JohnM20 replied on 05/05/2020 16:48
Posted on 05/05/2020 16:48
For many years I have had goldfish, and other fish, in my garden pond but about six weeks ago something happened that I can't explain even after 40 years of fish keeping. Has any knowledgeable fish-keeper got any suggestions?
Each day I would feed my five fish and they would come to the surface for food quite readily then, about six weeks ago there was no sign of them. The water is very clear and there was not much weed growth yet so they are usually very easy to see. I get visits from herons and the neighbour's marauding cats from time to time and, when this happens, the fish head for cover under some purpose made underwater shelters. After about a day they will venture out again, but not this time. There was no sign of them at all. No food was being eaten so I naturally stopped feeding them assuming that they had been got by the heron or cats. I could not believe, though, that anything would get all five in one visit but they just weren't there anymore - until about a week ago.
Walking past the pond I saw one fish. By the time I had gone and told my wife and returned to the pond there was no sign of it. Two days later I briefly saw three, but again they disappeared. I have started feeding them again but most if not all the food remained untouched so for about five weeks they have not eaten anything other than possibly natural food in the pond and have remained hidden for this very long period.
I put a small amount of food in yesterday and it remained untouched during the day although there was no sign of it this morning so possibly they are venturing out at night.
Can anyone suggest a reason for this mystery?
JohnM20
Caravanner from Derbyshire