What would cause our catfish in our pond to die?

Question

We have a pond in our yard ... wev had it several years and have successfully raised catfish in it... The other day we went outside and there was about 30 dead catfish... Mostly little ones but about 10 big ones also... This has never happened before.. We havnt done anything different... what could be going on? We do catch them and eat them from time to time...

Answer 1

Really anyone would need basic water quality info to give you an accurate answer, but considering the time of year I would first guess a temperature inversion or "roll over" in the pond that caused a sudden and rapid lose of dissolved oxygen. It's far more common than people realize, but rarely bad enough to be fatal to the fish. Under just the right conditions however it can cause the death of a significant number of fish in an hour or less. The fact that it occured at night is another hint that this could be the cause. Smaller, younger fish are usually more suseptible to this problem as well.

The fact that you are breeding the catfish tells me to assume it's a natural bottom pond and has no liner or the like. In this type of pond enough natural algae is available to prevent nitrate poisoning unless something recently radically changed the ponds water chemistry and killed this algae, either the water borne algae or the attached algae along the bottom.

If you need any more assistance with your pond feel free to email me.

For those unfamiliar with inversion or roll over here are a few educational links:
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/Fishing/pond/fishkills.htm

http://books.google.com/books?id=yab_5SlVAbwC&pg=PA32&lpg=PA32&dq=thermal+inversion+in+ponds&source=web&ots=fZRh1X0NSE&sig=CfyrlClcyFJ7PO3d0f6hQ1GVLE8

A google search for "thermal inversion in ponds" will also result in several pdf format reports that may be useful in understanding this phenomenon.
MM

Answer 2

Came across your question - just for those pond keepers who aren't aware of the process, rollover (or turnover) in a very real process that stirs the pond layers - this is why you see the higher nitrates and other nutrients coupled with oxygen depletion (and possibly odor problems) in the spring and fall as temperatures in a pond change. That's also the reason why you get large algae blooms in the spring of the year. This can also happen with high winds, so it's not always winter temperature related, but as the winds can occur seasonally, it's still more likely at certain times of the year than others.

This phenomena happens more noticeably in larger ponds, but even smaller ponds have this process. From the number of catfish that died, I would suspect this to be a larger pond, so turnover would be a very good possibility.

That said, chemicals from agricultural or residential use could have caused this problem, as could unusual amounts of precipitation to introduce airborne pollutants. If there are others in your area with similar ponds, you might want to investigate to see if this was an isolated incident (just your pond, which would seem to be a more localized cause such as poisoning) or something regional (temperature/wind turnover, precipitation-related pollutants). A county or state agricultural office may be of assistance here as well.

Answer 3

Could be anything - the most common causes of a fish kill are pesticides, fertilizers, animal waste seeping in, algae bloom (which is followed by algae decay and deadly gases), low oxygen due to decaying matter. Put a fountain in the pond for aeration and be sure to remove the dead fish

Answer 4

I have had fish (including cats) in my ponds for years and I don't know about any roll over so I think MM is attempting to GUESS himself. Chances are the nitrate or should I say nitrites and ammonia more than likely spiked due to the warming of the water. Many times built up will lead to this in the spring especially if the pond is not very large. It is not typical for natural bottom ponds to go thu this mostly because the natural biofilter is established. Temperatures and oxygen usually will not SPIKE or for no reason just leave the water....especially if the filters and/or water falls are on. Also as the water cools in the evening hours dissolved oxygen increases in the water not decreases. Catfish are known for not only being air suckers but also have an uncanny ability to live out of the water for many hours. Catfish farmers truck cats in tanker trucks filled with fish and less than 300 gallons of water for all of them. And they arrive fine. Oxygen isn't the problem here.

There could also be an outside chance fertalizers or other contaminant could have entered the water. I do not think the fish are poisoned where they are not eatable

Good luck with your pond.

This cuppled

Answer 5

maybe the pH level in your pond has changed for some reason.Has it rained or our there trees around???? Maybe even some type of insects could have fallen in and then died and the fish ate them?????This is very strange I hope some of this info. helped or maybe there is a very sick fish and the others are getting sick form it???Good luck and be careful eating those fish until the problem is solved.

Answer 6

catfish has a good survival rate they can live on mud, they can eat thier own waste and they can also live in low oxygen concetration level of water, the only problem with catfish is if you mix if with a dogfish... even one dogfish can be a disaster!!!...

Answer 7

Did you clean out the excess leaves? Nitrates, are your problem. Spring ponds have a "spring start up" and although catfish are the most hearty fish, even they cannot survive that.

Still needs cleaned not drained just cleaned. Also, if it wasn't deep enough or the ice over was too deep for too many fish, they cannot get low enough to survive. How many gallons is your pond?

Answer 8

i replaced into interior the well-being facility the different day and that i observed a mom suckling her new child baby. It replaced into the main eye-catching factor i've got considered in an prolonged mutually as. it extremely is purely a pity the toddler's head replaced into obscuring my view of the entire breast.

Answer 9

somebody might have dumped something in and poisoned them like chorine. Catfish are tough and hard to kill

Answer 10

I think there is something wrong with your water quality and your feeding!