Otter issue…fish cage construction

[Squirrel-boy]

Has anyone made a “cage” in their pond? I am looking to build one. It would be made of plastic piping and some form of welded wire or equivalent. I know I need to be careful to not puncture the liner. We had an otter decimate our entire pond almost a year ago. The otter killed every koi. One (George Brett) had been alive since 1985.


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[*Ci*]

Interesting idea which could work. So the koi would be completely enclosed in the cage including the top? I does not sound visually appealing and otters could very well still be attracted to the pond, fouling the water and terrorizing the fish. Plus the koi would not be able to pick at algae or scavenge the bottom well.

I would be more inclined to put a cage around the whole pond! In an attractive sun room/screened porch kind of way, that is : )

[Squirrel-boy]

My plan was to do it with the top below the water surface close to the skimmer and elevated just above the water away from the skimmer. This way they can still come up to the top. I hadn’t thought about him getting back in. I really feel it was an isolated incident. We had the pond for 5 years. A heron would show up and sometimes get one. Took me a long time to remedy that issue. I worry about the algae thing, as well. I am sure it would start to grow on the plastic pipe and welded wire.

I actually started to fence the entire pond, but then you need to fence and net the waterfall. This otter was a word I cannot say here. One of the worst days of my life.


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[Noahsnana]

From what I understand they are very strong and agile.

[aquaholic]

Sounds like you need to build a fish refugee cage within the pond and an outer cage with a one way door around the pond...

I wish I had useful advice to offer but I don't so I'll wish you best of luck.

[*Ci*]

I hadn’t thought about him getting back in. I really feel it was an isolated incident. We had the pond for 5 years.

I would not count on that. The otters had a good meal at your pond and will likely keep checking back.

I actually started to fence the entire pond, but then you need to fence and net the waterfall. This otter was a word I cannot say here. One of the worst days of my life.

You might consider just not having any more fish, or using inexpensive goldfish that you don’t get attached to. I was wiped out by otters, as well, and it took many years for me to be comfortable again with having koi that I spent a lot of money, time, effort and emotion on. I live in a different area than when the otter attacked, with a raised pond and electric fence system that I am fairly confident in, but I still have that moment of tension every morning when I look out to make sure the fish are still alive and well …

Some threads well worth reading:

The Otter Deterrent Thread

Otter Devastaion

[Angie Jones]

An otter found my pond this year too. I lost 12 koi that I know of and most of the rest have torn fins. It was devastating. I moved everyone else into my quarantine tank that I could lock down more tightly and left my pond empty hoping that when it came back for Round 2 it would find it empty. About three weeks later, I caught it on camera circling my QT looking for a way in. My pond is netted for herons but the water fall was open. I think that's how it got in and I've since locked the net down more tightly and netted the waterfall too. That's a real PITA because I have to get debris that gets caught in the net off the waterfall every day. I haven't seen it back again, but I'm sure it's just making its rounds.

I wish I could offer a better solution. I'm holding my breath hoping it doesn't come back and chew through the net. Good luck!

[BWG]

They are very strong and can defeat many types of cages including lesser metal ones.

[Squirrel-boy]

The pond has been empty for almost a year. I don’t think he comes back as we have security cameras on it, but I know it is a possibility to see him return.


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[Squirrel-boy]

This is what I came up with after a lot of ideas. “Koi aquarium” is made of welded wire and PVC. The top will have a cover that I can remove when/if needed. It will be lowered into the pond and I will remove the entire thing if needed. I may even pull I out every year to make sure nothing is failing. I thought about a fence and electric fence, but made up this contraption. I think it will work. I am making sure it has no sharp edges. I have a security camera on the pond. The otter has not been back since October, but I don’t expect that will last. I am looking to put lemon grass around the pond as an added deterrent, but I don’t imagine that will do a ton of good.


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[Longfin Lover]

What size are the wire grid openings? Can it fit it's head through?
We have just added new koi to our pond. We also were cleaned out this winter of half of our 15 year old koi. The ice and snow layers were too difficult to get to the pond to see what was happening. We bought some new ones from a man who had a similar cage like in your picture, in his pond to protect his koi. From what I could describe for footprints he said it was a mink. His suggestion was to get a squirrel cage and rub a sardine all over the cage. Set it near the pond and cover in wood to make it look like a cave. This was for a mink.

[Noahsnana]

This is what I came up with after a lot of ideas. “Koi aquarium” is made of welded wire and PVC. The top will have a cover that I can remove when/if needed. It will be lowered into the pond and I will remove the entire thing if needed. I may even pull I out every year to make sure nothing is failing. I thought about a fence and electric fence, but made up this contraption. I think it will work. I am making sure it has no sharp edges. I have a security camera on the pond. The otter has not been back since October, but I don’t expect that will last. I am looking to put lemon grass around the pond as an added deterrent, but I don’t imagine that will do a ton of good.


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I hope it works for you What size is the cage?

[*Ci*]

Make sure to have the top latch down securely or they will squeeze right under it. I believe mink would be able to get through this wire, so hopefully they are not a problem in your area.
Good luck!

[Squirrel-boy]

Wire opening is small. No chance he can fit through it. We contemplated that we might have had a mink, but my research says that a mink only eats what he wants and leaves no trace he was there. An otter kills for sport and leaves dead bodies outside the pond. Truly a horrible day for us Also, we later caught him on video coming back for another meal. He killed and threw out a koi that was almost 40 years old! George Brett was huge. I gave him shots when he had ulcers. I kept him in a quarantine tank for 5 months while he recovered. He was difficult for me to pick up. This otter was strong to be able to throw him from the pond.
As for the wire, the only possibility is that he could chew through the plastic coating and the metal. I doubt he can do that, but I just can’t guarantee it.


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[Squirrel-boy]

And as for the size, it is 4 foot by 8 foot by 4 foot. We will have a much smaller koi collection in order to keep them happy and healthy.


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[BWG]

Nice job on the cage construction.

[aquaholic]

This is the inner cage to keep the bait - I mean fish safe right? Where is the outer cage to catch the offender?

[Squirrel-boy]

Inner cage will hopefully keep the koi safe. The top is high enough that they can surface, but they will have a tough time jumping out. I am pretty sure I can prevent flashing as I have dealt with that previously. I have no thoughts of going through any water issues again. As for catching the otter, that would be nice. In spite of the pain he has caused my wife and me, I just don’t think I could kill him.

We have motion sensing cameras and he has not been back since October. I am hoping to never see him on video again, but I know that is unlikely. We didn’t have any issues for 10 years beyond an occasional heron swiping a few before we completely netted the pond.


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[coolwon]

They are going to miss their important wall greens and little grubs etc?

What is the mesh made of?

Rats here,are quite happy at nibbling plastic and electric wire coatings.

[Squirrel-boy]

It is welded wire.


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