Missing Goldfish

[mummy_natz]

Hi Guys,
I got up today and walked up the garden to view our pond which has contained approx 28 fish for the past 5 years and commented to my husband that the water was unusually clear today. After feeding the fish and seeing no activity I rooted around with the net to see the fish moving but nothing! I have only been able to see the one frog but no fish at all. I know they were there two days ago! My question is what creature could have eaten all these fish in one go? all i could drag up with the net were some fish scales so obviously there has been some sort of struggle? The pond is definately empty of any fish now :-(
All advice would be greatly appreciated

[Lancashire Lad]

I would imagine that if the fish were of a reasonable size (being five years old) that the only candidate would be heron(s). - (Or, if there could have been unauthorised access, light fingered humans!!).

Regards,
Mike.

[mummy_natz]

Hi Mike
Thanks for the rapid response but I forgot to mention there were at least 28 fish that were all missing within a day. Do you still think it could be a heron (or would he not be too heavy to fly off afterwards)

[Kayleigh]

Do you have mink in the area..Have you found any fish on the bank or grass half eaten or otherwise.

[tom00_uk]

otter, heron, other predators

what's the access to the water like?

[Kayleigh]

We need more information to determine what's going on dont rule out your neighbours either..
koi or large goldfish they can be sold on or just stocked someone else's pond.

[mummy_natz]

Nothing found around the garden, just scales in the bottom of the pond. No water outside the pond but weather has been dry and warm here. there was a petrol like film on top of the pond though. Couldn't quite make it out but no smell to it. I even tested the water quality and it was perfect. It's as if they have just disappeared. The garden is difficult to get into from outside and dont know of any neighbouring ponds. the water surface is about a foot below ground level.

[wizzo]

Hi Natz! Sorry to hear your bad news. My money would be on a Heron or Otter. What kind of habitat do you have around your property? Wizzo

[mummy_natz]

To the rear of our property is parkland and built up towards the front, houses on either side. The nearest lake is approximately one mile away from our house. I shall restock the pond but not immediately and not before i get some form of netting to prevent this happening again. Was very saddened to find all of them gone in one go. Thanks for all the help

[gerard Le Saffre]

hi Natz,
Sorry to hear about your fish, a heron seems the most likely, but 28 fish!!!
It must have been a family do.
I was interested in your observation of an "oily sheen" on your pond. I have had it too and wondered whether it had anything to do with the dead leaves rotting away at the bottom.
Regards,
Gerard