Controlling those buggers in a greenhouse , on a table , is not a big challengs.(No rain, table has legs..) . If you are using a table, do someting to tha legs.. sticky tapes...I would try taping a piece os sand paper on each leg.... salt , rock or table salt works fine but should not go into ground and other plants root system. Again, inside a greenhouse, on a table...you can spread fine saw dust sprinkled with some salt...Of course, you can use SLAGO, but I find them too expensive. The real challenge to me is to beat them out in the garden. There I have no choice but use sluggs/snails stuf, PLUS hunt them at night..

Ouch, July and August are harsh times to visit Phoenix and San Diego. Bet you were miserable. I dearly love both cities but after living in Oregon for so long I must visit in cooler months. If the fish is missing with no disturbance of plants and no scales or bones laying around it was likely a bird. Heron or kingfisher. Raccoons make a mess like a tornado and cats aren't very likely to actually catch a fish and if they do they often just play with it rather than eat it so you find evidence. Birds scoop them up and swallow them whole. Hope the Scarecrow does the trick for you. Easier to transplant tadpoles in spring than adult frogs to have them stick around anyway. Adults tend to leave.

There are several ways to lay a net over the pond. I used the PVC pipe method with tent stakes and pieces of rebar for mine. It is pretty simple, but my net is only 12x20. I would leave gaps so that critters would not get caught under it. It was long enough to go up over the waterfall also. You might be able to use buckets filled with rocks or cement with a stick in the middle, using a tennis ball to keep from poking through the net. Just place filled buckets into the pond in various places and drape the net over it, holding it down along the edges with tent stakes. Last Fall 2009 using PVC frame:

thanks guys. The chickadees were sitting on the wood, flying around and clinging to the sides, flew away, came back. Sad, but I am happy with my decision. One went in a box about 2 weeks ago, but I guess they didn't like it :(