Hello

[CometKeith]

Hi mwpond.I bought one water lettuce last year. By mid August I was tossing away several per day because the pond had too many. I don't know if you are in nyc, but it is amazing how much wildlife there is in very urban areas. We are right on the border of Chicago and it is really amazing how much wildlife there is around.
Somehow the cement jungle our society has built has not exterminated our animal friends. The very first day I built my pond I came face to face with a raccoon. My favorite wild life creatures are the peregrine falcons that have found our area very comforting. So far they have not stolen any of our fish!

 

[mwpond]

Thanks CometKeith for the tip on the water lettuce. We do not live near the city. Our home is actually in the woods about 5 hours from the city. We have a lot of wildlife in our yead. I was surprise that raccoons could get into the pond and find those little snails so quickly. One day there were over a dozen of them and the next they were gone! So far the deer, turkey and bear have all left the pond alone. They say spring is on its way here soon... I really hope so!

 

[JoaniePA]

Welcome nwpond!

I read quite recently that the algae-cides (?) or chemicals used to kill and coagulate the algae will kill your snails. It was on the site where I buy my pond supplies. They sold trapdoor snails, but warned about the algae killing stuff.

http://www.thepondguy.com/product/335?green=22477191938

I would get new snails and use barley for the algae.

Joanie

 

[mwpond]

Thanks Joanie! I think the raccoons got to our snails long before we put the chemicals in. I will try the barley this year though!