will mosquito fish survive the winter?

The pond is 2 feet deep ~ 500gal. I put about 15-20 mosquito fish in it
this fall. It's a new pond so I don't have anything else in it yet.

Usually our low temps. this season in Seattle are around 40-45F degrees, but
we've been having cold snaps where the pond has had a layer of ice on it for
a few days at a time during about 3 different weeks since October. One of
those weeks is this week. Overnight temps are mid 20's. Ice on the top of
the pond again.

The feeling I get from what I read is that the mosquito fish will still be
there in the spring. Really? Honestly? Is that true? It just seems so
amazing to me that I can believe it.

Or are they most likely all dead by now? Should I do something for them
like dump hot water in or break a hole in the ice even though it'll probably
be gone in no more than a week?

Thanks!
Lydia

Lydia,

You really need to make sure you keep a Hole in ice for the
exchange of gases... think of it as letting your fish breathe.

Buy a small air pump - KMart usually has them for about $8.00.
Attach an air hose with a 4 inch airstone. Then put the airstone
about 2 or 3 inches down in your pond. This will keep the hole
open in Seattle's winters.
Almost forgot - do cover the air pump with
a bucket. It is not weather proof and needs protection from the
rain and snow. I have mine nailed to an upright on the deck then I
covered it with a baggie.

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118
"Lydia" wrote in message
...
The pond is 2 feet deep ~ 500gal. I put about 15-20 mosquito fish in it
this fall. It's a new pond so I don't have anything else in it yet.

Usually our low temps. this season in Seattle are around 40-45F degrees,
but
we've been having cold snaps where the pond has had a layer of ice on it
for
a few days at a time during about 3 different weeks since October. One of
those weeks is this week. Overnight temps are mid 20's. Ice on the top
of
the pond again.

The feeling I get from what I read is that the mosquito fish will still be
there in the spring. Really? Honestly? Is that true? It just seems so
amazing to me that I can believe it.

Or are they most likely all dead by now? Should I do something for them
like dump hot water in or break a hole in the ice even though it'll
probably
be gone in no more than a week?

Thanks!
Lydia

Yes, and don't break a hole, melt one to insert the airstone. The sooner
you do this the more survivors you will have. ~ jan

On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 01:27:56 GMT, "Nedra" wrote:

Lydia,

You really need to make sure you keep a Hole in ice for the
exchange of gases... think of it as letting your fish breathe.

Buy a small air pump - KMart usually has them for about $8.00.
Attach an air hose with a 4 inch airstone. Then put the airstone
about 2 or 3 inches down in your pond. This will keep the hole
open in Seattle's winters.
Almost forgot - do cover the air pump with
a bucket. It is not weather proof and needs protection from the
rain and snow. I have mine nailed to an upright on the deck then I
covered it with a baggie.

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118
"Lydia" wrote in message
...
The pond is 2 feet deep ~ 500gal. I put about 15-20 mosquito fish in it
this fall. It's a new pond so I don't have anything else in it yet.

Usually our low temps. this season in Seattle are around 40-45F degrees,
but
we've been having cold snaps where the pond has had a layer of ice on it
for
a few days at a time during about 3 different weeks since October. One of
those weeks is this week. Overnight temps are mid 20's. Ice on the top
of
the pond again.

The feeling I get from what I read is that the mosquito fish will still be
there in the spring. Really? Honestly? Is that true? It just seems so
amazing to me that I can believe it.

Or are they most likely all dead by now? Should I do something for them
like dump hot water in or break a hole in the ice even though it'll
probably
be gone in no more than a week?

Thanks!
Lydia




~ jan

Thank you both! It's snowing right now in Seattle!!!


"~ jan JJsPond.us" wrote in message
...
Yes, and don't break a hole, melt one to insert the airstone. The sooner
you do this the more survivors you will have. ~ jan

On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 01:27:56 GMT, "Nedra"
wrote:

Lydia,

You really need to make sure you keep a Hole in ice for the
exchange of gases... think of it as letting your fish breathe.

Buy a small air pump - KMart usually has them for about $8.00.
Attach an air hose with a 4 inch airstone. Then put the airstone
about 2 or 3 inches down in your pond. This will keep the hole
open in Seattle's winters.
Almost forgot - do cover the air pump with
a bucket. It is not weather proof and needs protection from the
rain and snow. I have mine nailed to an upright on the deck then I
covered it with a baggie.

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118
"Lydia" wrote in message
...
The pond is 2 feet deep ~ 500gal. I put about 15-20 mosquito fish in
it
this fall. It's a new pond so I don't have anything else in it yet.

Usually our low temps. this season in Seattle are around 40-45F
degrees,
but
we've been having cold snaps where the pond has had a layer of ice on
it
for
a few days at a time during about 3 different weeks since October. One
of
those weeks is this week. Overnight temps are mid 20's. Ice on the
top
of
the pond again.

The feeling I get from what I read is that the mosquito fish will still
be
there in the spring. Really? Honestly? Is that true? It just seems
so
amazing to me that I can believe it.

Or are they most likely all dead by now? Should I do something for
them
like dump hot water in or break a hole in the ice even though it'll
probably
be gone in no more than a week?

Thanks!
Lydia




~ jan

Wait a second Nedra and Jan! I bet to differ if I may.

Mosquito fish are dime a dozen, they are not pets, and they breed by the
trillion per second! My dear wife calls them the cockroaches of the pond!

My point? Why go through the hassle and waste of utility to try and over
winter mosquito fish! I am almost certain that the darn things will survive
a nuclear attack anyway, so I doubt if freeze will kill them, but if it does
go to your vector control center and get a bucket load for free!

--
_______________________________________
"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is
like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
The chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

http://community.webshots.com/user/godwino

"Lydia" wrote in message
news:reuIb.707187$Fm2.611853@attbi_s04...
Thank you both! It's snowing right now in Seattle!!!


"~ jan JJsPond.us" wrote in message
...
Yes, and don't break a hole, melt one to insert the airstone. The sooner
you do this the more survivors you will have. ~ jan

On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 01:27:56 GMT, "Nedra"
wrote:

Lydia,

You really need to make sure you keep a Hole in ice for the
exchange of gases... think of it as letting your fish breathe.

Buy a small air pump - KMart usually has them for about $8.00.
Attach an air hose with a 4 inch airstone. Then put the airstone
about 2 or 3 inches down in your pond. This will keep the hole
open in Seattle's winters.
Almost forgot - do cover the air pump with
a bucket. It is not weather proof and needs protection from the
rain and snow. I have mine nailed to an upright on the deck then I
covered it with a baggie.

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118
"Lydia" wrote in message
...
The pond is 2 feet deep ~ 500gal. I put about 15-20 mosquito fish in
it
this fall. It's a new pond so I don't have anything else in it yet.

Usually our low temps. this season in Seattle are around 40-45F
degrees,
but
we've been having cold snaps where the pond has had a layer of ice on
it
for
a few days at a time during about 3 different weeks since October.
One
of
those weeks is this week. Overnight temps are mid 20's. Ice on the
top
of
the pond again.

The feeling I get from what I read is that the mosquito fish will
still
be
there in the spring. Really? Honestly? Is that true? It just
seems
so
amazing to me that I can believe it.

Or are they most likely all dead by now? Should I do something for
them
like dump hot water in or break a hole in the ice even though it'll
probably
be gone in no more than a week?

Thanks!
Lydia




~ jan

I have a lot of sympathy for the 'let them handle it themselves' approach.
Our mosquito fish multiply so fast that we catch and feed them by the
hundred to our Oscars, just to keep them in check. They also clean out all
our koi and gf babies!

Jim

"Just Me "Koi"" wrote in message
...
Wait a second Nedra and Jan! I bet to differ if I may.

Mosquito fish are dime a dozen, they are not pets, and they breed by the
trillion per second! My dear wife calls them the cockroaches of the pond!

My point? Why go through the hassle and waste of utility to try and over
winter mosquito fish! I am almost certain that the darn things will
survive
a nuclear attack anyway, so I doubt if freeze will kill them, but if it
does
go to your vector control center and get a bucket load for free!

--
_______________________________________
"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is
like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
The chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

http://community.webshots.com/user/godwino

"Lydia" wrote in message
news:reuIb.707187$Fm2.611853@attbi_s04...
Thank you both! It's snowing right now in Seattle!!!


"~ jan JJsPond.us" wrote in message
...
Yes, and don't break a hole, melt one to insert the airstone. The
sooner
you do this the more survivors you will have. ~ jan

On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 01:27:56 GMT, "Nedra"
wrote:

Lydia,

You really need to make sure you keep a Hole in ice for the
exchange of gases... think of it as letting your fish breathe.

Buy a small air pump - KMart usually has them for about $8.00.
Attach an air hose with a 4 inch airstone. Then put the airstone
about 2 or 3 inches down in your pond. This will keep the hole
open in Seattle's winters.
Almost forgot - do cover the air pump with
a bucket. It is not weather proof and needs protection from the
rain and snow. I have mine nailed to an upright on the deck then I
covered it with a baggie.

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118
"Lydia" wrote in message
...
The pond is 2 feet deep ~ 500gal. I put about 15-20 mosquito fish
in
it
this fall. It's a new pond so I don't have anything else in it
yet.

Usually our low temps. this season in Seattle are around 40-45F
degrees,
but
we've been having cold snaps where the pond has had a layer of ice
on
it
for
a few days at a time during about 3 different weeks since October.
One
of
those weeks is this week. Overnight temps are mid 20's. Ice on
the
top
of
the pond again.

The feeling I get from what I read is that the mosquito fish will
still
be
there in the spring. Really? Honestly? Is that true? It just
seems
so
amazing to me that I can believe it.

Or are they most likely all dead by now? Should I do something for
them
like dump hot water in or break a hole in the ice even though it'll
probably
be gone in no more than a week?

Thanks!
Lydia




~ jan

Yea, I think normally Nedra (if I may speak for her) & I would agree, but
this ponder was concerned. So good advice was given.

Who are we to say what feelings are allowed for which species of fish? Some
of us think it is silly to worry about feeder goldfish, but we don't poo
poo them, do we? Of course not, we're a hook-you-on-this-hobby-
with-any-aquatic-critter sort of newsgroup. very Big grin ~ jan


On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 08:07:24 GMT, "Just Me \"Koi\""
wrote:

Wait a second Nedra and Jan! I bet to differ if I may.

Mosquito fish are dime a dozen, they are not pets, and they breed by the
trillion per second! My dear wife calls them the cockroaches of the pond!

My point? Why go through the hassle and waste of utility to try and over
winter mosquito fish! I am almost certain that the darn things will survive
a nuclear attack anyway, so I doubt if freeze will kill them, but if it does
go to your vector control center and get a bucket load for free!

"Just Me "Koi"" wrote in message
...
Wait a second Nedra and Jan! I bet to differ if I may.

Mosquito fish are dime a dozen, they are not pets, and they breed by the
trillion per second! My dear wife calls them the cockroaches of the pond!

My point? Why go through the hassle and waste of utility to try and over
winter mosquito fish! I am almost certain that the darn things will
survive
a nuclear attack anyway, so I doubt if freeze will kill them, but if it
does
go to your vector control center and get a bucket load for free!
snip

You dig the hole.
You fill the hole with water.
You add fish.
You are responsible for the fish and their well being...even if they are
cockroaches.

These two cents...brought to you by...

BV.
www.iheartmypond.com

On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 06:43:35 GMT, "Lydia" wrote:
Thank you both! It's snowing right now in Seattle!!!

So how much do you have on the ground? We got 3" a couple of days ago and
early this AM another 1.5-2". A winter of holiday of old for us, I think it
has been quite some time since we've had this much snow and not had a
Chinook wind come the very next day and melt it off. ~ jan
~ jan

"~ jan JJsPond.us" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 06:43:35 GMT, "Lydia" wrote:
Thank you both! It's snowing right now in Seattle!!!

So how much do you have on the ground? We got 3" a couple of days ago and
early this AM another 1.5-2". A winter of holiday of old for us, I think
it
has been quite some time since we've had this much snow and not had a
Chinook wind come the very next day and melt it off. ~ jan
~ jan


Just south of Seattle, in Kent, there was about 2 inches this morning when I
got up. When I got to work in Seattle there was a little less. But as it's
continued to warmed up *Sigh* it's all gone now. It's supposed to snow
again over the weekend!