KARE OF KOI & GOLDFISH


What depth should my pond be to be able to keep fish? There is no magical depth of water in which fish will magically survive. A simple fact however is that a 6” fish will pollute one cubic foot of water much faster than it can pollute two or three cubic feet of water. Fish require total water volume.

Feeding your fish....
Feed your fish well so that they will build up strength for the long, cold winter.

We suggest feeding them twice a day, and as much food as they will eat in 5 minutes. You’ll need to stop feeding the Koi when water temperatures fall below 55 and Comets very soon thereafter - they can’t digest the food at lower temps!

If they seem hungry during “Indian Summer”, you can feed them a little duckweed, cooked spinach, Cheerios, cooked pieces of spaghetti, or a special fall/ winter fish food. Water lettuce, excess oxygenating plants.

When going into winter (October)....

Make sure you remove any old leaves and water hyacinths in autumn. Tree leaves should be skimmed out regularly. Doing this will help reduce the ammonia and gas build up under the ice that cold kill your fish

Your filter should be cleaned and operating at peak efficiency.It is a great idea to run the filter as long as possible. Some people even run a pump all winter to keep an air exchange going. Elevate the pump on a pedestal at least half way to the surface.This will help keep the bottom of the pond at a more natural state of 39 degrees, which is better for your fish. Otherwise you will be chilling the bottom....

Pond-zyme might be used at this time also...

Assuming you have a clean pond and healthy water, you should keep some open surface area to allow toxic gases to escape. This is best achieved by using a pump to aerate the water and using a pond “De-Icer” to help to maintain that bottom layer of warm water. The De-Icer should be unplugged before all the ice is melted to prevent the stress of the fish further with a false Spring.

In the Spring....

Fish come out of the winter “run down” and “stressed out” - easy prey for disease and parasites. Feed carefully as noted above at appropriate water temps, but keep and eye out for sickness. Any infected fish should be removed for a salt bath . Medical intervention should only be taken in isolation tanks and/or with the advice of a Veterinarian.

In nature, fish will survive at low stocking densities “naturally”. When fish grow to the extent that they pollute their winter quarters, nature “thins them out”. In either case, a little care and fore-thought go a long way in maintaining a healthy and enjoyable fish population.


|Home|Plants|Fish|Pond Planning|Pond Construction|Pond Types|Seasonal Hints|Upcoming Events|Facts and Formulas|
|Tub Gardens|FAQ|Downloads|New Ideas|Filtration|Useful Info|Links|Members|About Us|Contact Us|