Saturday Part 1 - Friend or Foe?

Well, to say we've been busy would be an understatement.  We are crazy busy, with no immediate end in site.  But we need to make hay while the sun shines.

I'm breaking down the events from this past Saturday into a few different posts.  I hate having a post that is too long and loses your interest.

The guys decided Saturday was just as good as any other Saturday to clean out the pond filters, set up a new fountain, and remove any large debris that lay lurking at the bottom of the pond.  All of a sudden I get a call, "Laura, grab your camera!". 

I was instructed to take a photo of this strange worm like thing that was all over the pond filters, so we could look them up back home and figure out if we have a problem with the pond.  These very tiny, bright red worm like, creepy crawlies, were all over!  We were a bit worried.  Are they a parasite?

 

As it turns out, it's a friend!  These tiny red creatures are actually blood worms.  A sign of a healthy pond.  People actually buy them to put in their ponds to help, and also provide a very high source of protein (52%) to fish. 

They get stuck in pond filters, due to their size and as a means of protection from fish.  They're too big to go through the filter, but the action of the filter;  drawing in water which includes the algae, etc. is the perfect breeding and brooding ground for these little things.  If you'll notice in the photo the longer, green pieces are  actually mini-tubes they use for protection.

http://www.bonniesplants.com/bloodworms.htm

So the pond is healthy!  The new pump is up and running and per BJ who traversed the pond in hip boots, there's a lot of fish in this pond!