So sorry to hear that, Gary. This has been a bit of a bizarre winter, I think. We had prolonged temps down to single digits here in December, which is really rare for my area. In December, we're usually in the 30's, maybe a few nights in the 20's, but nothing like what we've seen this winter. Thank goodness there is just another full month, and then we'll start warming up. Looking forward to that!

Hi Nancy, It was some rare cold weather. My pond was iced over for 2 weeks. When it finally thawed in spots, I was surprised by how thick the ice was. The fish made it through okay, although I don't have tropicals like Gary. Just goldfish, koi, and an albino catfish.

Gary, sorry to hear about your fish loss. That's never any fun, especially since you'd had them so long. Maybe, the weather will start straightening up and acting right.

I am ready for the warmer weather. It is like, "Alright, Already." I'm pale, in need of a tan, and if it ever dries out long enough, I want to hunt rocks before the snakes and poison ivy start up again.

Ditto Gary, sorry about your fish and the plant damage.

The bizarre weather continues - it RAINED most of the day - unheard of for January in Minnesota. My pond is total clear of ice - a week ago there was only a 1' hole open. 1st time in 5 years. Normal ice out is late March.

I can see the algae growing :(

Ditto on the algae. I've already taken my toilet brush and swirled alot out, just around the perimeter of the pond, so not to disturb too much. The ground is so saturated, I can hardly walk in the yard without sinking about 1/2". Waiting on spring is driving me nuts.

Hi
Interesting that in the past I'd always netted out a few pairs "just in case" but they'd always survived . This year i didn't because my aquariums were being changed around. After 25 years or so you get to take the weather for granted lol BAD IDEA lol gary

Hey Gary. Sorry about the fishies. All my tropicals were removed from the pond before the weather got cold but they were so used to making those long leaps in the pond most of them have now air drowned. Very frustrating to find one or two more each morning. It got so bad the cat was looking for me to come rescue them. She is very vocal and very smart. I wish the fish were as smart.

Well I should have knocked on wood...High of 7F today with a windchill at -22F. My pond is covered by a new 3' snow drift. The uncovered half is once again frozen. Here they say the abnormally low temps throughout the nation will continue for awhile...

But... :) ...daily conversation would be boring if we didn't have the weather to talk about...

(And we SURE don't want to talk about the Vikings.)

S

garyfla sorry about the loss of your pets, I watched on T.V that the local fisheries had lost most of their tropicals in Florida, so very sad, Did your orchids make it? I haven`t seen you post on any threads lately, I am sure you were busy trying to figure out how to save EVERYTHING! The more southern states are simply not prepared we always get caught with only two blankts and a string of christmas lights to save our poor tropicals. We have been told that we are getting another cold snap this weekend. Now where did I put those darn christmas lights again lol Take care gary :o)Deanna

Sheepco, I'll agree with you. Let's not talk about the Vikings. I so wanted them to win. Alas, it was not to be.

As for the weather, if the weathermen are right, we are fixing to be in for a nightmare. They are calling for rain, ice, sleet and snow. We are as ready as can be with food, candles, oil lamps, matches, flashlights, and our trusty radiant heater. I just hope if the power goes out, it isn't for too long. Some are saying this system will rival the storms of 2001 and 2007(I think). I have no back-up system in place to fight ice on the pond. I only have the main pump and a small pump with 2 air stones.

Any tips?

Deanna
Saved almost all of my plants including the orchids I have growing on trees.lol Birds in aviary seem to be okay
in fact I seem to have suffered much more than they did!!lol
I provided them with an infrared heater but they refused to use it.
Interesting that my main heat system in the SH broke down in Nov so I was caught completely unprepared,
Oh well this gives me a chance to start with a new strain of swordtails . Will concentrate on the Albino Lutino types gary

Gary,

I lost a few platies here during that cold stretch. Luckily I noticed early and covered my little pond with plastic, making sure that the plastic was not touching the water. I did this after the first of the four or five nights of freezing weather that we got. I didn't lose any more fish after covering. The tropical water lilies made it through fine too.

John

Sorry about your fish loss Gary. Sounds interesting to start out your ponds with a new strain of swordtails. Hope you post pics when the time comes.

Hi Gary,
Yup, a nasty blast of arctic stuff is not the best time to wish you had a good stash indoors.

Oh well, there's always ebay where you can find plenty of good stuff at a decent price from special interest collectors.

No need to be stuck with iffy stuff from iffy resellers iffy plants from iffy ponds