Caryl

:rotf: love that idea aotealotl I wondered about staking out one of the many neighbouring cats that continue to infest my property, it will be easier to catch on the lawn than in the pond

I always liked The Water Garden, 297 Blenheim Rd. Don't know if it is still operating post quakes though. Redwood Aquatics had a wide range last time I was there too. I have tons of spare lilies here (pale cream with yellow centres) if you ever come up this way. Not sure when I will be in ChCh next although we go semi regularly. Plants and fish are fine on internal flights if you make sure they are packaged well, not leaking, and with your hand luggage. I have travelled with both fish, plants (and once some axolotls in an ice cream container). My sister and niece once took a large selection of cichlids up to Hamilton for me. They went on board with 2 large cooler bags each packed with bags of fish. Nobody questioned it.

Hmmm, you obviously don't have small children :slfg: I have been working so no time to try and catch it the past 2 days. Hopefully tomorrow it will bask within reach :dnc1:

They tried to eat their boats???? :slfg:

Looking good. Why not use black hose instead of that bright green? Perhaps you should bring your turtle to meet the one here and entice it out of my pond :happy2:

I have no idea what my pond pH is now. Not sure I have a test kit. The turtle obviously likes it :dnc1:

Even with sealant my pond started off the pH chart well above 8. Goldfish don't seem to care what the pH is.

For a better net? I have another one that is meant to clean swimming pools so has a straight edge and more loose netting than the other. Wouldn't trust a net from the $2 Shop!

I tried that but it is a shallow, solid mesh net rather than a loose netting net and it scrabbled out of it before I could drag it to the edge (got tangled in plants). I know to keep the fingies away from the vicious end!

Saw it just after I posted that last comment. I almost caught it but discovered it is too heavy to lift out with the net. Will have to try and grab by hand if I can get it close enough.

I haven't seen it since we hauled one of the big lilies out. Another will go later today.

My pond is concrete with a sealer.

I am unsure why Craig's questions have been seen as anti anything. He seems to be trying to understand what has been some confusing information being bandied about. I know I am confused too and there has been a lot of information, ideas and suggestions to consider. Craig, I will certainly CC you a copy of my newsletter and other stuff I send to MAC members and, if I have it all right, perhaps it will be more understandable - and considerably shorter! Hopefully your members who attended the exec meeting will also be able to add to it and explain a bit more what has been proposed. Your club can then discuss it all and decide if it is something with which the majority agree, or not. If not, it would be good to have some alternative suggestions on how they think we should to proceed. Some posts here have come close to crossing the line into "posting to cause a reaction". Although this is not the place to discuss internal FNZAS matters, it is also important individual members understand, as much as possible, what has been going on. One hopes this will be clear shortly!

I believe you are referring to Donna, the turtle lady. I have indeed been talking to Donna but do not expect her to come up here to catch a turtle, nor do I wish to burden her with another one when she has enough difficulties caring for the ones she now has! It is my understanding it is too cold in most of NZ for them to breed in the wild. Most you see are unwanted pets that have been dumped :an!gry

You certainly will Godly3vil. I have been working on it. As said, the original thread is very long and waffly in places. It took 22 A4 pages when I copied it out. I will have a shorter version attached to our club newsletter soon (along with the full version for those interested enough to plough through it!). It is important, when shortening it, that all information is still given so members are able to think, process, and offer their own ideas and suggestions. Sorry Craig, it was my understanding that officers had also been given access to the thread in question but this was not so. :oops:

Sophia NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! &c:ry Gain its trust, Donna says When you can get close throw it some food and gain its trust, Donna says Yeah Right! No idea where it came from. I suspect a neighbour is missing a turtle. Might do a letterbox drop around the neighbourhood. It probably came across the small reserve that backs onto our place so possibly from one of the houses that way. I will start over there. If I find the owner then they can catch it! Donna assures me it won't eat the big fish but I am concerned for the fry. I will throw some snails back in (I had been saving them in another pond for when someone heads to ChCh, for Donna's turtles). There is too much plant to net it without getting entangled. If I could be reassured it would leave small fish and fry alone I would just leave it there :dunno:

Yahoo has been hacked. This has been going on for some time. Those with Xtra email addresses are now appearing to generate spam (as Xtra is run by Yahoo). You do not have a virus! Just change your Xtra, and/or Yahoo account password to something very secure - ie a random mix of letters and numbers, to give it added security.

I heard a splash as I walked to the pond the other day and thought it was a frog. Looked out the window this morning to see this... How do I catch it? Do I have to strip the pond??? :tears:

Nor sure what form you are referring to Craig and I understood all club officers also had access (I know my club officers did but I do not have the ability to give anyone access as I am only a Mod, that is admin territory) to the thread but never fear, there were members of your club attending the exec meeting last night, including your delegate who has returned from the sea, and they have plenty of information to present to your club at your up and coming meeting so you will all be fully informed. Your club will be asked to discuss the proposal presented, offer ideas of your own, and report back.

They can poo as well, if not better, than plecs. Colour depends on what they have been eating.

Too well! I have a friend coming to haul a lot of it out as the poor fish are just about having to climb over them :f77: She is also going to take the cabbage trees that have self seeded around the edges. :dnc1:

I would not think it would take much to acclimatise them at this time of year, even in Wgtn. Have you checked your pond temp?

For us oldies it is more a need for size than more colour :f77:

Not in Wgtn but they are a cold water fish. I imagine the biggest problem you'll have is they are hard to see from above!

I forgot to say that here today! While a lot of us had a day off, poor Ade had to work