Ways to Keep Predators Away From Your Koi

[arkay]

I'm in a very urban area in Brooklyn. I doubt it was raccoons - more likely very venturesome cats. I've seen big birds but they wouldn't have room to land in my teeny-tiny pond. Netting has discouraged whatever it was - I just hate to have to leave it there even when no leaves are falling.
Thanks for your ideas, though.
rkd

 

[DrDave]

I have lived in the San Diego area for 45 years. I didn't know we had racoons till my electric fence dispatched the varmit.

I have had cats for almost 60 years. I have yet to see one go into water willingly. It must have been something else. My cats sometimes watch the fish, I have 135 Koi. Before that, I raised goldfish, and the same thing, they would just sit and watch. I have had neighbors cats sneak into the yard and I have watched them to see what they would do. None of these have ever touched the water.

Set up a video on SLP to see what happens when you are not home.

 

[arkay]

We used to have a cat that we took to the beach. He'd swim out after the ducks almost every day.
I know it sounds unlikely, but I'm quite certain that there aren't raccoons around here - no one's rubbish bins are raided for one thing.
Since I've covered the pond w/ net there've been no problems & I'm reluctant to take it off just so I can discover what happens since I don't want to imperil my 3 fish whom I've grown very fond of: Frosty who has a white-tipped tail, Hawk who has a red tail & Ranger who is 'oranger' than the other two.

 

[shikkaba]

Ugh. Herons are the bane of my existence some days.
These are good tips!

Are there more for any ground-based predators?

 

[DrDave]

Electrocution will work. Just make sure it's off when your loved ones are out there.

 

[shikkaba]

Electrocution will work. Just make sure it's off when your loved ones are out there.

Ouch, sounds painful.

 

[brian robinson]

Hello I have two things I use 4 posts about ten feet out of the ground with clematis growing up them.Then I put garden string on from post to post criss crossed.And put a extra washing line up the wife will like that. You can walk under the string and the pond looks great Then get a infrared audible sound alarm this seems this is doing it for me best of luck
robbo

 

[arkay]

That sounds like a very elegant solution. Unfortunately, I have acquired my own resident predators now - two Siamese kittens who are avid fishers. I'll definitely have to keep the leaf net on - they even try venturing onto it to get at Hawk & Ranger, my goldfish.

 

[richdeer3]

Sounds like my cat calie who ate several bettas!

 

[brian robinson]

the old heron flys over and i see it it just keeps going it does not likes the look of the maze.

 

[brian robinson]

P.S. I have a jack russell he gives a nip or two

 

[johns55belair]

I had a problem recently with a heron,he ate 7 of my 12" koi.i was very unhappy about that.so i bought a fake alligator as they are the natural predator for heron's.since i bought it i have'nt lost anymore fish.(knock on wood).i did see one by the edge of my pond one morning but i scared away.

 

[DrDave]

This might be a silly question but how does a Pa. Heron know about alligators?

Deadly force and a good net system is the only thing I have found that works.

 

[arkay]

Here's my problem as an attachment:

 

[DrCase]

that could be a problem,, if they are your cats