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lilly316

Pond tragedy

Lily316
12 years ago

Last Thursday we had four tornadoes here in central PA. We were in the grocery store when the storm happened and 1000's of trees were uprooted everywhere. We were glad our old trees survived but we lost power. This was 7 PM and the next morning when I went up to our big pond., my five prize koi were belly up. Two of them were over 20 years old and were almost two feet long. They were very friendly and would eat of my hand. I was devastated, couldn't reach husband , and my phones were all dead along with numbers stored on them. I did reach my daughter and she called her husband who rented me a generator to save the remaining koi and a few goldfish. Our power was off for 26 hours but I cannot believe these koi died. I'm so sad. They were like pets to me. The temps weren't very high yet, so why did this happen? The past four days, it's been very hot and now I'm freaking that the power will go out or a pump will malfunction and I will have another fish kill. We have a small concrete pond , 4 by 6 built in the 20's and we uncovered it 28 years ago when we bought the house. I really wish I'd never gotten into ponds. We are not that young and it's a huge commitment and a lot of sadness when things like this happen. We built the big pond when the koi outgrew the small one. The remaining fish are spooked and not eating and are not friendly like the dead fish were.

Comments (8)

  • koijoyii
    12 years ago

    I am sorry to hear about your loss lily. Friends and family laugh at me when I tell them my koi are like family. I don't know what would have cause this to happen, but I will keep you and yours in my thoughts and prayers. Don't beat yourself up too bad. Even if you were home there is nothing you could have done. Thank God that you and your family are all alive and unharmed. This spring has been bad weatherwise just about everywhere. Massachusetts had a tornado touch down last night too. That is my worst fear and something I hope I never experience first hand. Your fish were 20 years old and had one heck of a good life with you and your husband. Even though it's like losing a family member you and your husband were excellent koi parents. We can't question Mother Nature as to why she does things, we just have to look at the bright side.

    I have overstock of 1 year old koi if you are interested. They are free to a good home. Send me an e-mail if you are interested and we can work something out.

    Jenny

  • catherinet
    12 years ago

    I am so sorry for your loss Lily.
    Jenny said some really good things.
    I'm glad you and your family are okay.

    I'm wondering if there was something about the rapid pressure changes that happen with tornadoes that may have killed them.
    There has been so much loss and sadness recently in the U.S. caused by tornadoes and floods.

    I like to think that Mother Nature knows what she's doing, even if it isn't what we like.

    You're in alot of pain right now. It will slowly ease up and you'll be able to be more hopeful again.
    ((((((hugs))))))

  • nkm56
    12 years ago

    I'm so sorry, Lily. It isn't easy to lose your favorite fish. I know because I lost my favorite, highest quality, and prettiest koi last weekend. She was fatally injured during the spawn. Sadly, she was only four years old.

    I know my situation can't compare with losing five prized koi, though, and in a situation such as yours. I hope you'll be able to recapture the magic of ponding. I'm still a little down myself, but I'm not giving up. I'm going to start browsing for a new koi, and I think the interest and excitement from that will get me back on my feet again, so to speak.

  • sleeplessinftwayne
    12 years ago

    There are a couple of things you might consider but it is likely too late to pin down the cause at this point. First would be a rapid PH change due to lots of rain water entering the pond. David, one of our experts, adds a dose of Bicarb. even before the rain hits to buffer the expected crash. Second is oxygen depletion. The oxygen would have had to be borderline to start with but without constant aeration, the larger fish would be the first affected since they would require the most oxygen. It sounds like the pond is small for the amount of fish that were in it so it is possible that could have had an affect.

    Sorry your fishies are gone. Personally, since there are so many things that can happen to them that are out of our control, I don't even try to raise the more expensive koi. It seems the more attractive they are, the more they become vulnerable.

  • annedickinson
    12 years ago

    Oh, Lily, what a sad experience. Losing your beloved fish is so hard.

    Anne

  • Lily316
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    I don't want to give the impression that these koi were special .They were to me but just run of the mill ones who spawned and had babies. We were stupid to buy koi and put them in the little pond because they grew so large we had to build another pond. I know they died from oxygen depletion. We have a vigorous waterfall and ultra violet filter running but there are a lot of inches of fish. It's hard to measure our pond since we ran into limestone so it's deep in spots , not so deep where the rock is. I miss these guys. The rest of the fish are not friendly now and it's been a week.No one will eat out of my hand.

  • catherinet
    12 years ago

    If they were special to you, then they're "special"! Hopefully some of the ones that are still there will eventually warm up to you.
    Its always hard to lose pets, no matter what they are.
    I have chickens and am devastated every time one of them dies.

  • buyorsell888
    12 years ago

    I'm sorry for your loss.

    I'm sure it was oxygen depletion, especially if they were the biggest/oldest fish. They always go first.

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