Pump problems-check out these pics!!!

[Indiana Karen]

Got up this morning and noticed our falls was running slow.  One of our pumps wasn't working, just humming.  Of course I was worried that we needed a new one.  You can imagine how surprised we were when hubby pulled it up out of the water.  Woohoo, one less snake and the pump is fine

Karen

[Ruthie]

Well, if you are a snake, that is the definition of a really bad day!   I have had a small invasion of snakes in my pond, but I never caught one like that!

Glad the pump is ok!!

[smallcrpt]

Ha, i've seen that before only worse. I work on golf courses and we had a big floating pond aerator. One day it was acting up worse than usual. sometimes the algae blooms would get bad and you would have to shut it down for an hour and let the crap backflow out. But this one time we just couldn't get it going again.
So we busted out the leaky boat and went out to investigate... boy do i wish  i still had those pictures. When you looked in the top of the output there's just a tail. And when you flip it over and check out the whole pump there was  three foot common water snake totally wrapped up in the intake and aorund the motor. It took us over an hour to "fish" out all the parts of him.
I should see if i can get those pictures.
Im glad i haven't seen a snake around here yet, i think the ppl watching my pond would be a little more apprehensive.
-chris

[tranquility]

Oh my  ....never have caught one like that either......
Lawanna

[mcp]

Better you than me. Not afraid of snakes but don' t like them either. At leaast he will not be getting any of your fish and your pump is OK.  What kind of sanke is it? Thanks for sharing with us.

[Indiana Karen]

Not sure of this snakes proper name, we just call them nasty old watersnakes.  Cleanup was a breeze, however much of him had gone into the hole was totally ground up and went through the pump. 

Welcome to the forum Chris.

Karen

[Mikey]

Must have been a relief to realize you didn't need to replace your pump.  I hope you didn't loose any fish before the snake met its demise...

[Julles]

Do those snakes eat your fish?  I assume that's why they're in the pond in the first place, right?

[Ky Kim]

Eeeew, I'm glad it was the snake and not your pump.  What a horrible way to go though.  My neighbor found 3 little snakes swimming across her pond last week.  I've never seen any in my ponds, but that doesn't mean their not there.  I wonder if the droughts are having an effect on some of them seeking water in other resources.

Kim

[miguynmkoi]

 
Just looking at the pictures give me the heebie jeebies.

I'm sure your fishies loved ground snake 

 

[Indiana Karen]

Yes, those snakes do eat fish.  A few years ago, we saw a snake swimming across our pond with a hugh goldfish in its mouth.  Larger than we ever imagined that it could eat.  I'm sure this one had eaten a few meals on us, but we have a lot of goldfish and can't really tell when they go missing.

Karen

[Chris D]

Hi all, That is the banded water snake and yes they will clean out a pond in a hurry (fish wise) I live on a lake and they come to my pond quite often they can take some pretty big fish. Now I'm raising my koi and othe fish in the garage in a 150 gal stock tank with a bio filter until they get big enough to have a chance against the snakes. That picture gives me great pleasure to see because of all of my fish they have taken from me it was like losing a real pets when you raise them from little 3 and 4 inch to a good size and have them taken from you is a real shame. I have one now that comes to the pond that I have been after for a couple of months now I will get him in due time but for now I have 2 largemouth bass in the pond which are a natural predator of the water snake have not seen him for a while since the bass have been in there. One way or another I was going to have somthing to look at in the pond so if it has to be some bass so be it for now.      chris

[Indiana Karen]

Hi Chris, and  :welcome:to the forum!

Please tell us more about your pond, maybe you could start a new thread and introduce yourself.  What state are you from?  We always love pictures!

Karen

[El Jefe]

First glad to see that Karens pond is going to be fine, I love her pond! Second funny you mentiond bass. I have 1 large florida strain 2 medium and 2 small bass in my pond. The other day a small snake 12-15 inches long was trying to escape me and headed off across the pond when the swirling death from below snatched him up.  one second thinking it had escaped the human, next he was emulating spaghetti..... It shocked me and amuzed me at the same time Nature in reverse.... Loved it!  Now if it would just eat the neighbors dog that keeps wading through my lillies and breaking them off..... Well maybe bite him in the butt so he will stop wading in there....


Andy