad guys out!

Yup a net would probably be the easiest way to keep them safe. Sorry that you lost Shiny.

I have one of those ScareCrow water sprayers that is activated by motion. I've been keeping my pond netted for 3 or 4 years now.
With the two of these deterrents together, I haven't lost a fish to a predator.
In our area we have Blue Herons, egrets, racoons, skunks, redtail hawks, etc. ...

The ScareCrow is on the left of the picture:



The "face" on the device is a decal kit provided, that the buyer puts on (if wanted).

The round rocks around the edge of the pond hold down the net. The net is black plastic with 3/8" squares (I think).

Here's another picture looking down at it, with the net on:



We are so used to the net, I guess we kind of look around it. When I'm out there with the fish I often roll back the net ... whether it's to do something in the pond, get a better look at the fish, or when feeding them (they can also be fed through the net).

Works for me. But I've also got a fairly small pond (8' x 6' x 3').
The netting comes in a variety of sizes. The package says it is to keep out leaves & debris ... but it does a good job frustrating the hungry hunters as well.

P.S. sorry to hear about Shiny :(

PG

Here's another pic of some of them, with the net rolled back:



PG

j7-Sorry about your lose.

Pg- Your koi are beauties, especially the red and white one.
I know little about show koi, but I bet he would come in first place.

Thanks Wayne,
My wife picked that one out. She's got a good eye ... ;)

PG

The ScareCrow is made by Contech Elelectronics. They also make some other products that keep animals away:
http://store.premierwatergardens.com/coel1.html
The CatStop uses an ultrasonic high decibal alarm that will probably tick off most small animals ... as well as the neighbor dogs. I haven't tried this product yet, but I'm thinking about ordering one. I wonder how you would test to make sure it works. I suppose you could invite a dog or cat into the yard and see how it reacts!
The Mini ScareCrow uses a canister of compressed air to scare the animal by emitting a sound, and a spray of air. I'm curious about what sort of sound and how loud it is. I imagine that you would have to stock up on spare canisters also.

For really big ponds you could always try one of these:
http://www.lsuagcenter.com/NR/rdonlyres/24...ncewatchbo1.pdf
... if you have enough money, that is.

Some people use decoys such as fake herons or fake floating alligators. I don't have experience regarding the effectiveness of either.

If you don't like the look of pond netting, there's alway the electric fence option ....
Some are even battery operated like this one:
http://www.mightypets.com/product.asp?3=10...ductDescription

PG

I am not by any means an;expert, but I would look for a great blue heron. They will spear the fish with their beaks and throw them up onto the bank, and do them in. We had to cover our pond for months with net to dissuade the one that was coming here. He had already fed on six of our biggest goldfish.
We live in Ohio and I saw one flying the other day by a farmer's pond, so I know they are back. :angry: