Spring here?

[rll]

Hi everyone, just drove home from Seattle to Kennewick, which is Eastern Washington. My fish were very active so I checked the Temperature and to my surprise it was 10 degrees warmer than last week, 42 to 52. I'm resisting the tempation to slip them a bite. Can spring be far off? What is it doing where you at?

[Jackie Ramo]

Well it felt like spring here for the past two days but the pond is iced over anthere are several inches of snow ... so spring may be coming but she's late, in my book :frisbee:

[Terri]

snow and more snow... can't see our ponds for the snow... spring won't come soon enough for me.

If your pond temp holds over the next several days/week, I see no problem feeding them... just start slow with some veggies or fruit.

rll, hope you don't mind but I'm going to move this thread to Open Topics.

[Tom C]

We have more ice than I have ever seen. Today we I looked into the freezer the ice maker was full. I had to fill a glass with it after I got in from mowing the lawn. I'm guessing it was in the 70's today. This is the most ice I have used in a long time.

Tom

[Busy B]

:frisbee: You are a bad boy Tom:evil:

Was almost 40 and then the wind picked up...still melting tho<:o

[The Other Lynda]

Tom - SHUT UP! And I say that with the utmost affection. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Repeat after me: I love having four seasons, I love having four seasons...
Well, at least I like THREE of them! Actually, it was 72 here today, we're beginning to see leaves on trees, and my chinese magnolia is in full bloom. Pond is at 52 degrees, but it's supposed to get cold tomorrow night, so like the soup nazi: No food for koi!
Lynda

[Jackie Ramo]

Hey Lynda, you can shut up to!! and I mean that with extreme affection :wave:

We will be below the freezing mark for most of the week again... Pond is opening up anyway. tried to peek at the fish but need my high boots on to get closer.

[The Other Lynda]

Geez, Jackie - that looks awful! If it makes you feel any better we've got rain and thunder this morning, and it's supposed to drop down to the mid-30's tonight. That's early spring in Arkansas; if you don't like the weather, just wait five minutes... !rofl

[Jackie Ramo]

Well we are expecting rain today, changing to freezing rain and then snow.... why can't it change to 70F instead :smile:

Well better get to the studio before the rain starts

[GregBickal]

Wow, sunday was very warm (upper 60s). I was outside most of the day in a T-shirt. Of course today its back to 39F. Pond was almost thawed out yesterday. One more warm day like that would have done the trick.

Here's some shots.

[GregBickal]

And some more... I really should send the neighbor a thank you card for all the oak tree leaves !grrrr

[Busy B]

You're almost there aren't you Greg...few more days of sun and you're going to be having more fun!

Your little one is growing fast :smile:

[GregBickal]

As far as I can tell, the 6 or so koi I left outside lived. So winter must not have been that bad.

Word to the wize, in Iowa, dont build any structures on the South side of the pond (e.g. Gazebo). Cause it shades the pond and slows the thawing process %(

[Jackie Ramo]

Hopefully spring has arrived for you Greg... your daughter is just so cute!!! Aren't you afraid that decoy will bring in the real ducks, or are you hoping for dinner... :lol:

[GregBickal]

Real ducks cant fly in because of the bridge. They have come in the past, fly in walk over, swim. Usually the cat scares them away before they can walk to the pond. Geeze have also visited me.

Cat is 14 years old, and the bridge is going, so who knows what the future holds !! *:|

[Jackie Ramo]

I had a pair of mallards try to set up housekeeping in my pond. Had to through rocks at them to get them to fly away. They ignored shouting and the dogs...

[Tom C]

I have answer for you Jackie.

http://www.29palms.usmc.mil/fmf/mwss374/374%20Content/Convoy2/Doc%20Banks%20shooting%20M249%20SAW.JPG

[Terri]

Quack Quack ... a la king :lol:

[Jackie Ramo]

Gee Tom, you pond sure looks dry..... !bonk

[marla]

weather here yesterday was very nice even though most of the day was spent inside I did get out for a while. Like Jackie, my pond is pretty frozen yet, and snowy. Did hope I could get a look see today after work, but I was very dissappointed and disheartened :-( to find a dead koi in the shallows :-( . Hopefully all the others are well or I may have to fill it all in. It's so depressing :-( , even though they are still small I had hoped they would make it through the winter. Not sure of the fate of the rest, can't see them. And now it's back in the teens. I'm sick of it bring it on Spring!!

[Terri]

:( sorry marla Fingers crossed the rest are fine

It rained today but didnt[ make much of a dent in the snow... it's all just turned to ice now. I WANT TO SEE SOME GREEN!

[Jackie Ramo]

Marla it is harder for the little ones to make it through winter, less reserves and all that. Sorry to hear that one of them didn't make it. It is disheatening. Surprising how attached we become to the silly things.

I managed to see 9 of the 13 out there and they all looked good. I did see them all a couple of weeks ago and all was well at that point. Like you we are down into the teens again today but the sun is shinning with some warmth to it. Spring is trying to get here.

[GregBickal]

Spring is over, and apparently I missed summer, and we are now back to winter. :confused:

Pond was froze over again this morning and a light dusting of snow everywhere. :sad:

[Busy B]

Works every time...hubby broke up the rest of the ice on the deck and shoveled it off...asked him why? That's only inviting more snow!

What we have left is turning rotten, but it's not over yet..

[rll]

For you Canadians, Alaskans, and Midwest folk, the weather here was great again low 70's. Took some more pics, here's a few. That's Murphy checking out the pond.

[Busy B]

Rll...I'll even let you rub it in a bit to see some green!:()

That second pic I thought for a minute was a halibut!!!wow!

Great pictures! Thank you!!:wave:

[Jackie Ramo]

Busy I thought it was a whale but I'm a city girl ;-)

Cute Murphy, I see he's into herding the fish.

[GregBickal]

I never EVER have the big pond thaw out and then freeze again (1st time in the last 10 years). Gotta be a first for everything I guess.

Dang winter. I need to move !! :frisbee:

RLL, show me more pictures of that yellow Koi !!! :wave:

[Dewi]

Its 10c here today very sunny, fish are starting to move, will buy some food for them tomorrow, low wheat. Don't think mine would like meat and two veg terri, as for fruit, how would they peel an orange?? :D

[Jackie Ramo]

an orange slice is very popular with my guys. I find if I cut the side and break it open the big guy can get some. I do mine in rounds but I've seen quarter sections in other peoples pics. the rind floats so it is easy to remove.

Garden worms and slugs are other favourites for spring feeding.

[Terri]

We cut our fruits into quarters, oranges, cantelope, watermelon, honeydew melon, I was thinking of slicing up kiwi today for them LOL As Jackie says,, the skins of the fruit float so they are easy to remove once the fish have finished.

I can almost tell we have ponds today, the snow is melting!

[Dewi]

Oranges you say, might not be warm enough just yet, but I'm con vinced. :???:

[Dewi]

Terri, remember the little fella I bought the end of last Year? (little fingers and smaller fish) Well all my fish are up at the top exept him. He's there, but right at the bottom, How can I entice him to feed and be a little bolder? Perhaps! he's a she, and just being a little coy !rofl :smile:

[Jackie Ramo]

I'd be concerned with a fish that isn't with his buddies. Is he just sitting there or is he moving around just not as much as the others. Are his fins clamped????

[Dewi]

I'd be concerned with a fish that isn't with his buddies. Is he just sitting there or is he moving around just not as much as the others. Are his fins clamped???? Sorry I've mised so many of your posts Jackie,

On occasions he does swim around with them, but he/she is mostly on the bottom , thats where I think it is most comfortable. But! I have now started feeding and it hasn't as yet. Wether its fins are clamped I don't know as I don't see it that often,
It has survived since last september when he was about 1-1/2" its now about 4" and it is in the Dewis pics thread. When I do see it however it does seem to be swiming around enjoying itself.

Regards Dewi.

PS, His buddies are considerably larger than him/her, could it just be shy?? :smile:

[Terri]

A coy koi? :grin:

Dewi I think this is one to watch. He could be your "canary" fish. But this something that I have seen with a few of ours, they hang at the bottom under the rest of the koi - they tend to be "dart" feeders(hitting the surface for food and then back to the bottom). I don't think at this point size has much to do with it, as you can see from the photo's Ian takes there are several diferent sized fish in the tanks and they climb over eachother... but there are those few that are "camera shy".

Each koi is different, each with different habits. But observation is the key to knowing your fish... knowing what their "normal" behaviour is so if they stray from that you will be able to act accordingly.

[Jackie Ramo]

I agree with Terri in that each fish has its own personality and it may be size difference that is making this one a bit shy. Still I'd watch it. Fish like to be with other fish. Seldom are little fish afraid of big fish although that happens as well.

http://jackieramo.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_FF%20%26%20GG.JPG