It rained a lot over the last few days and I hadn't checked my skimmers. I just went out and found a bat in mine. I have no idea how that one happened but it was pretty gross.
What's the worst thing you've found in your skimmer baskets?
- Thread starter JuYuHu
- Start date
Wow... I used to live in Austin, and we'd awe at the bats on campus and off Congress Ave... but in a skimmer basket, not so much. Ew
It's been raining in Houston... we're finding clusters of winged ants in our pool... they're dropping in swarms from the sky. I had literally just scooped up most of them, dumped them on the grass, and then turned around and found three more clusters. What I'm hearing is that they migrate this time of year, and esp. after rainstorms, are attracted to pools of water.
A full size uneaten Baby Ruth candy bar! Some neighbor kids must have done it but they should have taken the wrapper with them otherwise I would have been very cautious to approach that.
AquaBoy
0
I use a sock too and routinely feel like Indiana Jones sticking his hand into the bug-infested wall when I'm doing it at night. I'm wondering how it doesn't penetrate the sock using that? Or are you using an "unofficial" sock like a hairnet?
n240sxguy
Well-known member
Found our first mammal... looked like a newborn opposum.
Good riddance. Sorry it was in your pool though.
Several cottonmouths before I learned to keep yard leaves vacuumed religiously. Found several frogs and a mouse before I got a critter ramp. I don't stick my hand in there anymore.
No pics. Was too busy climbing the fence.
No pics. Was too busy climbing the fence.
So we've given the task of cleaning out the skimmer baskets to our daughters, ages 9 and 12, as a way for them to contribute to the maintenance of our new pool.
A how-to-clean-your-skimmer youtube video said that it's also possible to find dead rodents, snakes, etc... so just wondering what other things we should be prepared to find in these baskets??
Worst? dunno. probably several dead rotten nasty frogs. next to that would be 2 dead moles and 1 dead green frog I found today after 3 days of rain
Have found live and released:
Green frogs
Leopard frogs
Tree frogs,
turtle (not sure what, my wife found it, think it was a box turtle that fell in)
Garter snake
Ringneck snake (blue-black with orange ring)
Tarantulas are pretty common, I find them in the pool and skimmers several times a week May thru July. Ssnakes, toads, voles, and an occasional star nosed mole.
I've had guests in my pool at night that have had a tarantula climb up their arm, swimsuit, etc. You'd think the lack of fins or a tail would be an impediment, but it's amazing how quickly a human can accelerate from 0 to 60mph while standing in water once they realize there's an extremely large spider on their upper body.
I've had guests in my pool at night that have had a tarantula climb up their arm, swimsuit, etc. You'd think the lack of fins or a tail would be an impediment, but it's amazing how quickly a human can accelerate from 0 to 60mph while standing in water once they realize there's an extremely large spider on their upper body.
I just ate lunch, and am now about to lose it with that thought in my head! This thread makes me greatful for having an agp. We live in the woods and god only knows what we would find if it was an in ground!
n240sxguy
Well-known member
Best or worst? My kids found this beauty today. My wife said we had to let I?t go. [emoji22]
Seriously the worst job ever!!! Skimmers = buffets for wolf spiders! I use a fish tank net to clear out debris before taking out the skimmer basket and also use it to hook under the skimmer basket handle so I don’t have to reach in there.
Bats, mice, squirrels, frogs, snakes, and turtles.
This beauty is from when we opened this spring. We pushed it out of the skimmer area so we could use the long pole and net.
Bats, mice, squirrels, frogs, snakes, and turtles.
This beauty is from when we opened this spring. We pushed it out of the skimmer area so we could use the long pole and net.