:'-(

[cmalgee]

I went to western NY for the weekend, and when I got back yesterday my Kujaku ("Samurai") was missing. Now my other koi panic and swim frantically to hide under a ledge whenever I get near the pond. I've never had a fish "disappear" before this. I live in city limits and have never seen a heron, have marble chips going all around the pond so no snake would ever want to travel across it, but I have had a stray cat come in my yard before. The fish in the top pond aren't acting any differently and would eat out of my hand if I let them. Any guesses as to what happened?

[gcuss]

A predator of some sorts no doubt. As far as never seeing a heron... Perhaps you've been discovered by them

Lots of tips/tricks for dealing with them. Use the search function and you should get an idea. Most of the heron solutions would also be suitable for other predatory birds so if you miss the mark by guessing heron, you still might be preventing future losses.

Good luck, and welcome.

Grant

[Ethan25]

Quote: Originally Posted by cmalgee I went to western NY for the weekend, and when I got back yesterday my Kujaku ("Samurai") was missing. Now my other koi panic and swim frantically to hide under a ledge whenever I get near the pond. I've never had a fish "disappear" before this. I live in city limits and have never seen a heron, have marble chips going all around the pond so no snake would ever want to travel across it, but I have had a stray cat come in my yard before. The fish in the top pond aren't acting any differently and would eat out of my hand if I let them. Any guesses as to what happened?

Could be that a heron decided to stop by, or someone brought a net over and the only one they got to was your Kujaku.

so sorry.

[aquitori]

It's funny that you never know until it happens. My pond is covered from the sky by a olive tree then one day I saw a heron standing by the pond. I hate to say but my Big Rottweiler "Bear" had fun with his new friend...

[cmalgee]

Quote: Originally Posted by aquitori It's funny that you never know until it happens. My pond is covered from the sky by a olive tree then one day I saw a heron standing by the pond. I hate to say but my Big Rottweiler "Bear" had fun with his new friend...

well, if I see a heron I may need to borrow Bear. It's ironic that I work so hard to keep healthy living water and a natural water garden eco-system, but wouldn't hesitate to end any predators that are just living by their instincts. (but then again I used goldfish as bait when it was still legal here in VA, I guess my hypocrisy knows no bounds)<<<------insert Doc Holiday .gif

[philbob]

Have you seen any racoons nearby? We have heron and racoon in our neighborhood, but the racoons are a whole lot smarter.

[cmalgee]

Quote: Originally Posted by philbob Have you seen any racoons nearby? We have heron and racoon in our neighborhood, but the racoons are a whole lot smarter.

woodchucks, raccoons, and opossums. I haven't seen any coons in my backyard, but I've got a bb gun sitting downstairs to teach, but not kill, anything near my pond. If I overshoot and get my hariwake, I'll be the next person to vote for gun safety legislation.

[dick benbow]

Here's what I've seen in the past , with otters....lots of pieces of fish scattered everywhere.

With raccoons patches of scales where the koi wiggled free and was regrasped.....
with herons, gone with no trace or if Koi large, still in the pond with puncture wounds.

I always have stray cats drawn to my property but have yet to see any wounds inflicted.

I did have a friend once with large koi that actually saw a giant raccoon carrying off his koi at night without leaving any sign of a struggle. he thought he had humans raiding him till he saw otherwise.....

[smithvillemike]

sounds just like what happened in my pond.

My Shiro went missing and now my other koi won't come up when anyone is around. They see the food but won't come up to get it while I'm there, but before they didn't worry about me.

I have seen the raccoon around but haven't been able to trap him, but he knows I am after him.