Cat tails Posted June 8, 2019 Share Posted June 8, 2019 Made myself a tiny pond in the garden today. Used a cement bucket of 65 L and dug that into the ground. Even got it level! Unreasonably proud of myself! Need to get some substrate or gravel to go on the bottom and some plants. Not planning on fish as it is only 65 L and wasn’t planning on getting a pump either. But will be looking at some snails to go into the pond. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted June 8, 2019 Share Posted June 8, 2019 Wow! Hats off to you! Definately an invitation to wildlife so very positive. If you get into the whole fish thing it can be very complicated and time consuming but you could look at getting hold of some frogspawn next year, if conditions are right? Not sure about the snail thing unless they are just water snails.........my lovely bantams devoured loads of snails who have since returned with a vengance and wreaked havoc on some of our plants! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted June 8, 2019 Share Posted June 8, 2019 Nice one CT. Beasties will arrive before you know it. Within a few weeks at least 3 types of beetle had arrived to ours, and now (we dug it last October) we have at least 5 types of beetle and some of their larvae, pond skaters, we’ve had frogs and now have millions of tadpoles (the first of which I’ve seen today with front and back legs), we’ve had a newt, and loads of different birds use it to drink from and wash in. We didn’t put any substrate except large pebbles on the ‘beach’ but I sort of wish we had - the flat parts are now absolutely covered in tadpole poo and algae. Also we put the plants in plastic baskets but I’m going to take them out and just wrap them in hessian because the baskets look awful. Keep us updated with photo’s CT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted June 8, 2019 Author Share Posted June 8, 2019 I do have a garden toad, so hope it will be pleased with this addition. Not so sure about frog spawn though... as the pond is very close to my bedroom window... I did buy two of those baskets, as they were only €0,60. But will see how it turns out and what I will get. I want to get a few big rocks to surround the tub, so it looks a bit more attractive. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 8, 2019 Share Posted June 8, 2019 Well done you! I made a wildlife pond when Rosie was young, and into that stuff.... all it did was breed mosquitoes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 Sadly, we had two hedgehogs drown in our small pond. Maybe put s rock or something in so anything that can’t swim can get out? I still have nightmares about ours which is no more... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted June 9, 2019 Author Share Posted June 9, 2019 No chance of hedgehogs in my garden as it is completely enclosed. I do have a toad and cats. But it is small enough for the cats to get out and don’t think the toad will have issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 Super. It's about the same size as my mum's one in her last home. She had all sorts going on in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted June 10, 2019 Author Share Posted June 10, 2019 Got myself plants and rocks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 That's lovely. Looks so cool with the ferns and ivy. I bought a couple of pop up ponds about two years ago and didn't expect much. But the plants thrive, the water is clear there are even newts which surprised me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted June 10, 2019 Author Share Posted June 10, 2019 The ferns and ivy where there when I started. Placed the pond between the ferns and I really like the result too! I hope I get some critters to come and eat any mosquito larvae. Wasn’t planning on fish, but if it gets too bad, I might need one... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted June 10, 2019 Author Share Posted June 10, 2019 Decided to pluck another slab out of the ground to make space for the grass I bought. There was no real other spot it could go and look good. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted June 11, 2019 Share Posted June 11, 2019 I think it is wonderful! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted June 30, 2019 Author Share Posted June 30, 2019 So I might have accidentally bought a few fish today... Started spotting quite a number of water crawlies, including a few snails and such. But also masses of mosquito larvae... not really keen on those. Did some research and decided to get a few white cloud mountain minnows. They are supposedly quite hardy and can tolerate low temperatures. Hopefully I only got males, as I’m not planning on having more than the five I now have. Did add a small water pump to create some water movement. It’s decidedly not a fountain, as the pond is about 3 m from my pillow and I like my quiet at night! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted June 30, 2019 Share Posted June 30, 2019 I love your little pond. I had those furry lettuce things in my pond once - if you are lucky it will flower, but I don't think they survive the winter. You could see if you can get some Frogbit, it has dainty little water lily shaped leaves and dinky little white flowers. It sinks down to the bottom of the pond once it gets cold and then starts popping up again when it warms up. It does need thinning every now and then or will completely cover the surface. Failing that, I could send you some, if plants can go in the post ? Sticklebacks are a good fish to have too. Unfortunately I have goldfish in mine but I only found out about what they eat after I'd put them in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted June 30, 2019 Author Share Posted June 30, 2019 These minnows are eating machines! Started attacking the mosquito larvae when they were still in their bag. The sticklebacks that are sold here unfortunately grow too big for my tiny pond. These little minnows supposedly only get to about 4 cm. Winter will be a challenge for fish and plants, but will see how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Posted July 4, 2019 Share Posted July 4, 2019 I think your pond is great. I would suggest keeping direct sun off it as the heat will take all the oxygen out of the water. Well done Regards Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted July 11, 2019 Author Share Posted July 11, 2019 Thanks Peter! The pond is in the shade for most of the day apart from about half an hour in the earlier morning and about an hour halfway through the afternoon. Just heard lots of splashing when I was doing some stuff in the garden. And a giant frog managed to climb out of the pond! It is most welcome as long as he leaves the fishies alone! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 Hi, I am nearly shure it will not eat the fish. You may have to put a little ladder for him to get out. You will have a lots of frogs sporn in there next year. Regards Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted October 5, 2019 Author Share Posted October 5, 2019 So got the fishies out today as I don’t want to risk them freezing to death. Caught 3 fishies, 1 frog and 1 giant toad. 😳 Started with 5 fishies, so 2 must have died/been eaten. But quite pleased with 3 surviving a rather hot summer in a small tub. Got them an aquarium which I have been running for the past week and they are now settling in their little plastic bag. Will release them in 20 min and see how they do then. I replaced all plants and stuff back in the pond, so my amphibian friends can get back to their home. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted October 5, 2019 Share Posted October 5, 2019 Wow, that's amazing, CT! I love the bit about frogs and toads! Your little pond is so lovely - a veritable oasis! I don't know how you find the energy and inspiration for that and your gorgeous crochets; I'm generally knackerd and brain dead by 5.00pm! - and that's on a good day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted October 5, 2019 Author Share Posted October 5, 2019 Well.... having no kids is a great help! 😉 just have my pets, although I sort of promised my mom, I wouldn’t get any more... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted October 5, 2019 Share Posted October 5, 2019 Well, do frogs, toads and fish count as pets? I think not...or at least, if they do, you can claim they are free range ones! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 5, 2019 Share Posted October 5, 2019 Super cute little fishes!😍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 They look fab fishies and how nice to get them an indoor home so they can stay safe for the winter. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...