The Fish Factor: Goldfish

A pond is not complete without fish to occupy it. Whether it's a pond built by man or Mother Nature, most ponds contain fish. Choosing what kind of fish you put in your pond depends on how much you want to spend, the size of the pond, and your personal preferences. Let's look at pricing first. Pricing can range from a few dollars to thousands of dollars, and that can be for just one fish! Let's have a small breakdown on the type of fish you can get for your pond.

There are many types of fish you can put in a pond. Let's first start with goldfish. Goldfish are considered fresh water fish, which means you don't need salt in your pond for them to survive. Now, there are several types of goldfish, with prices that might range. Let's look at a few different types of goldfish:

Comets

You have large red and white comets, which might cost around $10.00. They are around 4" in size. There are also Shubunkin Pond Comets, which can cost around $10.00 and range from 3.5" to 4". Comets are the least expensive fish for ponds, and won't damage your plants. They grow about double their original size (around 6" to 8"). They can be mixed with your koi fish, but there are other fish you can put in their as well. We have catfish and koi in our pond.

Fantails

Fantails are the least aggressive of pond fish, and are considered delicate. This is a good pond fish for beginners, being that they can survive in extremely cold climates. These fish can cost around a few bucks, since they are smaller in size compared to comets. These fish are around 2.5" to 3", and grow no longer than 6".

Black Moors

Black moors, like fantails, are considered pond fish for beginners because of their survival in extremely cold climates. This makes it safe to keep them in an outdoor pond.
Prices can range from $10.00 to $20.00 depending on the size you buy it at. They range from 2" to 4". They won't grow more than 4" though.

Orandas

These fish are very delicate and have a hood that can be subjected to infection from bacteria or fungi that settles within. They are not recommended for beginners, and pricing can range from $5.00 (1.5" to 3"), to $30.00 (4" to 6").

If you have a small sized pond, between 30 to 150 gallons, then goldfish are a safe way to go. If you have a medium (150 to 500 gallons) or large pond (500 to 1,000+ gallons), you might prefer going with koi fish. We'll cover that soon. Our next blog will discuss garden islands. A garden island can do wonders for appearance with your pond. We'll get more in-depth with it next time.

What a pond wants, what a pond needs!

Ponds require a lot of maintenance, and some knowledge. What do you need to maintain your pond? Well, here is a list of things required for keeping your pond clean, clear, and your fish alive:

1. Pond Test Kits - The water in your pond is an essential factor in how your fish will live. If you neglect your duties at pond sanitation, your fish will pay the price. Pond test kits test ph(measuring the acidity of a solution), salt, dissolved oxygen, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. In the beginning, you might have to check these levels frequently (at least once a month). Over time you might not need to do it monthly, but it's still a good habit to do pond water testing.

2. Quarantine Tank - There are arguments on whether this is necessary. Well, if you sent a diseased fish (even if it's an expensive diseased fish) into a small environment with other fish, wouldn't they get sick? I'm sure they would. One diseased fish can wipe out your entire pond population.

3. Filter- A good, high-quality filter goes a long way in keeping water free of harmful chemicals (Nitrite, Nitrate, Ammonia), and gets the green out of your water. You might also need to consider other products to get rid of harmful chemicals, sludge, and algee that will surface in your pond.

4. UV lights - There are many great uv lighting systems for ponds out now. Do a google search (example: Pond UV Lights), and you'll find some good systems. What UV lights do is clump green algae together, so they are large enough to be picked up by filters. This is a great thing to have in any pond, and will help keep your water clean.

5. Aeration - This can be in the form of a waterfall or fountain. Some companies use windmills and more complex systems for bigger ponds. Fish need oxygen, and this will help keep the pond from freezing during the winter time.

6. Skimmer - This cleans out debris (leaves, twigs, etc) that might enter the pond (especially if you live in the country side, where trees are plentiful).

7. Net - This will protect the pond from falling leaves and twigs, but will give predators (raccoons, cats) a run for their money and protect your fish. There are other technologies that help protect fish from predators and winter season. Do some research on new pond and garden technologies.

8. High-Quality Food - Pretty self-explanatory, but make sure the food is specialized for your type of fish (goldfish, koi).

9. Research - Confused about how to install this liner? Can't figure out how to put so & so's filter together? Do some research. There are many internet and companies who specialize in every type of product available for ponds, so do some research and ask.

I hope this has helped. Expect more blogs on various topics concerning fish, gardening, and ponds. Maybe even a frog article, until next time.