How to Keep Snakes Out of a Fishpond

If you have an outdoor pond, taking care of the fish requires more than ample food and clean water. You need to take steps to control predators. Aquatic snakes are a problem for some pond owners, as they feed on fish. Land snakes do not prey on fish regularly, but when they stop at your pond for a drink of water, they devour fish if given the opportunity. When a snake makes your pond its home, it's hard to get out, and it aggressively defends its habitat. To ensure a safer pond, you can keep snakes out using the right preventative measures.

Things You'll Need

  • Water hyacinths
  • Duckweed
  • Mesh fence
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place your fishpond away from major natural water sources. If your fishpond is not a permanent backyard installation, moving it farther away from natural water reduces the likelihood of water snakes. Water snakes do not like to be on land for long periods of time, so keeping the fishpond away from their natural habitat helps deter snake migration into your fishpond.

    • 2

      Reduce moist ground cover in between the fishpond and larger bodies of water. For a permanent fishpond installation located near a lake or river, you can dissuade migration by making the pathway uncomfortable for water snakes. Small shrubs, piles of moist leaves and fallen logs are preferred by snakes. Keep the path between each body of water clear of this debris, and you'll limit snake movement.

    • 3

      Grow water hyacinths and duckweed in your pond. These plants provide excellent cover for your fish, giving them hiding places when snakes investigate the pond. With proper plant cover, snakes won't locate any tantalizing fish in your pond, and the snakes move on to the next body of water.

    • 4

      Place a fine mesh fence around the pond. Picket fences have large gaps that allow snakes through, but mesh keeps out migrating water snakes. However, some land snakes are excellent climbers, so a fence won't keep all these slithery pests away.

    • 5

      Introduce predators into the pond area, such as possums, raccoons and skunks. Leaving out small food scraps attracts mammals like opossums. Food scraps also attract small mammals, such as mice. An active mouse population attracts hawks, another predator of snakes. These predators also feed on fish when food supplies are short, so only use predators if you are unable to keep out snakes using other preventative methods. Provide predators with extra food scraps to keep them satisfied and away from your fish once snakes are deterred.