Enjoying the Sun!

[stevej37]

65 degrees and sunny today....perfect

[masraum]

They look contented

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Didn't know you had fish Steve, they are pretty cool. Do you bring them in during the winter?

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by masraum

They look contented

They will hardly move from their spot in the sun. After five months of cold water, they aren't going to move unless it's absolutely necessary.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

Didn't know you had fish Steve, they are pretty cool. Do you bring them in during the winter?

Yeah, they are 44 cent fish from Walmart...I bought them when they were only an inch long. They clean up after the turtles...sorta like chickens following pigs.

Yes, they go into the basement with the turtles in late fall. The pond freezes up to a solid chunk each winter because it's not in or on the ground...it's just on the deck.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Man they got big! How big can they get?

[stevej37]

^^^ I don't know...but it's usually said they will grow to the size of their container. I figure my pond is 350 gallons...give or take.
(I'm sure Ramone would know the answer to that.)

They are extremely hardy....easy to care for.

[stevej37]

The pond cam can be expanded and there is audio to click on. (Lower right of the video)

[Seahawk]

I'd hate myself if I didn't. Saw him live in Berkeley many, many moons ago:



Welcome to Spring:

[Zeke]

Still Winter here. Our coldest month is February and March is known for wind. This year it is still cold and raining today. Temp is 55º which is cold for SoCal. I checked the deciduous trees and they are starting to leaf. I guess they have a clock inside.

[stevej37]

^^^ this nice weather is early for us also...likely to see more snow yet.

That's why I have no green plants in the pond yet....they will die in a frosty night.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ I don't know...but it's usually said they will grow to the size of their container. I figure my pond is 350 gallons...give or take.
(I'm sure Ramone would know the answer to that.)

They are extremely hardy....easy to care for.

I've heard that too. What would it take to go to 1000 gallons? Would you ever want to? Frogs and lily pads might be nice.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

I've heard that too. What would it take to go to 1000 gallons? Would you ever want to? Frogs and lily pads might be nice.

I'm afraid of any higher weight than it is already. When I built the deck, I did it to normal specs....350 gals is a lot of weight.

I've tried lily pads....the turtles love to eat the tender green shoots that form a pad.
Frogs just jump out and escape......turtles can't get out because I built the top cap with an overhang...no toe hold for them

[Shaun @ Tru6]

quick calc is 3000 lbs. that's a lot. Plus rocks, etc.

pads and frogs and turtle toes, all interesting and funny!

[stevej37]

A few years back, I went out there early one morning to find a large bull frog on the cap looking for a bug meal.
He was there every warm night afterwards... I would find his black deposit every time in the morning.:

When late fall came....he was gone.

[stevej37]

Dinner time...fried shrimp and pellets.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by stevej37

A few years back, I went out there early one morning to find a large bull frog on the cap looking for a bug meal.
He was there every warm night afterwards... I would find his black deposit every time in the morning.:

When late fall came....he was gone.

We have a Koi pond in our back yard.


The toads found it within days of getting it up and running. We had to clean filters yesterday, and I counted 6 toads, and lots of eggs and soon to be tadpoles.

The Koi will gorge on the tadpoles but many still manage to become toads. They have been singing LOUDLY for the last few days. One neighbor asked it we had bought the toads. I laughed and said they are wild toads and we have no control over them anymore than the birds in the area.

Our male dachshund has finally learned not to poke them with his nose or get them in his mouth, he just paws at them, and finally gives up.


Lots of tadpoles each year. The black things are all tadpoles.

[stevej37]

^^^ That's a nice looking pond....lot's of nice plantings and lily pads.

I love the sound of a waterfall in the backyard...it's a soothing sound.

It's amazing how moving water attracts so many different insects, birds, frogs, squirrels and raccoons.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ That's a nice looking pond....lot's of nice plantings and lily pads.

I love the sound of a waterfall in the backyard...it's a soothing sound.

It's amazing how moving water attracts so many different insects, birds, frogs, squirrels and raccoons.

Yea, after putting in the pond we have lots of toads, Blue Tailed skinks dragon flies, and lots of other insects as food for the critters.



These are common as well. They eat earthworms.


Reuben helps keep the mouse population in total control.

[stevej37]

The turtles were moved outside on Monday...eclipse day.

They were not pleased...they waited all winter for sunshine and then the moon gets in the way.