calculator Posted November 13, 2012 Report Share Posted November 13, 2012 For the last 4ish years I have had 3 gold fish in my turtle pond to eat mosquitos, turtles leftovers and other pest, but now they have grown to large and the turtles are now nipping there fins. I am thinking of getting rid of them now (sell/trade/giveway), And am thinking of putting some other fish in there to do the same job as they are. I was thinking try with some new small gold fish, or a small fish like guppies that could bread in there so that even if eaten they replace them selfs, what other options do I have? The pond is 2m*1m by 0.5m deep, about 750l once I take out for steps. Heres a few bad quality photos from my phone (taken when they were in a tank while I am cleaning the pond out): Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted November 13, 2012 Report Share Posted November 13, 2012 Leopardfish are basically your only real option for coldwater. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted November 13, 2012 Report Share Posted November 13, 2012 lol, why is it that fish that survive in turtle ponds are the fattest and most colourful specimens. Leopard fish should be ok, minnows might do ok as well... they tend to drop eggs constantly and a few survive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calculator Posted November 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2012 lol, why is it that fish that survive in turtle ponds are the fattest and most colourful specimens. I dont know about most colourful, but they are fat because they steal the turtles food, maybe the turtle food is good for colour to. Leopard fish should be ok, minnows might do ok as well... they tend to drop eggs constantly and a few survive. I will have a look at these, but would the water temperature in aucklands winter get to cold for minnows? I am not worried about new fish getting caught as my turtles arn't great hunters (although they some how manage to catch birds occasionally. Just measured the gold fish now, the largest is 15cm, the smallest 12 cm (excluding tails). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted November 14, 2012 Report Share Posted November 14, 2012 I keep some outside in Tauranga year round and they do ok, as long as the water isn't feezing completely over you should be ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr A Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 Minnows thrive outside in AKL in my experience. Get 10+ of them and they'll be breeding in no time at all. *Edit, Leopard Fish aren't' easy to find either it seems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camtang Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 lol, why is it that fish that survive in turtle ponds are the fattest and most colourful specimens. Survival of the fittest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 im gonna have heaps of leopard fish to sell soon, just got another 30-40 fry last weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calculator Posted November 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 im gonna have heaps of leopard fish to sell soon, just got another 30-40 fry last weekend But your in Tauranga, that is a long way for me to travel for to get a few 'disposable' fish for my pond. Minnows thrive outside in AKL in my experience. Get 10+ of them and they'll be breeding in no time at all. Thanks Dr A, that is what I think I will do, now to get rid of the gold fish... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 I'm reminded of the Aesop fable of the turtle vs the hare .. how do these turtles nip the fins of comets? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
broms2 Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 definately mountain minnows, will breed and form a good group, I used to have a big group in with the turtles but introduced goldfish eggs by mistake and they ate all the minnows. Can also chuck in guppies and platties over summer which will breed up fast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disgustipated Posted November 16, 2012 Report Share Posted November 16, 2012 i have had convict cichlids survive in an outdoor tank over winter here in auckland. they even bred. danios or mountain minnows would be your best bet. but... why not just get more (small) goldfish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calculator Posted November 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2012 i have had convict cichlids survive in an outdoor tank over winter here in auckland. they even bred. danios or mountain minnows would be your best bet. but... why not just get more (small) goldfish? Considered more gold fish, but I have already had them, and I want something different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disgustipated Posted November 16, 2012 Report Share Posted November 16, 2012 go catch an eel and throw it in... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disgustipated Posted November 16, 2012 Report Share Posted November 16, 2012 a kokopu would fare well against the turtles too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted November 16, 2012 Report Share Posted November 16, 2012 a kokopu would fare well against the turtles too... kokopu can be quite lazy and I'd not mix them with turtles, turtles would probably like it a lot warmer than the kokopu would. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted November 16, 2012 Report Share Posted November 16, 2012 kokopu can be quite lazy and I'd not mix them with turtles, turtles would probably like it a lot warmer than the kokopu would. +1 why waste a gorgeous fish as food????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judy Sanson Posted February 18, 2013 Report Share Posted February 18, 2013 Ummm, a few messages ago I read about birds?? being caught?? Could you please elaborate. The turtle catches the birds???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calculator Posted February 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2013 Well every few weeks/months in summer I come to the pond to see the turtles fighting over a bird carcas, often mostly torn up by the time I see it, so I can only assume they caught it. I also see bird diving in the water under my waterfall, which is where my turtles like to lurk at time, so I assume they catch them there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judy Sanson Posted February 18, 2013 Report Share Posted February 18, 2013 yep, I can see how that would work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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