Sticklebacks: are they bad for wildlife?

[blacknest]

Originally Posted by numeniusaqua

As regards the heron, you can buy plastic model heron's which are supposed to deter other herons and look OK as a decorative item too - however, my parents had one at thier pond and the real heron was not fooled at all and still came to eat thier fish.

Another option is a device which can be left connected to a hose pipe. They are not cheap (about £30 I think) - it has a sensor which when something comes near, it lets a jet of water out, hitting the offending something, which if it is a heron or cat or whatever, makes it clear off! - or presumably you, if you forget to turn it off!

Here's the offender! Snapped with my cybershot in a hurry when I was gardening

[Gill Catton]

You kno what I would do? re-stock the pond, fish aren't expensive (unless you're a posh koi breeder) and if you have lots of weed they may be able to breed and not be eaten by the heron especially if you don't get brightly coloured fish. But if they do get eaten is that so bad?

I agree netting (and plastic herons IMO) are ugly, but you have the opportunity to watch a heron at close quarters! Who has that?! I think you're lucky. They are just as interesting as other birds that visit bird tables I think.

[joey747]

ive got two baby sticklebacks, a weather loach type thing and 2 goldfish in my pond. the goldfish are not actualy gold,one is black and one tancho (white with red cap on head.) The sticklebacks swim with eachother and the goldfish stick togeather aswell.
i was wonering, apart from duckweed, what other plants will my goldies eat?

[Sad1966]

Can any one help me with some sticklebacks. I live in the North West but don't mind travelling a reasonable distance to collect them.

[numeniusaqua]

They breed so well in my garden pond that I've now got more than you could shake a, er stick at! I'm over near the North East coast though, so probably too far for you? (Morpeth, Northumberland).

I had 3 to begin with, 2 females and 1 male - I now have well over 100 (I gave up counting at that point)! - So you'd be more than welcome to some.

[blacknest]

That's interesting. I have a tiny ornamental pond on the patio. It's nice and deep which keeps the water cool but it's still small in surface area. I bought 3 golden orfe and 2 silver orfe a couple of years ago. They were teeny then but they're quite big now and should go in the big pond.

Sticklebacks would be ideal as there are relatively few coldwater hardy species which remain very small from the acquatic suppliers.

And things like minnows and bullheads like much more oxygenated water.

Any other ideas? Otherwise Stickles it is

[Patch01]

Originally Posted by GuyF

Thanks for all your advice,
That was the answer I was hoping for as I did enjoy watching 'Spike' my lone male stickleback. The next problem is where to buy one because the garden centre where I bought him hasn't had any in stock for atleast a year!
Thanks again.

I have bread my sticklebacks in my pond for years and never had a problem. If you would like to obtain a few and are serious about a wild life pond. I live in Crawley West Sussex but you would have to collect them. reply to patch.jones@googlemail.com

[GFM]

I have had a smallish garden pond for 10 years and it includes sticklebacks, which breed in big numbers each year, but in the end only a handful live in the pond throughout the year. The pond also has common newts, toads, sanils and frogs as well as dragonflies. To me thats a true wildlife pond and eco system. As others have said they all eat and get eaten and yesterday morning I looked out of the window and there was Harry the Heron taking his slice of the action- thats the wonder of nature!