Goldfish control

[garyfla]

Hi
After last winters freeze wiped out my tropical fish I placed some feeder goldfish in my above ground pond . Went from 7 to over a hundred in a year lol Since I'm no longer going to heat the pond and would like to keep the goldfish how can I control the fry?? catching them is out of the question way too big Thanks gary

 

[fshfanatic]

Small predators?

 

[Wiggles92]

Small predators?

x2.

Where are you located? You can introduce a number of small predatory fish, but it all depends on your local climate for what can survive. I personally would add sunfish or largemouth bass, but it's all up to you as far as what you want to do to control the goldfish population.

 

[DormDweller]

I'm surprised the raccoons/possums/feral cats don't keep them in check. That's my biggest fear about having a pond actually- that I'd get some real nice koi and have the critters here eat them.
I don't know how much you could do. Get some turtles to help eat them, though with it being Florida, there's probably really specific laws concerning reptiles. Stop playing Marvin ***e or Barry White.

 

[Wiggles92]

I'm surprised the raccoons/possums/feral cats don't keep them in check. That's my biggest fear about having a pond actually- that I'd get some real nice koi and have the critters here eat them.
I don't know how much you could do. Get some turtles to help eat them, though with it being Florida, there's probably really specific laws concerning reptiles. Stop playing Marvin ***e or Barry White.

Hmm, in that case, how big is the pond in question? Ever considered trying some of the more primitive fish that are native to Florida such as gars and bowfin?

 

[garyfla]

Hi
The pool is 5x10 above ground. Originally it was built as a reservoir for rainwater but couldn't resist adding plants . Interesting that you mention "predators" When I set this up in 82 was unable to keep goldfish due to herons, raccoons even ospreys and small boys lol
Switched over to swordtails and added a heating system until the freeze of 08.
All the plants survived but the swords had a complete wipeout, fearing mosquitoes added the feeder goldfish thinking the predators would wide them out by spring lol They grew at an astounding rate and mutiplied even more lol.
had a friend with similar problem added peacock bass. Now WAY over supplied with bass and no goldfish lol
Was thinking about some type of predatory fish but how to avoid my friends problem??
Since I'm no longer going to heat the pool choices are limited. Maybe ONE sunfish of some type?? Or maybe American flagfish?? Have heard they are aggressive though.??
I live in S. florida between two canals often visited by turtles .crayfish, and snakes .
Have never made a dent on the fish populationMostly waterbirds. .
The main purpose of the pool will still be for tropical plants Winter cooling for them is no problem in fact it's a great benefit , except for some aquarium type plants but those are not suitable pond plants anyway. Thanks for the help!!! Where are the hungry bird when you need them ?? lol gary

 

[DormDweller]

I'm not sure what's native AND big enough to eat a goldfish yet not too big for your enclosure. I know snakeheads, though non-native, are abundant down there and could do that job, but it's illegal to keep them here, so I figure the same with you guys. Here's a list of FW fish found in the state : http://myfwc.com/WILDLIFEHABITATS/Freshwater_Fish_ID.htm
And each link goes to a profile of the animal, and they tend to state whether they are native or not. Really nice site, more detailed than Louisiana's. Might want to look up the exact laws for what fish you can and cannot capture and/or possess. If you do decide to keep a little predator; just be careful, please. Don't want to accidently keep something you aren't supposed to have.
Hopefully someone else would have a better answer. If you could catch them, you could have a good little feeder breeders. Supply South Florida's turtles with the best of goldfishes! ;-)

 

[garyfla]

Hi
I want to keep the goldfish just need something to control the fry WITHOUT multiplying on their own. lol
American Flagfish would seem ideal small,can take the cold if they do multiply would be able to sell the excess. Might even help
with the algae ?? Have heard they are very aggresive but only a third the size of the goldfish.
I bought the goldfish 7 for a buck, don't see a huge emarket potential lol I used to sell the swords but they only wanted to give me a quarter each lol Then they wanted the largest best looking also lol Better come up with a solution soon spring has already sprung!!! gary