Reedman's Pics.

[Pa Nancy]

Here's the pics Dave. Hope they work, didn't save in the folder like they usually do? 

[luvmyasagis]

I love your waterfall, gonna show it to hubby for ideas if that is okay with you.

[Reedman]

Thanks Nancy for posting my pics.

The first one shows the nicest five midnight blue shubunkins that were born Spring 2006.  I raised them outside in a 100 gallon stock tank, but moved them indoors to a 55 gallon aquarium over the winter.  They are about 5" long.

The waterfall was pretty easy to build.  Underneath is concrete blocks (not mortared together) in the general shape, corner of the pond liner draped over it, rocks in the waterway sealed with "Great Stuff", Pennsylvania fieldstone facade.  Sometimes I bareroot plant impatiens in the side of the waterway.

[miguynmkoi]

the midnight blue shubunkins are beautiful.  They grew 5" in one year?!?!?   What are you feeding them?

[Reedman]

miguynmkoi,

They grew to about 2" last summer outside in the stock tank.  They grazed on the algae and I fed them Tetra goldfish flakes.  Since they have been inside, I fed them Aquarium Pharmaceutical "spring/fall" pellets.

When my pond water clears, I'll have my daughter take some pics of the adult midnights.  They are 8-10". Some are almost entirely black, but a few have strikingly beautiful blue/black/cream patterns.   I have about 15-20 in the pond.

[tinkster]

LOVE all the pics dave!  Thanks for sending.
GORGEOUS!


tinkster

[miguynmkoi]

  Can't wait to see the grown ups 

[karen J]

Reedman, those are very nice midnight shubbies! I think I had some once, got eaten by the Heron. You take real good care of those babies! They look happy & healthy.

[Reedman]

karen J,

I have a greenhouse-like structure over my pond - 1 1/2" PVC pipe 9' high with a 4" nylon mesh net.  Ironically, after I built it I lost 2/3 of my fish that same spring to a parasite infestation.  The water was thick with algae and they were dying on the bottom.

I live one mile from the Susquehanna River where there are many egrets and great blue herons.  They would die trying to get my fish.  The 4" mesh allows birds the size of mourning dove or smaller to get through.  They like to drink from the lava rock trickle tower.

[Ky Kim]

Oooh, I really like those midnight blue shubunkins.  There pretty little things, or big things.  Your falls looks great.

Kim

[Bonnie]

Anytime I see the name Reedman, I think Midnight Shubunkins!

Looks great!

[LeeAnne151]

Me too, Bonnie. Reedman = Midnight Shubunkins and me being jealous.

Hughes Water Gardens had some a couple years ago. I can't remember why I didn't buy them when I saw them but I've never seen any again.  :'(

[Reedman]

Thanks for the nice comments everyone. 

It has been cloudy here the past few days.  When the cloud cover breaks, I'll have my daughter take some pics of the large (10-11") midnight blue shubunkins in my pond.

I'll get her to take a pic of the anti-egret structure over my pond and some better pics of the mb shubunkins in the 55-gallon tank.

There is only one breeder of midnight blue shubunkins - about an hour away.  Every other spring I drive down and hand pick at least 5.  They are quite expensive - 3" sells for about $9, 6" for about $25!!!!!!!!   

They are only able to breed about 20,000-40,000 a year and they ship worldwide.  That is why they are hard to find.