Re: [GSAS-Member] GBH update... and feeder request

["Betty Goetz" <haika@drizzle.com>]

I know....but I tend to use fry predators to control overpopulation and I
don't have anything large enough to take on goldfish fry if the adults
don't do the job. I like to let them get big enough to know whether they
are going to be pretty or culls and that takes awhile. I'm still learning
how shubunkin fry colors develop but I'm pretty sure that the solid
pinkish ones stay that way and I'm really only interested in the calico
patterns. Steev????

Sounds like the heron is around here frequently taking my neighbors fish
as well. It's gone on that way for around 6 years, according to the
neighbor.

Looks like I should be able to bring some feeders to the October meeting
which I do plan to attend. I'll be bringing koi back to Steev as well as
there's no way I can keep all these guys. I swear every single one
survived....I must have 40 or so! And it looked like just 5-6 in those
bags. Oh well (grin).

Connie, if you want to drop by my place we can probably net out some of
the pink ones.

Betty Goetz

> Oh gosh, actively avoid anything that even remotely encourages the heron
> is
> my vote!  Giving a predator any reason to include you as a food stop
> sounds
> to me like you are risking positively reinforcing the very behaviours you
> want to deter.  Classic behavioral stuff; the more times they stop and
> dont
> get food, the less likely they are to stop; the more times they stop and
> DO
> get food (the positive reinforcement part), the likelihood that they will
> regularly stop to check and look for new food will increase exponentially.
> It is the very thing I am currently fighting with resident racoons.
>
> If you Betty, or anyone else for that matter, have cull fish that you
> would
> like to go to a good cause, I recently got some new Belonesox juvenilles
> that are very hungry for any feeder fish I give them.  One and a half
> inches
> might be too big already, but who knows.  I have a reasonable guppy
> population going, but got set back by the columnaris issue, so I am
> actively
> looking for any reasonably-sized (as in close to average guppy size)
> feeder
> fish, and hope to find some at the next meeting for sure.  The *scoop of
> guppies* that showed up at the May meeting mini auction was perfect and
> actually turned out to be a great source of brood stock!  I would much
> rather pay club members &/or contribute to club funds than to PetSmart,
> with
> the exception of Susans guppies - they are way too nice to be used as
> feeders for anything.  Brood stock maybe...
>
> Incidently that same *scoop of guppies* I got at the May meeting had a
> sneaker in the bag; an odd-looking baby fish that finally grew out enough
> for me to tell that it was in fact a lovely little platy and not a guppy
> at
> all.  For a long time she avoided swimming with the main guppy group, and
> seemed quite lonely.  She has since gotten bigger than all but one of the
> guppies, & is acting much more relaxed and happy, but still.  I would love
> a
> few more where she came from in other words; anyone willing to claim that
> bunch and if so, do you have any more of those platys?  She has a yellow
> base, a large black stripe down both sides of the tail, and orange tinges
> on
> all fins including the caudal fin; actually a very pretty little fish!  If
> you dont have more, let me know if you want her back.
>
> Cheers,
> Connie
>
> ----Original Message Follows----
> From: "Betty Goetz" <haika@drizzle.com>
> Reply-To: Greater Seattle Aquarium Society member
> chat<gsas-member@thekrib.com>
> To: "Greater Seattle Aquarium Society member chat"
> <gsas-member@thekrib.com>
> Subject: [GSAS-Member] great blue heron - update
> Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:36:41 -0700 (PDT)
>
> It's been just over 2 weeks since the first incursion, and I FINALLY saw 3
> of my largest shubunkins yesterday afternoon including the one that's
> close to 9 - 10" now. I originally put 4 in the 100g stock tank, so maybe
> the 4th is still there? I knew SOMETHING was still in that tank since the
> water lilies moved like big fish were swimming down low, and I kept
> finding more and more/smaller and smaller fry. Bottom line is that I'm NOT
> adult goldfish-less and if all these fry survive, I'll need a LAKE! Maybe
> I'll need to put an unprotected stock tank out with the culls for the
> heron (sigh). Some of those fry are already ~ 1 1/2" and I can see a
> calico pattern developing! Are there club members interested in
> shubunkins? I certainly won't be able to keep them ALL! I'm happy to
> donate them to the club for whatever $$$ they can raise.
>
> Betty Goetz
>
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