j.w
I Love my Goldies
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Neat CE, I still haven't bought anymore shubbies. I need to go look more.
Country Escape's 2nd pond - Goldfish only
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CE the irises I put in my pond were the Japanese. They seem to be doing good, one of them is about to bloom. You asked if my weather here was normal and I have to say I think it has been cooler and a lot more rain this year.
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CE, good luck with your new fish. I am staying at 12 fish for now. That number seems to work out good for my pond!
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Well, shucks, I'm all turtle crazy this weekend! Aris has been missing for about 4-5 days now, and then noticed a dead painted turtle in my yard on Friday morning. Thought it was too big to have been Aris, looks like the dogs or something chewed up the top shell, but the head and legs were intact, as well as the bottom shell. The bottom shell was almost as long as my hand, so thought it was too large, but didn't seen Aris, so assume it is him.
Then, this morning, I see a much larger turtle head in the goldfish pond. Also, remember one day I saw two turtles, Aris and a smaller one? Well, this evening I spotted the bigger guy, also painted turtle (don't worry, any snapper, ANY size, gets taken to the farm pond pronto!!!), and the neighbor kids wanted to see how big he was, and since he was sitting between 2 lily pots, Avery grabbed him. He is about 7" long, head is twice the size of Aris'. And, there was a smaller turtle (Aris???) pecking at one of the lily buds, but it ducked under really fast, and Aris is not that spooky, so wondering now how many turtles are hiding under the lily pads. As I said, painted turtles are welcome, if they eat fry or tadpoles, it's ok. No more naming turtles, though.
I now have Big Guy and Little One ... not really names, just distinguishing references to their sizes. LOL
Then, this morning, I see a much larger turtle head in the goldfish pond. Also, remember one day I saw two turtles, Aris and a smaller one? Well, this evening I spotted the bigger guy, also painted turtle (don't worry, any snapper, ANY size, gets taken to the farm pond pronto!!!), and the neighbor kids wanted to see how big he was, and since he was sitting between 2 lily pots, Avery grabbed him. He is about 7" long, head is twice the size of Aris'. And, there was a smaller turtle (Aris???) pecking at one of the lily buds, but it ducked under really fast, and Aris is not that spooky, so wondering now how many turtles are hiding under the lily pads. As I said, painted turtles are welcome, if they eat fry or tadpoles, it's ok. No more naming turtles, though.
I now have Big Guy and Little One ... not really names, just distinguishing references to their sizes. LOL
j.w
I Love my Goldies
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Oh no hope it wasn't Aris, you have so many coming you never know. He was the friendliest one and you could feed him and he'd come running. Now I'm sad :sad:
You think dogs killed it or just found it dead and chewed it?
You think dogs killed it or just found it dead and chewed it?
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I don't think my dogs killed it, they didn't even know he was in there, never showed any interest. BUT, if he was walking in the yard, he was fair game to them. I suspect the dead turtle was more likely killed on the road and one of them drug it into the yard. I really don't think they would have killed him, but I may be wrong. Bark excessively at it, yes, kill it, probably not.
Oh, yippee!!! I just looked at the picture I took when I found Aris, and it was NOT him. Aris was maybe at most half length of my palm, and this dead turtle's bottom shell was almost the length of my hand, so the top shell would have been even larger. Woohoo! At least it wasn't Aris. Maybe he's in there, just hiding because of the new arrival of the larger turtle. And, I'm pretty sure the smaller one is still in there, as that is what was pecking at the lily bloom. Sooo funny, bloom kept bouncing and getting hit, finally walked where I could see the reason, and saw the turtle, about the same time it saw me and ducked down. Aris would not have ducked so quickly, and it was MUCH smaller than the larger one. Who knows how many turtles are in that pond. Don't see any in the koi pond ... yet!
Now I wonder with the larger size, although it's not huge by any means, of the new turtle, if I have to worry about it biting the fold in the bottom of that pond and causing a hole. I think they eat plants and algae and bugs, not sure about fish but suspect they will eat anything they can catch, although they are not very fast, and not as crafty as snappers. So, if anyone thinks it could bit through the liner folds, then I will remove it and take it back to the farm pond, where it came from.
Oh, yippee!!! I just looked at the picture I took when I found Aris, and it was NOT him. Aris was maybe at most half length of my palm, and this dead turtle's bottom shell was almost the length of my hand, so the top shell would have been even larger. Woohoo! At least it wasn't Aris. Maybe he's in there, just hiding because of the new arrival of the larger turtle. And, I'm pretty sure the smaller one is still in there, as that is what was pecking at the lily bloom. Sooo funny, bloom kept bouncing and getting hit, finally walked where I could see the reason, and saw the turtle, about the same time it saw me and ducked down. Aris would not have ducked so quickly, and it was MUCH smaller than the larger one. Who knows how many turtles are in that pond. Don't see any in the koi pond ... yet!
Now I wonder with the larger size, although it's not huge by any means, of the new turtle, if I have to worry about it biting the fold in the bottom of that pond and causing a hole. I think they eat plants and algae and bugs, not sure about fish but suspect they will eat anything they can catch, although they are not very fast, and not as crafty as snappers. So, if anyone thinks it could bit through the liner folds, then I will remove it and take it back to the farm pond, where it came from.
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Well, I finally had camera in hand when the bigger painted turtle showed up, and was able to sneak up on him staying down low, and then peaked camera over the edge of the wall. This first pic was taken from across the pond, zoomed in.
Then he spotted me! He looks like it's the same pic, but I was now behind him, and he turned around to see me!
Here's a picture of Smiley, the frog (he's always happy to get his picture taken!) and the little turtle, which is smaller than Aris.
Haven't seen Aris for about 5 days now, but at least I'm certain the dead turtle I found in the yard was not him, it was bigger than him. So, either he's still in the pond, laying low because of the new larger turtle, or he moved somewhere else.
Lilies are blooming everywhere, and on the weekend is the only time I can get a good pic of them. Loved this almost red and white lily that was blooming in the koi pond.
Then spotted this damselfly, and there was a bee in the lily as well!
Then he spotted me! He looks like it's the same pic, but I was now behind him, and he turned around to see me!
Here's a picture of Smiley, the frog (he's always happy to get his picture taken!) and the little turtle, which is smaller than Aris.
Haven't seen Aris for about 5 days now, but at least I'm certain the dead turtle I found in the yard was not him, it was bigger than him. So, either he's still in the pond, laying low because of the new larger turtle, or he moved somewhere else.
Lilies are blooming everywhere, and on the weekend is the only time I can get a good pic of them. Loved this almost red and white lily that was blooming in the koi pond.
Then spotted this damselfly, and there was a bee in the lily as well!
taherrmann4
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Everytime I have brought home a turtle that I found on the street and place him in the backyard, they booked it out of the yard. If they only moved on the road as fast as they booked it out of my yard there would be no need for me to rescue them...
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So far I have not put any INTO my pond, they have all found my pond and got in. I suspect they are coming and going at their leisure, just wish Aris would stay. He was fun, swam to me when I fed the goldies, and had to have his share! No afraid when I walked by, even would climb on top of the lily pads like as if to say, "Hey, don't walk by, I'm right here!" He had a neat personality. These others may get tamer if they stay, maybe not! Aris might have been one of a kind ....
He had a neat personality. These others may get tamer if they stay, maybe not! Aris might have been one of a kind ....
j.w
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Neat pix of the turtles and that is a really interesting pretty 2 toned lily! I want Aris to come back to you too! Glad it wasn't him that was killed. I'm sure he will come back CE cuz him loves you :luxlove:
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CE, Do you have any pictures of the new fish?
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I have not tried to take pics of the fish yet, Keith, but will definitely do that before I put them into the pond. Have only had them a little over a week, I believe, but have been busy with company coming and going, and me coming and going. LOL Will try to get some pics tomorrow. Light is off for the night now ... wow, it's midnight! My light should be off, too ....
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My tropical lily is blooming, but since I leave for work at about 8:15, it blooms after that, and when I get home at 5:30, it's closed up already. Grrr .... hoping it will still be blooming on the weekend, when I can take a pic ... shoot, I'll be gone this weekend again, darn it!!! I know it's the tropical, as I moved it to the koi pond, and the bud are about 6" above the surface. Also have deep pink buds above the surface in the goldfish pond (from Addy) that are really pretty!
Dogs had another turtle shell today they were chewing on. Not sure how they are catching all these turtles, but they must taste good. :-( I did find a small painted turtle in my flower ring in the koi pond, and tossed him into the pond. Saw the big turtle in that pond last night, but not this morning or evening, so wondering if it decided to change ponds again, and got caught before it got back to the water. Oh well, life happens.
Put the remaining 4 fantails in the pond last weekend, but have not seen them at all, wondering if they made it or died. The 3 larger ones all died, but after I had them for over 2 weeks, so wondered if something in my water in the aquarium. Hope they weren't sick, but the smaller ones seemed to be healthy, so figure the larger ones were from different batch, and not as healthy. Oh well ... will keep a watch out for them to show up, lots of places to hide under the lilies and floating hyacinth rings.
Dogs had another turtle shell today they were chewing on. Not sure how they are catching all these turtles, but they must taste good. :-( I did find a small painted turtle in my flower ring in the koi pond, and tossed him into the pond. Saw the big turtle in that pond last night, but not this morning or evening, so wondering if it decided to change ponds again, and got caught before it got back to the water. Oh well, life happens.
Put the remaining 4 fantails in the pond last weekend, but have not seen them at all, wondering if they made it or died. The 3 larger ones all died, but after I had them for over 2 weeks, so wondered if something in my water in the aquarium. Hope they weren't sick, but the smaller ones seemed to be healthy, so figure the larger ones were from different batch, and not as healthy. Oh well ... will keep a watch out for them to show up, lots of places to hide under the lilies and floating hyacinth rings.
j.w
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Well darn CE, you missed your lily blooming, dogs getting turtle, fish dying.............going to get better soon I hope! Hoping your fish are just hiding and you get to see your lily bloom and well dogs will be dogs on the turtle subject. I'm not sure about these new shubbies I bought either. They are still hiding but one came out for awhile and was swimming very slowly and to me did not look quite right. I don't have high hopes for these little ones but we'll see what happens. Like you said.........life happens!
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I saw a couple more babies tonight, since my pump in the koi pond quit ... again! Grr ....
Caught the tail end of the tropical lily blooming today, rushed outside as soon as I got home from work. I suspect it was prettier than this, but at least I got to see it open!
Saw the big turtle, so it's still in the koi pond. Also found a small painted turtle in the hyacinth floating ring, also in koi pond. Sure wish Aris would show back up, but think he's gone. Hopefully the dogs didn't find him, though.
Caught the tail end of the tropical lily blooming today, rushed outside as soon as I got home from work. I suspect it was prettier than this, but at least I got to see it open!
Saw the big turtle, so it's still in the koi pond. Also found a small painted turtle in the hyacinth floating ring, also in koi pond. Sure wish Aris would show back up, but think he's gone. Hopefully the dogs didn't find him, though.