Having a pool in your backyard is a great way to spend time with your family, get some exercise, and maybe even entertain guests. However, sometimes these pools can become a bit overwhelming, as you may begin to notice some things that you did not want to have in your pool. Namely, backswimmers. Backswimmers are fish that are unable to distinguish between the water and the air, which means that they will literally swim backward no matter what. And given that they are not native to North America, this makes them an invasive species, which is a type of pest that you do not want to have hanging around in your pool.
So how can you get rid of backswimmers in your pool? Is there a way to completely eradicate them from your pool, or at least the area surrounding it? This article will give you some great tips on how to do just that so you can enjoy your pool season, and not have to worry about the fish swimming around in it.
Table of Contents
Get A Properly Sized Pool
When backswimmers enter your pool area, it is typically because they have overstayed their welcome in a neighboring pool. And while it is not always the case, getting a properly sized pool is the key to keeping them at bay. There are many varieties of fish that will happily inhabit a pool that is big enough to contain them, but too small to accommodate their aggressive hunting style. The general rule of thumb is that your pool should be at least 18 inches deep and at least 60 inches in diameter.
As for why these dimensions matter, backswimmers are known to be bottom-feeders, which means that they primarily eat small invertebrates that reside near the pool’s bottom. They are also very mobile, so they can quickly change their direction of travel when they hit water, regardless of whether it is above or below them. This makes them very difficult to spot, as they can appear perfectly innocuous as they swim around your pool’s perimeter. The best way to see them is from the air, as they have a distinct golden coloration that will pop against the blue of the pool’s water.
Eradicate The Tank Fish
In addition to properly sizing your pool, you must also get rid of the tank fish. These are tropical fish that have been kept as a community in large tanks, mostly as a result of being bred for their brilliant coloration. While some people keep them as a pet and treat them with the utmost respect, others see them as a threat to the ecosystem, as they prey on smaller fish and other small creatures.
To be clear, you do not have to get rid of all of the tank fish in your pool. What you must do is make sure that none of them are caught in your pool. This is primarily because they prey on the smaller fish and other invertebrates that populate your area. And because you do not want to disrupt the ecosystem in your pool, you must ensure that the tank fish do not grow in number.
Keep Your Pool Clean
Another vital step in keeping backswimmers at bay is keeping your pool clean. This entails getting rid of all solid matter, such as twigs, sticks, leaves, and garbage. Smaller debris, such as sand and pebbles can also clog up the pool’s filter, which would eventually lead to an overfiltration and an overflow into your water source.
To avoid this mishap, you must clean your pool on a regular basis. Depending on how big your pool is, this might mean cleaning it at least once a week with a pool vacuum cleaner. When cleaning it, be sure to remove any algae or other types of plants that may have begun to grow around the pool. Doing this will not only help keep your pool looking healthy and inviting, but it will also make swimming more enjoyable for you and your family.
Maintain A Predatory Bird Feeder
Speaking of unpleasant surprises, a common and totally preventable source of trouble for a lot of people is having songbirds perch in their backyard, eating the fruits and seeds that they are able to snare. These are mostly harmless creatures, but when they eat the berries off of your shrubs and trees, it can cause them to become highly aggressive, which is why you need to keep a hawk or a fox as a pet.
Keeping a bird feeder is one way of attracting these animals to your yard, as they will come to eat from your hand, or at least beg for food from you, if you do not feed them already. This is a great way to ensure that your pool does not become a breeding ground for dangerous invasive species, as well as helping to maintain a healthy environment in your backyard.
Do Not Maintain A Pearl Shell Fish Tank
Another type of invader that is often found in fresh water is the pearl shell fish tank. These are the tanks that were once filled with freshwater pearls and held in place with concrete or cement blocks. While they are incredibly stylish and can look fantastic in your living room or dining room, keeping one in your swimming pool is a recipe for disaster.
Most freshwater pearl fish are not aggressive toward humans, but they will attack other fish and smaller animals in your vicinity. And because these tanks are often made of glass and do not have thick exteriors, they are completely permeable, which means that they allow small fish to swim in and out, as well as large ones. This makes them the ideal location for tiny backswimmers to reside, and over time, the tank will become a breeding ground for these animals, putting you in the uncomfortable situation of having to eradicate them from your pool. Do not maintain a freshwater pearl fish tank.
Rid Of The Backswimmers Using Traditional Asian Medicine
If none of the above strategies seem to be working for you, then you might have to resort to some Asian medicine. The good news is that there are compounds and herbs that you can use to chase away, or, at the very least, diminish the number of backswimmers in your pool. Some options include: aralei, which can be found growing in damp places throughout the tropics and subtropics; cat’s claw, which may be found growing all over the world and is often used to treat arthritis and other inflammatory conditions; chinese angelica, which is often used in traditional Chinese medicine and is known to promote the flow of blood, relieve rheumatism, and lower cholesterol; and Japanese horse chestnut, which can be found growing wild in wooded areas throughout Japan and is known to promote the health of the heart and blood vessels. While these herbs do not guarantee that your pool will be free of backswimmers, they can help you get there sooner than you know it.
The above tips should keep your pool free of most invasions, except for the occasional tropical butterfly. Having a pool in your backyard is an excellent way to improve your health and enjoyment of life, provided that you keep all of the above tips in mind. And if you try them out, you will soon notice an improvement in your pool’s quality, as well as its ability to hold and accommodate numerous swimmers. You can also try out other methods of keeping pests away from your food sources, such as planting flowering plants in the areas surrounding your pool, to attract native insects, which in turn will help to keep predatory animals at bay. And last but not least, don’t forget to clean up after yourself, as much as possible, which will help keep your pool looking as good as new.