Sticklebacks and Minnows

[Dragonslair]

Last year I went to our local river and with the aid devised by William, I was able to catch a number of sticklebacks and minnows, for a newly made pond that we have in our wildlife garden. Over the winter the pond has got totally bogged down with the dreaded blanket weed. It has chocked everything, unfortunately too some of the fish. However undaunted by this, the weed was cleared away or most of it at least and to our surprise we have a pondful of sticklebacks, but no minnows. Where have they gone? No bodies, no remains, no fish?
Any ideas?

 

[ryan]

Does the pond have a fast current, Minnows live in the fast flowing streams and soon die off in still water, where as the sticle back live in both enviroments and can adapt equally as well. The Minnows may have also failed to survive the winter and the Sticklebacks did and breed.

 

[Dragonslair]

That is interesting Ryan, thanks.
BTW. The pond has no current as such, it has a pump fed waterfall about 1 metre high. It did freeze over when we had a bad bout of snow and ice recently.

 

[Opcn]

What exactly was the aid devised by william?

Opcn

 

[Dragonslair]

An inverted plastic bottle.
I shall try and explain, but certainly a picture would work better.
1 or 2 ltr plastic bottle.(clear) slice off the top by a 1/3rd and invert the top into the main body. Put a few holes into the base of the bottle, enough for the bottle to sink. Have some fishing line of string tied to the bottle and place fish food in the main body of the bottle, lower the whole thing in the stream where you know there are minnows and stickys and leave tethered for a few hours. It is amazing how many fish swim in and don't know how to get out.

 

[fishbie23]

hi if you go to your local garden centre or fishshop ask for some (barleystraw)place this in your pond,it floats last about 3 months just renew it this will get rid of all your blanket weed and you have nice clear water,cost is about one poundfifty per bundle regards tim fishbie23

 

[William]

Sticklebacks in full colour are awesome aren't they dragon, and they breed so fast! My 6 in a koi pond when it was drained had changed into several hundred!

Incedently tricks like this work on many creatures.

 

[ryan]

Sticklebacks in full colour are awesome aren't they dragon, and they breed so fast! My 6 in a koi pond when it was drained had changed into several hundred!

Incedently tricks like this work on many creatures.

Anyone tried Ten Spinned Sticklebacks Pungitius Pungitius. Great little fish and a nice change from the normal Sticklebacks.

 

[Dragonslair]

3 acknowledgements to make here.
1. Thanks Tim, for the advice, unfortunately the barley straw trick didn't work. We live next to a frm and the farmer gave me a bundle of barley straw. I must have had 1kg in the pond. Didn't work. Pond weedkiller and hard work cleared it.
2. Yes William, Sticky's in breeding mode look lovely, and quite aggressive. I wouldn't have any fingers left if they had been pike. They defend their nests with their little lives and attacks anything including my finger if you go anywhere near it.
3. I have never seen a ten spinned sticky in real life.

 

[ryan]

It is a nice little fish even though it is hard to get hold of. I have to agree they do defend their little nests like mad, they will attack anything that they feel is a threat, not matter what it is.

Dragon, just an idea. You could turn that pond in to a nice little native fish haven. Ofcourse no big mean predators like Pike or Perch, but Crucain Carp, Rudd, Tench, Orfe and others would make a nice attraction and ofcourse the little Sticklebacks.

 

[Opcn]

What kind of food should I use? I want to toss a trap in on my way to school (6 am) and then pull it out on my way back (2:30 pm) 8.5 hours later (I just found a wheel chair so I will be "walking" once more as apose to depending on rides.)

Thanks

Opcn