Snakes in my pond - can they kill my fish?

[tjc1989]

I went out a few days ago, to feed my catfish at my pond, and while I was throwing out some of the catfish food ( the kind that floats on top of the water ) many of the catfish ( about 8 to 12 inches ) had come to the surface to feed. Suddenly one started laying on its side and sort of flopped over to the bank. As I looked at it to see what was wrong, and why it was distressed, I saw a snake, dark colored, under the water near the fish. The snake went deeper and disappeared, and after a few seconds the fish swam back to deeper water and disappeared, too.

I was shocked by this. Not that I was naive enough to believe that snakes couldn't crawl to my pond, but because of the apparent attack on a 10 inch catfish. I would have thought that fish were way too quick and fast for a snake. Plus, I don't believe that snake could have even eaten the fish. Maybe.

Coincidentally, yesterday I saw several posts in the farm and garden section of my local craigslist of folks complaining about snakes in their ponds. Interesting. I'll be keeping a closer eye out for where I step, but do snakes eat or kill your fish? I have seen snakes swimming on the surface before, but never underwater like this one.:confused2:

 

[jay ray]

When I bought my place the pond bank had not been trimmed for awhile and had a huge ring of maidencane and other weeds around it.

It had many corn snakes (belly looks like Indian corn) in it and I killed about forty (lately I've seen corn snakes advertised on CL for $150!). They don't like the pond much with no cover and rarely see one now.

I've seen them eat brim but haven't seen them eat catfish. It is amazing how big a fish they can swallow.

 

[rmasonjr]

Here in MS, I have seen yellow-bellied water snakes eat some of the smaller catfish, but not 10" - he might have bitten off more than he could chew!

 

[MMagis]

They typically eat very small fish and frogs. I wouldn’t worry about it. Besides, you’ll never get rid of them.

 

[rmasonjr]

They typically eat very small fish and frogs. I wouldn稚 worry about it. Besides, you値l never get rid of them.

True - somehow when you think there cant possible be any more....

 

[1greenmachine1]

I have a fish light on my dock and have observed snakes come out at night to get a easy meal. I had always assumed that snakes could not open there mouth under water, but learned differently after researching this.

Apparently snakes can open there mouth under water just like a human can. They have something in the back of the mouth that they can close just like humans do when they are under water. I understand that snakes can hold there breath and can escape under water and sometime hide on the bottom and if stepped on they can bite you under water.

To answer your question, yes snakes eat fish and can swallow anything they can fit inside there jaws.

 

[Wacky]

A baby Anaconda?? Sorry couldn't resist. I don't know of any other snake that swims underwater besides the one mentioned.

 

[herd]

Having grown up spending many days in the local swamps fishing and hunting, I can tell you that I have seen many snakes underwater. I have even been charged by one who was underwater. I was standing out in the water a few feet from the bank and looked over and saw this snake underwater; I ignored him but as I got closer to him while fishing, he apparently got unconfortable with me in his territory so he charged. Moccassins are known to be territorial.

Snakes will eat fish, all that they can swallow. I have had them come up to my string of fish tied to the bank and nibble away. Didn't know they were there until I pulled the string. Years ago, fishing from a very small john boat, the common practice was to throw your string of fish over the side and keep it tied to the boat, the fresh whater would keep the fish fresh longer. I quit doing that when I almost pulled in a snake gnawing on my fish string.

Still, a 10'' cat is pretty big prey for a snake, but there are some really big snakes, especially moccassins, as they have a wide, triangled head with a very wide mouth and body at maturity.

 

[sld]

We used to catch moccasins on limb lines that had decent sized perch on them.

They were madder than heck until a fillet knife removed their head.:laughing:

 

[valley]

moccasins are poisonous?