Pond Boss Magazine
https://www.pondboss.com/images/userfiles/image/20130301193901_6_150by50orangewhyshouldsubscribejpeg.jpg
Advertisment
Newest Members
AndyfromIndiana, Jackie Rossouw, BruceBaker, ChrislCrews, Tonyg11780
18,804 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums36
Topics41,452
Posts564,105
Members18,805
Most Online3,612
Jan 10th, 2023
Top Posters
esshup 29,031
ewest 21,666
Cecil Baird1 20,043
Bill Cody 15,443
Who's Online Now
1 members (Boondoggle), 2,497 guests, and 71 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 39
E
ECD Offline OP
OP Offline
E
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 39
I added a small pond (1/10 ac??) up ravine of my main pond last summer. The goal was to catch sediment/nutrients from a crop field and raise forage. I have been working on getting marginals established. I planted 4 hardy hybrid water lilies this spring. They all had sent up numerous pads and one was starting to flower, they looked to be doing great.

Now my dilemma: A few days ago I noticed a couple pads floating on the other side of the pond. It was the morning after a severe storm so I thought maybe winds were responsible. As of yesterday there are pads floating all over. Two of the plants are completly de-paded and the other two only have a few pads left. I picked up three of the floating pads and they appear to have been cut or chewed off. The stems are intact and were 6 inches to better than a foot long. Most of the pads floating appear to have long stems intact. There is no appearance the pads have been chewed or eaten.

In looking through the forum posts I see muskrats and turtles are potential culprits, however I have seen no sign of either in this pond. I do have a few turtles in the bigger pond (snapping and mud turtles) but the two lilies growing there haven't been touched. Sorry this is so long winded.

Is there some other possible cause and any thing I can do to stop this?


It's great to see a smile on a dog
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,443
Likes: 1091
B
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
B
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,443
Likes: 1091
My vote is for the turtles. Turtles in the larger pond are not bothering the lilies probably due to more and better foods available. That is likely not the case in the newer smaller pond - i.e. food shortage for turtles thus they are tasting (eating) what is available.


aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine -
America's Journal of Pond Management
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 201
I
Offline
I
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 201
Yep. Turtles. They prefer to eat the lily tubers only. It's their equivalent to Filet Mignon.

Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 39
E
ECD Offline OP
OP Offline
E
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 39
Thanks Bill. Are they after the bulb? I don't see any sign of them eating the pads and most of the stems seem long.


It's great to see a smile on a dog
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 39
E
ECD Offline OP
OP Offline
E
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 39
Thanks for the reinforcement Instar.

I wonder - if I staked chicken wire around the plants, do you think that would keep them safe til they get good and established?


It's great to see a smile on a dog
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,443
Likes: 1091
B
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
B
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,443
Likes: 1091
Chicken wire or any fencing rubber/vinyl coated 2"-3" would also work as it is stiffer and more likely to hold its shape. Set a baited hooked line for catching a turtle.

Turtle damage to lilies is as you describe. Not sure why they don't eat more of the leaves. Maybe they are just tasting or tormening mother nature similar to racoons in a sweet corn patch. Just one bite and on to the next ear.

Last edited by Bill Cody; 06/27/11 07:59 AM.

aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine -
America's Journal of Pond Management
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 39
E
ECD Offline OP
OP Offline
E
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 39
Thanks Bill, I'll give the wire a try.


It's great to see a smile on a dog

Link Copied to Clipboard
Today's Birthdays
BasstroPhysicist, Donatello, jeffe, jeffhasapond, Tooger Smith
Recent Posts
How to start Pickerel Weed (Pontederia cordata)
by Boondoggle - 02/17/25 12:39 AM
Grass carp
by Fishingadventure - 02/15/25 06:24 PM
New Pond in Indiana
by RAH - 02/14/25 01:28 PM
Rocks and brush in Coontail?
by catscratch - 02/14/25 01:03 PM
Channel Catfish Reproduction and Growth Rate
by FishinRod - 02/14/25 11:31 AM
Optimal Fish Food shutdown
by teehjaeh57 - 02/13/25 08:31 PM
Dock and Overflow questions.
by Retired on 40 - 02/13/25 06:46 PM
Rock piles as structure / cover
by Pat Williamson - 02/13/25 06:02 PM
Large Tilapia Deaths, first observed
by J. E. Craig - 02/13/25 01:00 PM
Underwater Electrical Line
by Tinylake - 02/13/25 11:53 AM
aquamax largemouth
by Boondoggle - 02/13/25 11:06 AM
When Did This Little Guy Hatch??
by ewest - 02/12/25 04:25 PM
Newly Uploaded Images
Koi
Koi
by PAfarmPondPGH69, October 22
2 1/4 pound BGxRES
2 1/4 pound BGxRES
by Theo Gallus, October 12
What you can do with an inch of nightcrawler
What you can do with an inch of nightcrawler
by Theo Gallus, September 21
How to Out Condello Bruce Condello ...
How to Out Condello Bruce Condello ...
by Theo Gallus, August 3
Major change since 2009
Major change since 2009
by SENKOSAM, July 3
Fishing with my Best Buddy
Fishing with my Best Buddy
by Theo Gallus, June 29

� 2014 POND BOSS INC. all rights reserved USA and Worldwide

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5