Sorry to hear about your loss. You've almost certainly been visited by a heron or an egret. They are in and out without leaving any trace of their visit, except an empty pond. Raccoons tend to tear things up in their effeorts to reach the fish. Cat, less likely than the others. Cats can snag a fish with their claws and pull it onto the ground, but I can't see one getting both of your fish.

The circle of life thing doesn't cut it for me when we're talking about pets. I keep my pond netted or sometimes I run three or four strands of fishing line along the edge as a barrier. Some people string the line across the pond like a spider web, but for me that makes it difficult for maintenance.

I have a white butterfly also and a white one with gray highlights, and I worry about those two more than the rest, because they are a beacon to anything flying overhead, glistening all white in the sun. The type of net used for protecting fruit trees tends to become more invisible than other nets. You can get them at most garden centers, and they come in several different sizes.

I just purchased a 14' x 14' nlyon bird net at Lowe's last week for about $7. I'm using it to protect some strawberry plants, but I have a similar net for my pond. The net will keep most predators out if it is anchored properly. It will also help keep tree leaves out of the pond during fall and winter.

Fishing line across the pond will deter a heron. Line around the perimeter of the pond will not work if the bird can land on something in the pond. They can land in water less then 3' deep or potted plants, tubing, and pumps in the pond.

Thanks for the ideas. I did at one time have a net, but found it a real pain when needing to get to pond, but I like the idea of possibly raising net a couple of inches with stakes for easy access by human, and frogs can still get in. Gave it a couple of more days to see if they surfaced, but nothing. Well, happy ponding all.

D

Guess what?? My calico koi is still alive!! Yippee! Had my son's grad party this past Saturday, and a couple of people said they saw a fish in my pond, and when I went to investigate, one is still alive and well. He has been hanging on the bottom and darting around. So, went out and purchased 2 more to keep him company, and he is doing much better! He came up and ate this morning, so all is well. I purchased more coverage, couple more plants, and a floating island, which is pretty cool! Well, that is all for my pond story. Happy ponding all!

Fish hide after an attack. I thought I lost all my fish one time (six of them) and the frogs, but when I added new fish 4 of the 6 were still there. The heron will be back so you need a net. It is the only thing that works 100% for herons. I switched to fishing line and a perimeter fence and lost more fish and the net went back up.

My net is removable because I put rebar in the ground and placed black tubing over the rebar and then used electrical zip ties to connect the bird netting over the tubing. I can lift all or part of it off by lifting up the tubing and then place it back again. You have to leave at least a 12" opening under the net for frogs and birds to get in and out safely. The edge of my net goes out about 18" from the outer edge of the water. If you leave it open and put it right at the waters edge the herons will reach under it.

Would I rather not have the net - the answer is yes, but I will lose all my fish if I don't use it. I live in a massive heron area and they fly over my property every day. Once I took the net off, after being up for a year, thinking they forgot about it, but it wasn't a day or two and they attacked and ate more fish. They eat your best fish and the white or light colored fish are the first to go.

This spring my net had a weak spot as it pulled loose and in one day I lost 5 large frogs and a 10" goldfish named Big Girl. Other fish were lost as I only have 3 fish left that are named, hand picked and identifable. Most of the rest were born in the pond and I've not gotten attached to them, but I know the numbers are down. In the early spring I counted about 38 fish and now I consistently count 22. A cull by herons is a good and bad thing but I don't want my remaining named pet fish to be eaten. My oldest fish was a 10 cent feeder my son picked out when he was 7 and he is in college now! So yes, some may think it is silly, but goldfish are cherished.

Yes, a net will have to be the answer. I could tell that we had another "visit" last night or early morning. The fish are scurrying about, scared. Going this morning to the hardware store and getting a net. Comettose, if you or anyone else have pictures of pond covering, ie net or other, please post pics so that I can get some ideas. I am visualizing your instructions on previous post, and I think I have it, but not sure. Wouldn't it be great to have a "decorative" cover for our ponds? Something that would serve our purpose and look great too?? Yes, I do live near a large stocked pond, so I guess I am an easy target for the many herons/egrets that pass above. Off to Menards.

Happy ponding everyone!
D

I once saw a belted kingfisher grab one of my shubunkins that was 7" long and fly away with it. Took him less than a minute.....

I have a lot of tree cover, plant cover and a floating island planter that provides cover in winter also an electric fence but two winters ago a bird got almost all of my fish. I never saw which bird this time. Some of my goldies were ten years old and the original fish put in the pond.

I haven't bothered to buy any more....

I use the framework from a large 6 sided gazebo for the netting. I didn't want it so tall so I used 18 inch sections of PVC instead of the regular legs. It looks pretty good. Sandy

Last year and the year before, I've had some of my largest goldfish just mysteriously disappear. We have racoons around however nothing was disturbed when the fish disappeared. (no baskets tipped over, no rocks moved, etc), so I doubt that they were the ones to take them. Plus they keep crapping in my backyard, even this week, and yet my fish are all okay, so I'm very sure its not them.

I've never seen any heron in our area, although they do exist in Southern Ontario and have been seen by other people outside the city (not in my neighbourhood). I think my backyard is too small, and with my trees and clothesline it doesn't give them much landing room.
On the other hand, I've seen a huge falcon (or hawk) from time to time, chasing after the little yellow finches. I wonder if he could be the culprit.

Its strange how its always the biggest fish to disappear, never the smaller ones. Sadly now I'm down to 2 of my original 6 named fish that I started with back in 2005. The fish keep multiplying every year since, but only the originals and a few special ones were named. (The rest are all orange so its so hard to tell who is who).
I just bought my husband a $30 Sarassa comet for his birthday (plus some shubunkins). 'Sassy' is as large as the originals, so I hope she isn't on the preditor's hit list.

jcjcjcx,

So sorry to hear about your fish. I guess if I just stop naming them, maybe I won't get so attached, but, I doubt if that would work. I love my fish. So far, I have my original calico koi remaining, and just added a calico butterfly koi. I put a net over the pond last night, and everything good this morning. I am not liking the look of the net. Will have to put on my creative hat and come up with something that I can throw over it at night, and take off during the day. Will keep everyone posted if I do come up with something. If I can build a skippy filter, I think I can do this.

Happy ponding everyone!
D

The biggest fish are easier to see from the air.

Belted Kingfishers are a bit smaller than a crow but bigger than a robin they are found pretty much across North America. The one we had just showed up and after we netted the pond it disappeared. They make a distinctive call that I would hear for weeks and then nothing for years.

Herons can be coming and going in your neighborhood without you ever knowing they are there. Unlike raccoons who leave a hurricane's worth of destruction in their wake. They crap on our shed roof. Drives my DH nuts. Electric fence protects the empty of fish pond but the other ponds get trashed on a routine basis.

Osprey's fish but most hawks don't.