Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding Pets

My association with wildlife and fish is typically one of predator (me) and prey (them). I enjoy taking care of them, and managing them in a responsible way so as to ensure future harvests. I also enjoy watching them, but I don't typically do a lot of catch and release fishing or photography, etc.

BUT...we have had the new pond for just over a year now. We stocked a number of large (close to and over 1 lb) BG and RES last spring, and 12-15" LMB this spring. We also stocked smaller BG, RES, FHM, and CC. Here's the challenge...the BG, RES, LMB, and CC have started eating worms out of our hands! We have millions of alabama jumping worms (I think they are actually an asian infestation, but the fish LOVE them), and we get a 32 ounce cup full, take them to the dock, grab them by the tail, and put our hand in the water. The fish enjoy our offerings.

It's pretty neat to have 12" RES eating out of your hand! This past weekend the boys jumped in the lake to see if the fish would still eat out of their hands...yep! They then started putting the worms between their toes to get them in deeper water for the catfish...something ate them! Next thing you know they will be naming the fish!

Due to the young age of the lake and my desire to get a good base going, we haven't taken anything out yet...but will probably start next year. Even for me, it's going to be challenging to take those nice RES out.

Cool!

Somewhere there's a youtube video of the Herman brothers feeding SMB with minnows held in their teeth while they are underwater.

Yeah, it can get tough. I've only got three 'pet' fish -- my big huge tiger-striped orange and black friend we call "Koi George" and the two calico colored koi in our HBG/CC pond. The rest of the fish are just called "lunch."

However, there are a number of critters that let us share their home. Our Guinea fowl are extremely entertaining, and will probably just live out their natural lives picking on poor defenseless snakes, eating ticks, and driving me nuttier than I am, especially when I'm in my basement office or basement kitchen. The outside of the windows are at ground level, and they figure they should be on my side of the doors and windows.

I don't know what I'll do with our current flock of chickens when they quit laying. Where we lived for many years, there was a used chicken dealer. He's long gone, and the location is now a shopping center. With him, we could trade our worn out chickens for a little cash and some cute young chicks.

The cats??? They're safe. They bring us a lot of furry presents, and even some legless crawling critters, quite regularly.

The hawks that keep watch over the guineas, chickens, and cats-- the story isn't complete. Same with the GBHs that regularly check the health of my ponds.

I once was a big predator of the animal world,,, now I observe just how precious all live is. I don't know what happen but I like myself better now then before.