SWM seeks LCF (Large Carnivorous Fish)?

Enter the stereotypical question : I want a big fish for a big pond,
that will eat small mammal carcasses / meat scraps / other fish.
(I've searched via Google, but can't find the answer)

--

I've got a pond full of goldfish, and although they're pretty, they're
not terribly entertaining.

I've also got an excess population of eastern grey squirrels (the
non-endangered type) that I routinely dispose of. Opossums, too.

I live in Washington state, where a layer of ice forms over the pond
in the winter. So tropical fish are out.

The pond is 13,000 gallons - a 35'x15' swimming pool, 6' deep in the
deep end. It's also a concrete pond, with a high pH. At present, it
doesn't have a lot of aeration, but I plan on changing that this
coming summer (adding a waterfall and 700 gallon biofilter)

So here's my question: what kind of fish could I get that would eat
dead squirrels and grow to be 2-3 feet long? Would a big catfish do
this? In my hollywood-addled mind, I'd love to see some vicious
pirhana action. (Of course, having owned a red-bellied pirhana
before, I know them to be rather boring in practice)

After reading all the stories about the giant chinese snakehead, it
sounds like what I would want (sans the on-land movement). Of course,
that fish is now quite illegal to import into my state. So an
alternate fish is required.

I realize this is probably not what most ponders are looking to raise.
But it's a serious question.

Thanks in advance.

PS: No, I don't have a wife. :

Monty Burns wrote:

So here's my question: what kind of fish could I get that would eat
dead squirrels and grow to be 2-3 feet long?

A dawg that swims?

On Fri, 28 Nov 2003 10:31:39 -0600, John Hines
wrote:

Monty Burns wrote:

So here's my question: what kind of fish could I get that would eat
dead squirrels and grow to be 2-3 feet long?

A dawg that swims?


snapping turtle is what comes to mind for me...

In Wisconsin we use Northern Pike or better yet "Tiger Muskie" Northerns
are easy to catch, but the Muskie has to be over 42" before they are legal.
But talk about a cool fish, 50" - 60" can be seen regularly.

Another good LARGE predator is Sturgeon. And when you get tired of them get
'em pregnant and the eggs make great caviar. You might even try large
Rainbow, Lake, or Brown Trout, I have seen large ones devour Ducks. What
about Salmon?

JOhn


"John Hines" wrote in message
...
Monty Burns wrote:

So here's my question: what kind of fish could I get that would eat
dead squirrels and grow to be 2-3 feet long?

A dawg that swims?

"\(\(\(\\\" John Lange"
wrote:

In Wisconsin we use Northern Pike or better yet "Tiger Muskie" Northerns
are easy to catch, but the Muskie has to be over 42" before they are legal.
But talk about a cool fish, 50" - 60" can be seen regularly.

I've seen them in the local fish store. not often, and yes, I asked,
they are raised for the pet trade, not caught.

A pond full of N. Pike would be interesting.

Sturgeon. Now that I think about it, I had considered it before.

According to http://www.sturgeon-web.co.uk/stur8a.html , Diamond
sturgeon gets to be 5' long in ponds, 15' in the wild. Seems about
the right size.

And as an added bonus, I overcome my problem of "pond full of vicious
fish means that one can't climb into the water when maintenance needs
to be performed:" Sturgeon seem to have no teeth, and just mouth the
food in.

Problematic in a way, though. Means the squirrels will have to decay
before edibility. Or I'll have to take a shovel to them. At least
when the fish is young. Now I just need to locate a supplier. The
only references that pop up in Google are located in the UK. (I'd
prefer not to try the international species importation thing.)

I wonder if it will eat my goldfish?

Happy days, though:

According to
http://nechakosturgeon.org/who/eat.html

"Someone once even found a dead cat inside a sturgeon. They were
pretty sure the cat was already dead with the sturgeon ate it."

Good times. : Good times.


Thanks to one and all for the suggestions. Catfish (flathead,
channel, and the like) are definitely my second choice.


On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 00:41:15 GMT, "\(\(\(\\\" John Lange"
wrote:

In Wisconsin we use Northern Pike or better yet "Tiger Muskie" Northerns
are easy to catch, but the Muskie has to be over 42" before they are legal.
But talk about a cool fish, 50" - 60" can be seen regularly.

Another good LARGE predator is Sturgeon. And when you get tired of them get
'em pregnant and the eggs make great caviar. You might even try large
Rainbow, Lake, or Brown Trout, I have seen large ones devour Ducks. What
about Salmon?

JOhn


"John Hines" wrote in message
.. .
Monty Burns wrote:

So here's my question: what kind of fish could I get that would eat
dead squirrels and grow to be 2-3 feet long?

A dawg that swims?

Monty wrote PS: No, I don't have a wife.

chortle!

Someone wrote snapping turtle but as they
aren't native you could get raided by the
fish and wildlife folks who don't have a sense
of humor about these things.
Pike? Are they found in the PNW? Same concern
about natives.
Bullfrogs will eat goldfish and small, live squirrels.
They aren't native but are here to stay. If you see very large tadpoles in a
local pond this is probably what they are.
Crayfish will eat dead critters and any old slow goldfish they can get ahold
of.

ka30p - who feeds the squirrel that lives in our
backyard peanuts, walnuts and cranberries ;-)

ka30p - who feeds the squirrel that lives in our
backyard peanuts, walnuts and cranberries ;-)

Hey, K30, be careful, your only squirrel could be half a dozen in a few
years. 5 years ago I saw my first squirrel in this neighborhood, but 5
minutes from K30. Yesterday we counted 6 (that we could see at one time).
My feeder has to be filled daily now, where before it was 2-3x/month. They
are fun to watch though, especially the little one who climbs in the feeder
and shuts the door behind him and watches out the window. ~ jan


See my ponds thru the seasons and/or my filter design:
http://users.owt.com/jjspond/

~Keep 'em Defrosted~
Tri-Cities, WA Zone 7a
To e-mail see website

On Fri, 28 Nov 2003 10:40:31 -0800
~ jan JJsPond.us wrote:

ka30p - who feeds the squirrel that lives in our
backyard peanuts, walnuts and cranberries ;-)

Hey, K30, be careful, your only squirrel could be half a dozen in a
few years. 5 years ago I saw my first squirrel in this neighborhood,
but 5 minutes from K30. Yesterday we counted 6 (that we could see at
one time). My feeder has to be filled daily now, where before it was
2-3x/month. They are fun to watch though, especially the little one
who climbs in the feeder and shuts the door behind him and watches out
the window. ~ jan

For the past year and a half (almost) I thought that I had a squirrel
and bird feeder in the front yard. Last week, sitting quietly and
reading, watching the squirrels, I found out that it's really a red
tailed hawk feeder. I had been wondering where all the squirrels were
going...


Cybe R. Wizard
--
Unofficial "Wizard of Odds," A.H.P.
Original PORG "Water Wizard," R.P.
"Wize(ned) Wizard," A.P.F-P-Y.
Barely Tolerated Wizard, A.J.L & A.A.L

Now that you mention it, yesterday I did see a hawk make a pass. He got
thwarted as my DH happened to walk into the yard about the same time for a
load of wood, so he veered off and made a half-hearted grab for a Magpie
(or could that have been a "I'm not here for the squirrels" diversion?).
Guess I won't get too attached to these squirrels and name them. ;o) ~ jan

For the past year and a half (almost) I thought that I had a squirrel
and bird feeder in the front yard. Last week, sitting quietly and
reading, watching the squirrels, I found out that it's really a red
tailed hawk feeder. I had been wondering where all the squirrels were
going...


Cybe R. Wizard

See my ponds thru the seasons and/or my filter design:
http://users.owt.com/jjspond/

~Keep 'em Defrosted~
Tri-Cities, WA Zone 7a
To e-mail see website