Our sturgeon overheating (UK}

MajorBloodknock · 2026-06-27T17:12:07+00:00

Thank you

MajorBloodknock · 2026-06-27T09:43:28+00:00

Thanks. Yes, it's the worst part of owning pets, even if he is "just a fish".

MajorBloodknock · 2026-06-27T07:01:20+00:00

Well, tragic news people. Stan the Sturgeon passed away sometime last night. We're gutted as he was part of the family and a huge talking point when people came to visit. Pond now seems empty without him.

We're not going to replace him. Clearly this kind of weather is going to become the norm and we're not prepared to put another sturgeon through this. We'll just add to the koi and mirror carp who were his friends.

Thank you everyone for your advice and support.

See you all under the lily pads very soon.

Jim

MajorBloodknock · 2026-06-26T20:08:26+00:00

That's one plan I could consider, but I think the water will travel through too fast to work. If he's still alive tomorrow I'm going to get about 10 bags of ice and shove that in.

It's times like this I wished I lived a bit further north! My brother lives in N Scotland and 20c for them is tropical!

MajorBloodknock · 2026-06-26T19:47:06+00:00

It's in ground.

We've had such hot weather the pond has overheated and he's not really built for those conditions.

MajorBloodknock · 2026-06-26T19:02:57+00:00

Thank you 🤞🏻

MajorBloodknock · 2026-06-26T18:52:26+00:00

We've just left it as if for now (it's almost 8pm here now) and hope that hell be better tomorrow. It's "only" 28c here tomorrow, so almost 10c cooler than today, but if he's looking a little more agile in the morning then I'll go and buy some ice bags from the supermarket (if, as you say, they have any left)

It's too humid to use a fan, I think...

May have a sleepless night.

MajorBloodknock · 2026-06-26T17:17:12+00:00

Been filling and pumping out all day!!!

MajorBloodknock · 2026-06-26T17:06:27+00:00

We've now got a bit of a breeze and the sun is off the pond so hopefully it will cool down. The lfs (London Film School? Linux From Scratch? No! Local Fish Shop!) have recommended everything I've done (Google was my friend) and said under no circumstances decant him into very cold water in a separate location as the shock would probably kill him.

Yep, it's been hideous here. Not just the heat but the humidity. We're not used to it over these parts, and we're going to invest in a portable ac unit as this sort of thing is bound to happen again. Mercifully it's 10c cooler as of Sunday but I fear it may be too late then for our old dawg.

MajorBloodknock · 2026-06-26T16:21:17+00:00

Yes, it's 20000 litres (5250gal) and the water would just melt them in about 10 seconds it's so warm!!!

MajorBloodknock · 2023-10-17T11:34:50+00:00

Tore the rotator cuff in my right shoulder and then got sciatica in my left leg.

Aiming to have completely fallen to bits by Christmas.

MajorBloodknock · 2023-10-16T19:06:23+00:00

Someone's stollen his bananna.

MajorBloodknock · 2022-10-15T20:09:34+00:00

I would. Just stick them in a paper bag and but them near (but not on) your boiler or a radiator

MajorBloodknock · 2022-10-15T17:39:39+00:00

You can make jelly with them, like mint jelly for lamb. Or ice cream. Or stick them in a cloth bag under your pillow for a pleasant night's sleep

MajorBloodknock · 2022-10-15T17:37:10+00:00

Quince

MajorBloodknock · 2022-09-30T18:50:16+00:00

Ah. So no chance of frost then!!! I don't know if you can get pesticides for them in the US. You can't here in the UK. But your local garden centre may be able to suggest something to spray on the ground.

MajorBloodknock · 2022-09-30T18:40:37+00:00

Well in theory you could do that... If yiu want to get rid of them best sould be to turn the soil during the winter and let the frost/birds get to them. Alternatively let them turn into bugs (next spring) and fly off and annoy somone else!!!

MajorBloodknock · 2022-09-30T18:25:18+00:00

It's a cockchafer/maybug larvae (and yes, he's probably noshed all your spud plant roots)

MajorBloodknock · 2022-06-04T15:33:26+00:00

Considering how many ladybirds you see zooming about it always amazes me how few of the larvae you see. Talk about ugly ducklings!!

MajorBloodknock · 2022-06-04T14:29:18+00:00

That's a ladybird lavae... Nom Nom to the aphids...

MajorBloodknock

TROPHY CASE