Comet goldfish and large frogs...

Question
Good Morning Robyn,

Is it possible that a large frog can take a small Comet (2-3 inches) and take it in it's mouth, suck the fish, have the fish escape and the fish be left with half of it's body missing scales and tattered tail fins-then the fish slowly die from it's injuries?

The past couple of Comets that I have found, literally look like something has "mouthed" them, but have not been eaten.  They slowly die from their injuries.

Is it possible for a large frog to do this, minus racoons or other predators?  I have seen a couple of very large frogs, possibly Bull Frogs at the pond.  What other predator can be doing this to the Comet's?  As I said, the fish is not being eaten alive, but looks like something HAS gotten it in it's mouth.  Literally looking like it has been sucked and stripped of it's scales.  We have seen no evidence that this happened during the daytime.

This is very puzzling.  We recently bought a "scarecrow" system to squirt racoons or herons if they get near the pond.  We have had a problem with a racoon earlier this month, taking Comets and eating the center out of the fish and the rest of the body just floating.  Since getting the Scarecrow, this has stopped.

Any ideas?  P.S.  No turtles are in the pond.  We are absolutely sure, since we spent hours at the pond (8,500 gallons) waiting to see if any turtles are present.  They obviously have to come up for air and we have observed none. Thankfully.

Very Sincerely,
Heather

Answer
Yes, it's possible.  Sometimes a frog takes a fish that's too big to eat and has to spit it out.  It could also have been injured by other predators like raccoons.  Goldfish are also commonly torn up when spawning but not usually so bad that they die.  Just last week, I found a goldfish next to my pond with a bite wound to the face from the raccoons.  It took a breath so I put it back, and the fish has so far survived.

In addition to bullfrogs and raccoons, the damge could be done by turtles as you mentioned, cats, opossums, skunks, snakes, foxes, etc. but those predators are not problems very often.

If I had to guess, I would say it's our buddy the raccoon.  I would net the pond for now.  I know it's ugly but it will keep most predators out.  I have the deep part of my pond netted due to herons but my shallows are open, and the raccoons take full advantage.  If bullfrogs are to blame, the net won't keep them out if they're already in.  In fact, frogs and dragonflies get caught in my net when it's over the entire pond in the fall.  They also make electric fences for around ponds to deter raccoons if they get used to being squirted by the scarecrow.  You say there are no turtles but if say a snapping turtle wandered in, they can sit on the bottom for hours on end.  I really doubt though that they would mouth and spit out the fish.  The damage you're seeing may not be just from being in some mouth but also from being scraped around and chased.

I hope things improve!

Good luck!

Robyn
fishpondinfo.com