Where are my Fish?

Where are my Fish?

By Megan Saba / March 10, 2020

A very common question asked by our watergarden customers; “What happened to my fish?”  Many people will discover the fish they saw yesterday are no longer there.  There are a few factors that could come into play.  Most likely, your fish are hiding, under rocks, lilies, or manmade habitats. Sometimes they will venture into deeper areas and you may not see them.   Depending on the time of day, your fish may be resting, as they are usually most active in the morning and right before dusk.  Feeding your fish at the same time each day can get your fish accustomed to your routine. Little tricks that you may add to guarantee their arrival to the surface could include turning your waterfall off.   Just don’t forget to turn your falls back on after feeding times, as we know how stagnant waters quickly turn.  Weather also may play a huge factor on where your fish may be at any given time. On a hot summer day, they are likely to find a hiding spot from that blazing hot sun.  In winter months, fish will stay towards the bottom of the pond as their metabolism slows and they are more likely to go dormant.

Watergardens can attract attention from unwanted predators such as heron, racoon and mink, to name a few. As the heron can be beautiful, these birds can feed on your expensive ornamental fish and empty out your feature very quickly. The racoon being nocturnal, most likely will swipe out your fish overnight without you even knowing. And the beautiful mink is a great swimmer, making catching your fish quite easy.

By the time you find out your watergarden has a predator, it is often too late to add extra protection.  However, there are things you can do ahead of time to help.  One of the most common methods is a net over top of the pond year-round. Although this may not be the most appealing, it is the safest protection against all hunters.  If there is a heron issue, you can add fishing line across the surface of the pond.  This method makes it impossible for the bird to land in the water. A blue heron decoy is sometimes helpful as heron are territorial.  Seeing another heron by the pond will scare off any passerby. It is important to move your decoy to different locations around the pond to trick the circling predator. If you suspect you have a raccoon or mink, there are products called scarecrow sprinklers that attach to a garden hose and are motion activated to spray water at the predator. 

If you’re concerned about missing fish, take time to think about the time of year, if anything around your pond looks out of the ordinary,  or the time of day, etc.  Predators often disrupt plants or statues around the pond.  Usually, a little preparation is all you need to ensure your fish are protected through any season.

Laura Maddox – AQUA DOC Watergarden Specialist

B.A. Environmental Science

Notre Dame College

South Euclid, OH