Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Concern for my child

OK, we got the two ponds filled (thanks to God for a really, really wet spring here in Eastern Nebraska) and stocked the 2.5 acres with BG and CC's (1250 and 300, respectively). Shortly after that, I ran to the bait shop and added 12 dozen minnows in preparation to stock some wipers, walleye and bass this fall.

By the end of the week, the aerators will be installed and the new fish feeder will be doling out small portions to the small fishes. The pond guy loves me because he says, "We should [insert whatever costs money]!" and I say, "Yeah! Let's do that!!!"

Sometimes I just stand on the bank(s) and gaze out at the water, hoping to see a school of tiny BG cruise by, growing bigger with each swing of their tail fins. I fear I'm hooked, so to speak, and I can't get up.

But my greater concern is that, upon my return from the office where I daydream about developing hybrid, cold-water tilapia while people think I'm thinking deep, business-oriented thoughts (poor fools), my teenage daughter ran to me smiling and bright-eyed (note the combination of "teenage daughter" and "smiling" and you'll have to understand my immediate alarm). Despite my natural instinct to place both hands on my wallet, turn and run like the wind, I looked at her with concern and asked what was the matter.

She grinned even wider and told me of her new pet, Louie the beta, who was contentedly installed in a bowl on a shelf in her room, surrounded by posters of scary-looking musicians from bands I've never heard of.

I am deeply concerned that I may have, somehow, infected her with my illness. Is there a cure or some sort of 12-step program for children of pond-addicted fathers? I fear that, if this continues and her fish collection grows from a bowl into ponds of her own, we'll become destitute and no longer be able to afford Purina fish food...or those little 7-day pellets Louie loves.

Is there a way to end this without great pain, or should I just give up and realize that my life, and hers, will now be ruled by algae control, oxygenation concerns and reel repair?

Should all hope be abandoned?

Accept it ...there's no hope.

Yes, abandon all hope.

cool post MJR. embrace the chance to pond....i mean bond .

i think tom cruise (my 16 year old) "thinks" its cool cause his dad loves it so much, but i can detect the loss of attention span when i try to tell him about the differences in fecundity for various species of lepomis

I feel your shame, MJR.

Due to my negligent parenting, my daughter shares her room with a big, brutish male.



She has a beta, too.

I have been informed that if you secretly put on a tinfoil hat while thinking about pond plans at the office you will dream-up/invent all kinds of neat things/gadgets to use at the pond or maybe even patent and sell.

Responsibility for another living thing is a very good learning experience for a teenager. It may well open her eyes.

MJR,

I made a small pond and stocked it with lazy, brightly colored fish for the youngsters to enjoy. They're just too young to start on the hard stuff.

My oldest is 2, knows the words Fish and Pond. Both were of the first 15-20 words he knew, right after "Momma", "Dadda", "Tractor",and "I want some!"

MJR,

In my experience, there is a marked sexually dimorphic response to pond/fish addiction. Girls become more patient, self confident, and actually sometimes listen to parental advice when so afflicted, even when entering the teenage years.



The result in males of my age is not an improvement, at least according to my wife.

PS Note the smallie, Sunil

Be glad you share an interest with your teenage daughter! Some fathers only dream of such a thing!

Noted, Yolk. She's got a good lip-hold technique working there.

Yep. Learned it on her sister.

Yikes. Been on "vacation" at the lake house in Arkansas (450 shoreline miles there, I don't try to stock it) and missed all the supportive advice.

I did get some serious weedeating and powerwashing done, however. The daughter was along but didn't eat any weeds or wash a thing, so far as I could tell. Thankfully, I was able to drop her off with friends in Kansas City so she could enjoy the John Mayer concert this evening. I think her mother bought the tickets. Or maybe I did and just don't know.

The aerators got installed but are lacking power. I assumed that, since the lights in the shed worked that the outlet would too. Silly me. Any licensed electicians in the area of Reluctance Ranch? The feeder is purportedly installed and working.

Louie's doing fine. I just checked.

Thanx for all the help and advice. I'll keep y'all posted as to the progress...on all fronts.