Timgod... fishies in lily ponds

[miguynmkoi]

Hey Tim....I am doing the kiddie pool with lilies idea, thanks to you.  I only have 3 established potted lilies in the pool out in the sun - don't make me name them  Forgot 'em 

You mentioned to keep mosquitos at bay you add feeder fishies (goldies or minnows?) but can they handle the heat of the water when the pool is in the sun all day?

Happy Father's Day! 

[Timgod]

They do fine.
My heat is always in the mid 90s or higher.
Once your lilies and any oxygenators you put in there fill out it usually provides shelter from the sun as well as any possible predators.
I buy the cheap 10¢ and 25¢ goldfish feeder fish and toss in a handfull.
Within a year or so they are usually 3" to 4" long and I move them to the bigger pond.
I tried some native mosquito fish once but they didn't last for whatever reason. Who knows maybe they got ate by the bigger fish as they were about 1/2" long.
Tim

[miguynmkoi]

Thanks again Tim!  Going to get me some fishies.  10 cent goldies works for me. 

[Timgod]

No problem girl,
Hope you do well.

Tim

[Ky Kim]

yup, that is what I started out with was the feeders.  Some of them end up being beautiful fish, I know your's is just for mosquito control, but wait till you see what some turn into.   

Kim

[Timgod]

Kim,
Oh believe me I know. I have some beautiful goldies that are up to 6" long now.
That is why I put them in the bigger pond. So I can see them more often... as well as the wife.
My propagation pools get so full of pads that you can never see what is lurking beneath. I actually have to trim as often as I can so I can look for developing seed pods. I've already had at least 4 pop this year that I was not aware of. This is a lot earlier than last year but I have more lilies and it has been quite a bit hotter here as well.

Tim

[miguynmkoi]

Seed Pods?!?!?!  Jeez I have a lot to learn.  Probably won't get there for a while though.  Just hoping what I have will stay alive.  I do not have the master hand on waterlilies like Tim or others.

I can only try to make Master Tim proud 

[Timgod]

I'm no master. I learn something new all of the time.
I tried for 3 years to get seed to set for hybridization.
Not one pod. I learned that many of the hybrids are sterile or at least not very fertile.
To that end I bought 4 species lilies last year. Species lilies are where are the hybrids and crosses started.
By crossing into some hybrids with a species or crossing a hybrid back into a species I was able to get some seed to set.
I didn't do so well when I got the seed though.
I planted them in little black Rotisserie chicken containers, black about 2.5" tall with a 4" clear domed lid.
I thought the greenhouse effect would warm the water for the seeds and speed up their growth.
I was right about it warming the water.....waaaaayyyy too right.
Even in November here it basically cooked my seed.
I have a few seedlings popping up now but I really screwed up my 1st go around.
Oh well you live and hopefully you learn.

The master's at hybridizing here on the forum are Craig..obviously as he has won more lily of year honors than most anyone, Sean and Lou also created some great looking hybrids. Now we just have to get them to propagate them, name them and hopefully sell them to us.

One day I will be at their level but I can be patient.

Tim

[Julles]

You could also try a betta.  They tolerate high temperatures, and their natural food is mosquito larvae.  And, if you get one with light or irridescent fins, they are just GORGEOUS when they swim just below the surface.

ONE male per pond, or they'll kill one another.  A male and female will breed, but you have to remove the female afterwards (the male keeps the eggs) or have enough space and shelter that she can hide until it's time to mate again.

I rotate my bettas from the house to my tub ponds outside, for a day or two at a time, to eat mosquito larvae.  Or I scoop the larvae and divide them up between the jars of fish in the house.

They're about $3 at PetSmart.