Aggresive Pond Fish !!!!

[RichB]

The white side is where it's been exposed to air overnight that's all. Definitely sounds like aggressive breeding instinct. Mine have been at it for days but I've never once seen any females killed. That does seem odd.

[Mr GrimNasty]

Is that a puncture wound near the pectoral fin? Were the scales missing from the white area?

If so, it looks suspiciously like Heron damage to me.

If you want the goldfish fry to have a better chance, you'd be best off scooping out the big beetles anyway.

And raise your net 1 Ft off the surface and make sure it's tight enough that a bird can't weigh it down.

Edited by Mr GrimNasty on Wednesday 25th May 14:30

[RichB]

Mr GrimNasty said:

Were the scales missing from the white area?

The pale area still has all the scales. Look closely

[Mr GrimNasty]

RichB said:

Mr GrimNasty said:

Were the scales missing from the white area?

The pale area still has all the scales. Look closely

It's whited out on my screen, looking closer makes no difference!

[RichB]

Mr GrimNasty said:

It's whited out on my screen, looking closer makes no difference!

Oops but yes there are scales on the white side.

[Elderly]

It's too late for me to look, as it's now gone into the larger pond as pre-slaughtered heron fodder!

[Mr GrimNasty]

Elderly said:

It's too late for me to look, as it's now gone into the larger pond as pre-slaughtered heron fodder!

It's got to be organised Herons, they're the only ones winning! They've worked out it they stab the fish to death at 4.30 am just as it's light enough, you'll put dinner out for them by 12!

Or maybe not.

[MacUK]

Just found this thread as going thorough exactly same thing.

Did you ever find out why the fish we’re getting so aggressive and killing each other?
Lost one yesterday and looks like 2 more today.

Thanks
Guy

Elderly said:

I've successfully kept a miscellany of ordinary goldfish type fish in an outside pond
for many many years.
Sometimes I've noticed a bit of ganging up on a particular fish but it soon stops.

However in the last two or three days there has been a lot of VERY aggressive behaviour and each morning I've found one or two of the fish that have been chased dead!

I've done nothing different in terms of filter cleaning, feeding, the occasional partial water change etc.

Any ideas please?

[Boosted LS1]

Is the pond over populated perhaps? Water to warm?

[Mexican cuties]

definitely this muggy hot weather can finish off old larger ones, we learnt that last time, 3 fish all 20 years old, had them from a couple of inches long, might be worth just getting a testing kit for ph, ammonia, nitrate, etc, as we have had to add some pond treatment. not sure if you have a waterfall or pump to help move oxygen around as that can make a difference

hope you get it sorted,

[HustleRussell]

I certainly support the last two posts. As well as overstocking and water quality, it is worth remembering that the capacity of water to retain oxygen is reduced as it gets warmer- any sign of gasping at the surface? Is there some flow / agitation in the water?

I think you have possibly two problems, unwell fish more vulnerable than normal to heron attack?