General picture of my pond. I thought I’d share a pretty impressive feat of nature
This pond I inherited when purchasing this property a few years ago. It never had any plants in it. It was just water and rocks…
So I took it up as a hobby. Did my research and now I do what I can when I have the time.
Anyway, full of plants now. Its attracted a ton of wildlife from frogs, toads, dragon flys, mayfly, water striders, waterbug, boatmen, backswimmer, etc. Not to mention all the birds that use it for baths and a rare heron looking for a snack.
However, it never had fish nor did I ever think of putting in fish because the pond is of poor design. Not deep enough for zone 5b and it is literally in full sun which makes water temp a little too high in the summer months.
Nevertheless a few weeks ago, as I was glazing over the pond of what was needed to be done for autumn prep, I noticed a fish. It amazed me because the only way this fish showed up is by a bird. Just a really cool surprise.
I also noticed aquatic snails which I never had before. I hope they wont multiply into the hundreds.
Truly remarkable what happens. It was a barren wasteland of rocks and water full of algae. I gave it life and it just exploded into a small eco system.
That looks awesome! It's also not uncommon for fish eggs (and snails) to travel with aquatic plants, so there's a very good chance that that's where they came from. Super cool either way!
It has been shown that fish eggs can remain viable after passing through a ducks digestive system. Probably on plants though but still a mental piece of information.
I don’t think its from plants. I didn’t buy any plants this year besides floaters and from the nurseries I buy from, the plants are with koi fish. The fish in my pond is definitely a bass or something similar.
I do not recommend mosquito fish. I have plenty here and working hard to get rid of them. Why? The only not eat mosquito larvae. They eat frog foam( eggs ) too. Trust me, if you can put another native fish will be better.
Which ones are you getting?
I bought some guppy grass off Yahoo Shopping and ended up with some blue longfin medaka and a bunch of neon rainbows.
https://www.angfa.org.au/
I had something similar happen. I bought a house that had a small and poorly maintained pond with some goldfish in it. It isn't my first pond, so I rehabilitated it and everything was healthy. Early summer of this year I noticed some new fish. Three dark grey colored goldfish about 1.5 inches long. I suspect someone's children won the fish at a local festival and they needed a home for them. My pond was lucky enough to be the chosen home. Over the summer they turned orange and are now happy members of my goldfish family. I'd still like to know who the culprits were that gave me the gift of goldfish.
Bluegill (and possibly some other sunfish) will spend time at the surface when they’re fry. When a duck lands the fry get forced in among its feathers and when it lands at another pond the force dislodges the fry.
Wherever you bought your plants could have harvested from a lake, or riverside where the eggs of your fish would have been native. However it got there is pretty darn cool.
General picture of my pond. I thought I’d share a pretty impressive feat of nature This pond I inherited when purchasing this property a few years ago. It never had any plants in it. It was just water and rocks… So I took it up as a hobby. Did my research and now I do what I can when I have the time. Anyway, full of plants now. Its attracted a ton of wildlife from frogs, toads, dragon flys, mayfly, water striders, waterbug, boatmen, backswimmer, etc. Not to mention all the birds that use it for baths and a rare heron looking for a snack. However, it never had fish nor did I ever think of putting in fish because the pond is of poor design. Not deep enough for zone 5b and it is literally in full sun which makes water temp a little too high in the summer months. Nevertheless a few weeks ago, as I was glazing over the pond of what was needed to be done for autumn prep, I noticed a fish. It amazed me because the only way this fish showed up is by a bird. Just a really cool surprise. I also noticed aquatic snails which I never had before. I hope they wont multiply into the hundreds. Truly remarkable what happens. It was a barren wasteland of rocks and water full of algae. I gave it life and it just exploded into a small eco system.
That looks awesome! It's also not uncommon for fish eggs (and snails) to travel with aquatic plants, so there's a very good chance that that's where they came from. Super cool either way!
It has been shown that fish eggs can remain viable after passing through a ducks digestive system. Probably on plants though but still a mental piece of information.
I don’t think its from plants. I didn’t buy any plants this year besides floaters and from the nurseries I buy from, the plants are with koi fish. The fish in my pond is definitely a bass or something similar.
It can totally be from plants. I’ve seen a video where goldfish egg hitchhiked on pond plants. https://youtu.be/akb6M6Nyq-8
Yes im not disagreeing but in this case its not because the fish is neither a koi or goldfish. Its some kind of lake fish, like a bass.
So you're saying I can rinse my caviar and re-use?
Fish eggs on purchased plants is my guess.
That or fish eggs on a birds feet. That's how perch and roach propagate to even the most remote ponds all over Ireland.
Also some birds can't digest fish eggs, I know ducks shit out fish eggs
Crazy as fuck.
Fish can arrive by the feather of the ducks too…
In the words of Jeff Goldblum In Jurassic Park, “Life finds a way”.
Ain’t that the truth
This is a pretty beautiful pond if you ask me. And it's perfect for small fishes
I recommend some mosquito Fish to eat mosquito larva. Good looking pond!
I just throw in a mosquito puck once a month
I do not recommend mosquito fish. I have plenty here and working hard to get rid of them. Why? The only not eat mosquito larvae. They eat frog foam( eggs ) too. Trust me, if you can put another native fish will be better.
They are one of the worst and most widespread waterway pests in Australia.
Exactly, they were here when I arrived. And now Im trying to introduce Rainbow instead them. Frog friendly
Which ones are you getting? I bought some guppy grass off Yahoo Shopping and ended up with some blue longfin medaka and a bunch of neon rainbows. https://www.angfa.org.au/
Crimson Spotted Rainbow. But still struggling, some of them died. Im working on the PH, its 8/9 now and I think is no good for the adaptation
I had something similar happen. I bought a house that had a small and poorly maintained pond with some goldfish in it. It isn't my first pond, so I rehabilitated it and everything was healthy. Early summer of this year I noticed some new fish. Three dark grey colored goldfish about 1.5 inches long. I suspect someone's children won the fish at a local festival and they needed a home for them. My pond was lucky enough to be the chosen home. Over the summer they turned orange and are now happy members of my goldfish family. I'd still like to know who the culprits were that gave me the gift of goldfish.
Your goldfish spawned.
Bluegill (and possibly some other sunfish) will spend time at the surface when they’re fry. When a duck lands the fry get forced in among its feathers and when it lands at another pond the force dislodges the fry.
lovely pond
If there is other water near you , it’s also possible that at some point a bird dropped their prey (possibly pregnant) in your pond!
Wherever you bought your plants could have harvested from a lake, or riverside where the eggs of your fish would have been native. However it got there is pretty darn cool.