One general comment to add...with the new forum, you can see how many have viewed a post. I don't know how to go back and see how many had viewed it a few days back. But I know everyone was reading it.

I can tell you that I read his post, and frankly, I had no clue as to what to tell him. I did think about it, and more so, I thought about his story of the mink (or otters, or whatever they turned out to be); then I scratched my head and thought 'so his best LMB cover was also where these rodent-things lived or hung out, so what should he do?'

Regarding the Black Soldier Fly thread, I did read it for the first few postings, and then I stopped viewing it. But I had reasons.

I've bought an electric bug-lite feeder. I have never used it. I don't have electricity at my pond. I had intended to rig a solar set up with battery reserve. Haven't got to it yet, and it's been three or four years.

I bought a timer based, battery/solar, automated feeder. I knew it would have to be set up way out in the water so it wouldn't be stolen. Haven't got around to it yet, and it's been about three years.

Regarding rot baskets, I love the idea, but I'm man enough admit that I do not have the constitution to be handling dead animals. The thought of cleaning out or restocking a rot basket on a hot day almost makes me puke. I am a wus in that regard.

I now know that I don't have time to do all the things that I want to do, therefore, when something comes up, that may even be a great idea, I know whether or not I'm going to give it attention.

I also don't read all of the threads on the worm raising threads only because I know that it's not something I'm going to be doing anytime soon.

I would almost like to do a survey to see how many "commonly accepted practices" each of us on the forum really use.

For instance:

1) Do you feed?

2) If you feed, feeder or by hand?

3) Do you stock forage fish?

4) Do you use a rot basket?

5) Do you take temperature measurements?

6) Do you take DO measurements?

7) Do you take R/W measurements?

etc.

I think we would be surprised at the results. All great ideas and/or proven concepts, but everyone's case is different.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here (taken from "Stripes), that less than 15 of us use rot baskets.

Excerpt from Robert Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat:"
"She took another microscopic bite of her sandwich, then pushed it away. Maybe she absorbed nutrients from her surroundings."