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koi pond backyard water feature

Transferring Fish – Pond to Pond

Transferring Fish 

Whether you are transferring fish from a holding tank back to the pond after a cleanout or from one pond to another, there are several things that need to be considered for the safety of the fish.

  • difference in water temperature
  • difference in pH in water
  • chlorine

Temperature Differences and water makeup

The water temperature difference between where the fish are and where they are going must be 5 degrees or less.  Keep this in mind when doing a mid-summer cleanout in Colorado because the water from the hose is much colder than a pond in the middle of a hot July.  Always add de-chlorinator when putting fish in water from the hose.  Here are some options –

  1. Bag fish and let them float in the the new water for 15 to 30 minutes to allow temperature to even out.  Every few minutes give a splash into the bag of the new water.  This will help the temperature come to equality as well as slowly change the pH in the water they are in. When the water temperature is the same or under 5 degrees you can safely transfer the fish.
  2. Fill up the new pond and let it sit for 2 days to a week.  This will allow the air temperature to bring the pond up to normal temperatures.  It will also allow chlorine to evaporate and give you a change to add beneficial bacteria to the system several times before the fish even get into it, establishing the ecosystem.

Quarantine

When adding new fish to your existing pond population, isolating new fish in a quarantine tank can prevent disaster.  Setting up a holding portable pond allows the fish to be observed for parasites, bacteria infections, or fungus.  It can provide opportunity to feed the new fish medicated fish foods if it is needed without exposing existing fish to anything harmful.  Quarantine can be from 15 days to several weeks.

When quarantining fish make sure the tank is not sitting in the sun!  A small tank can heat up way too quickly.

That being said, if you are not a koi enthusiast you may be wondering if you have to do this.  You might not have a portable pond available with aerators.  Most of our customers inspect new fish and add them right in after safe transferring, but we just want to be clear that there is always a risk when adding new fish.

Sun and Shade for fish

Fish Need Sun and Shade

Did you know that fish need sun AND shade?  They do!

Sunshine Benefits

Exposure to sunshine helps fish keep their vibrant colors, along with protein rich food.  Vitamin D is something people and fish need.  People get it through sun exposure to the skin, while fish get it through eating plants.  So the sunshine indirectly helps fish by providing yummy plants to nibble on.  Vitamin D helps develop more vibrant color and keeps them healthy!

Shade Benefits

While sunshine is great, it can also be too much of a good thing.  Did you know fish can get sunburned if they have nowhere to rest in the shade?  It’s true!  Plants provide shade for fish and help keep the pond water from heating up too much.  Fish caves can be built when the pond is originally built or added later.  Shelters like the Koi Castle can also provide a great place to fish to get out of the sun and hide from predators.  Sometimes, they just need to cool off in the shade!

Balance

Ponds need a good balance of sun and shade.  If your pond doesn’t have partial shade from trees, make sure to add plenty of plants to provide shade, vitamin D and protection from predators.

Feeding fish

The Nitty Gritty on Feeding Fish

There are several things to talk about when it comes to feeding fish.

  • Water temperature
  • Nutrition – Type of food
  • How much to feed

Water Temperature

Fish are cold-blooded.  That means that the temperature of the water affects them greatly!  Their metabolism will slow down or speed up depending on the water temperature.  Ideally, fish thrive when the water is between 68 and 75 degrees.  The water temperature will fluctuate with weather, but remember, just because it is a certain temperature outside, doesn’t mean the water is the same temperature!  Use a thermometer!

Cold Water

When the water is below 50 degrees, fish metabolism slows down.  They are unable to digest food once the water temperature gets lower than 50 degrees.  You will notice that they go to the bottom of the pond and sit still.  The bottom of the pond is warmer than the top of the pond in the winter.

Warm and Hot Water

When the water is warm, above 70 degrees, they benefit from more protein in their food.  It helps them put on weight and muscle.  Protein-rich food will also help them store up for the winter and brings out their vibrant colors.  If the water gets above 90 degrees, you will notice the fish remaining at the bottom of the pond where, in the summer, it is cooler.  Feeding them when it is this hot is not a good idea.

Do what you can to not let the water get above 90 degrees.  If you have to string up some shade cloth during a long heat wave, then do it!  Remember that smaller or more shallow ponds heat up more quickly.  Hot water holds less oxygen than cold water.  If it gets really hot, add an aerator!

Nutrition – Type of Food

Koi will eat plants, bugs and other fish.  All of these types of foods help keep them healthy.

Feeding your fish a few frozen peas or a leaf of lettuce is good for them too!  They will eat blueberries and nibble on zucchini and other vegetables. Cheerios are not something we need to be feeding our fish.  They are junk food for fish.  Cheerios don’t contain the proper protein and fat for fish.  So save the cheerios for the family!

Make sure to store your fish food in an airtight container in a cool place.  Storing fish food in the heat can cause to it go rancid!

How Much to Feed Fish

Feeding fish only what they can consume in 5 minutes helps keep them healthy.  Fish do not have stomachs like we do.  They have a straight digestive tract.  It takes roughly 4 hours for them to digest food.  They will likely keep eating if you feed them past 10 minutes, but it overloads their digestive tract, causing them to poop it out before it is properly digested.   If there is food floating after 5 minutes, simply use a net to pick up the uneaten food out of the water.

Ever wonder how much to feed them?  A tablespoon or a cup?

Stay away from flake food in the pond.  Stick to pellets.  They actually come in sizes based on the size of your fish.  The bigger the fish, the bigger pellet they can eat and the more they can eat.  Unless you have a very big pond with hundreds of fish, think tablespoons rather than cups!  Rather than calculating fish in inches or in pounds and finding 3% of their volume etc……just take into account how many fish you have and how large they are.  Then find out how much they can easily eat in 5 minutes.  Then stop feeding them after that amount.

How Often to Feed the Fish

If your pond has some algae (not way too much), and has plants, feeding them once a week is plenty.  If you really LOVE feeding your fish you can feed them everyday.  However, remember that the more you feed them, the more they poop, and the more they poop the more work the filter has to do.  If the filter can’t keep up, the algae will eat the nutrients of the fish poop to flourish!  One of the first pieces of advice we give to clients with algae problems is to cut back on feeding the fish.

Be sure not to overfeed your fish.  It can cause them to bloat up.  If they can’t digest the great quantity of food, they will get very fat and be susceptible to disease.

koi food

Feeding Pond Fish

Did you know that one of the leading causes of fish disease and illness is actually humans overfeeding their fish?   Yes!  Feeding pond fish quality food at the right frequency and the right amount is important!

How often to feed your fish?

We sometimes forget that fish do not need to have 3 meals a day like people.  In an ecosystem pond, fish will eat algae, nibble on plants and even grab a bug now and then.  Feeding them once a week is fine!  If your pond has no plants and not even a hint of algae, you may want to feed them every few days.  If you are feeding them daily and have duckweed cropping up…..stop feeding them for a couple days and they will eat the duckweed.

How much to feed your fish?

Regardless of how often you feed them, make sure not to feed them more than they can eat in about 5 minutes.  Food left floating or sinking to the bottom leads to algae blooms.  Sometimes fish can be quite the pigs!  Remember that koi may keep eating even if they shouldn’t.  About a size of a quarter is enough for a couple fish.  If your fish seem overly round, they may be getting too much food.  Overeating, just like with people, can lead to health problems.

Size matters

The bigger the fish, the more they can safely eat.  Fish food even comes in smaller pellets for smaller fish.  If your fish are over a foot long they may need a little more food.  (A little means 50% more, not a cup more!)  If they are 2 feet long then they will need a little more than that!

Treats for your fish

Did you know you can offer your fish vegetables and fruits now and then? Yes, they can eat blueberries, peas, watermelon and other soft fruits.  Of course, take care that they are free of pesticides and rinsed off well before offering them to your fish.  At first they may not be used to eating them and may leave them floating for a while.  Make sure to remove any excess fruit (or fish food).

We have heard that some people offer their fish Cheerio’s…. Please don’t feed your fish Cheerio’s!  They have no protein and loads of salt!  Not good for your fish!

Good quality fish food

Feeding fish high-grade quality food is important not only to their health, but for maintaining good water quality.  Fish do not have stomachs.  Food digests as it travels through their gut.  Food higher in protein content will enhance the natural color of the fish. Aquascape’s Premium Staple Fish Food Pellets is a favorite of ours.

A typical nutrient label on fish food will look something like this:

Between 28 and 40% protein is plenty for goldfish and koi.  More than that is not necessary.  Adult koi can’t process quite that much anyway and will poop it out!  Also, the higher the protein content, the less you need to feed your fish.

Fish food should be stored in a cool, dry place.  It can mold if left in heat and humidity. Don’t feed moldy food to your fish!  IF you buy your food in bulk put a small amount in a bag you use regularly and freeze the rest to keep it fresh.

When to stop feeding them

When pond water temperatures reach 50°, fish metabolisms slow down.  When this happens, they are unable to digest food well.  In the fall when outside air temperatures fluctuate here in Colorado from 76° in the day to 25° at night, it’s hard to know when that is.  Purchasing a floating water thermometer that gives you temperature in the house is very helpful.  Another way to be sure you know when to stop feeding your fish is to sign up for Colorado Pond Pros Pond Tips.  We send out reminders when pond temperatures get down to 50° and when they go above it in the spring.

Protein also takes longer to digest, which is why there is particular food to feed fish once the water temperatures reach 55°.  Cold water food has less protein and therefore digests more quickly.  Once the water temperatures get as low as 50° their metabolisms slow down much more.  Food may not digest if fed when the temperature is so low and can cause internal infections.  During the cold months, fish immune systems also slow down, making it much harder for them to fight off infection.

Begging fish

Don’t be fooled by fish that beg for food during the transition times in the fall.  They are accustomed to eating and when they see you walk up they think its dinner time!  While its tempting to go ahead and feed them, remember that if they can’t digest it – they may seem fine now but you may lose them in the winter as the food sits and rots in their bellies!

Want to read more about fish care basics?  Click HERE.

How many fish can I have in my pond

Putting New Fish in a Pond

Follow these guidelines to safely transfer fish:

Floating in bags:
  1. Float the fish in the bag they came in in the pond for 30 minutes.
      • Make sure they are not floating in the sun!  If there is no shade, open the bag up for air. Let the bag float while holding it or anchoring it to the edge of the pond.  If they look stressed or are coming to the top of the bag, they may be short on air.  Open the bag!
  2. Never touch a fish with a dry hand!  It can hurt their scales.
  3. Every few minutes, take a 1/2 cup (or splash it in with your hand) of pond water and add it to the bagged water.  This helps them acclimate slowly and also assists in bringing the water temperature in the bagged water to the temperature of the pond.
      • Remember, a more than 5 degree difference in the water they are in and the water they are going to could kill them, so they must be transferred slowly.  It may take longer than 30 minutes if the temperature difference is greater.
  4. Add Pond Detoxifier Liquid.  A tiny amount to the bag and some to the pond (follow directions on product) eliminates chlorine and calms the fish.  Your fish provider will usually include this with your fish.
  5. Do not use a net, just gently remove the bag from around the fish so they can swim into the water.
  6. Don’t worry if they go to the bottom and don’t move for a while.  They are just startled and need to get used to their new home.
Want more?

Learn more about how pond ecosystems work and other topics HERE.

Dragonflies at my Pond

Count yourself lucky when you see a dragonfly at your pond!  Dragonflies are attracted to healthy ecosystems.  They eat mosquitoes and other insects.  Dragonfly larvae are referred to as nymphs. Larger fish may find the nymphs to be a tasty treat! Dragonflies offer a variety of color and interesting looks.

Backyard Pond

Add a pond to your backyard and enjoy the serenity of nature in your own space.  Water enhances the environment for everyone! Dragonflies hover toward the end of the day….the perfect time to sit back with some lemonade next to the pond!

Racoon in pond

Raccoons in the Pond!

Raccoons can become a pest if they realize you have fish!  These pond predators are brave and clever, and deterring them can be difficult.

Try these things to get rid of a raccoon at your pond:

♦  Put in a fish cave for your fish to hide in

♦  Provide plants like lilies and floating lettuce to help hide the fish

♦  Leave your dog in the backyard – raccoons don’t want to deal with dogs

♦  Use mountain lion urine.  Yep.  Mountain lion urine can be obtained from many garden centers or online.  Don’t worry, they obtain it humanely and give each mountain lion a good pet and love for sharing their urine!  Follow the instructions on the container.  It should deter those pesky raccoons!

Click HERE for More Pond Topics!

Fish Food Storage

fish under lilies

Storing Fish Food – It matters!

Proper storage of fish food is essential to keeping it from going bad or getting mice, cats, mold or weevils in it.  As long as you have a fairly small container, a shelf in the garage might be fine in the spring or fall.  The garage might be too hot for storage in the summer months. 

Does it really matter if its old?

Yes!  If the food is old, it may smell funny or have a fuzz on it.  It may change color or consistency.  Feeding fish spoiled food can cause them illness!  Better for them to wait a few days to be fed while you get some fresh food than to eat something that may hurt them.  If the food is bad you’ll have to throw it out.  In the meantime you could give them a bit of green lettuce or some fruit.  They will enjoy a sliced zucchini, blueberries or watermelon.

If you buy fish food in larger quantities, don’t put the food in the freezer. That can degrade the nutrients in it.  Put it in the fridge for best preservation.

Have other fish related questions? Check out Fish Care Basics for more information.

Do I Need to Do Anything Special For My Fish to Have Babies?

You don’t have to do anything special for your koi and goldfish to have babies.  Fish will spawn and have babies all on their own as long as you have a healthy pond.  Goldfish and koi are egg layers. Goldfish spawn readily while koi take a bit longer.  Usually in the late spring or early summer they produce thousands of eggs.  Most don’t survive to grow up to be baby fish.  

Did you know baby fish are called “Fry”?

The fry will hide in the gravel on the bottom of the pond for a few days and then they will go hide out in the plants.  If you don’t have plants, chances are the fry will become tasty snacks for the adult fish in the pond. If the gravel is too clean, less fry will make it. They grow about an inch per month for the first year.

Can Koi and Goldfish be Kept in the Same Pond?

koi and goldfishKoi and goldfish can be kept in the same pond, but there are a few things to keep in mind.   Koi and goldfish

Both koi and goldfish can be beautiful and they come in a variety of colors.  Koi will breed with the goldfish. Some of the baby fish (fry) will be born brown or grey and may turn orange as they get older.  These fish will not be pure koi, something that doesn’t really matter unless you are really into koi!

Koi have whiskers called “barbels” while goldfish do not.  Sometimes when they are kept together in the same pond, the fry come out brown.  While some of them will turn a color as they get older, some will stay brown.   Both koi and goldfish are a carp species and are originally from Asian descent. 

What about having too many fish?

Fish will procreate like crazy in a healthy pond.  Goldfish will eat koi eggs and fry (baby fish).  While very few will make it, the population of the fish overall will stay at a manageable rate.  Koi often nibble more at floating plants like water hyacinth and floating lettuce.  Wondering how many fish your pond can sustain? Read How Many Fish Can I have? in our Ponds 101.  

What is the Difference Between Goldfish and Koi?

Difference between goldfish and koi
Goldfish or Koi?

The difference between goldfish and koi is not always obvious. Goldfish may often look like koi to the untrained eye, making them perfect for a backyard pond! Goldfish can live for over 25 years and come in a variety of colors and shapes.  In general, Koi have longer, leaner bodies while gold fish have larger fins.  Koi have whiskers, called ‘barbels’.  They use these to dig for food.  They like to root around the bottom of the pond.  Koi also will nibble on the roots of the floating hyacinth and lettuce while goldfish generally don’t. 

Koi also have a flat belly while goldfish are a bit rounder.  Both koi and goldfish have a variety of colors, adding beauty to any pond!  In fancier koi there is a larger variety of color and metallic looks.  There are koi that come in a wide range of prices.  For the real koi collector – thousands of dollars may be invested into each koi! 

Unfortunately, both koi and goldfish can be eaten by predators.  Starting the pond off with goldfish may be smart, until you figure out if it will have predators or not.  There are several ways to deter herons and raccoons.  If you live in the mountains, deterring bear and mountain lion can be a bit more difficult!

Want to learn more about fish care basics?  Click HERE. 

How many fish can I have in my pond

How many Fish Can I Have in my Pond?

How many Fish Can I Hlave in my Pond                                                                            

To understand what fish need to thrive in your pond, keep in mind that koi can grow to 30 inches long!  If the pond supports this growth they will grow and be healthy.  If not, it will cause stress to the fish and they become vulnerable to illnesses and infection.  Essentially, a pond needs roughly 10 gallons of water to live in for each inch of their length.  So – one  6-inch fish needs 60 gallons of water.  However, they actually need more than that because they need to grow. 

If you had a 8 x 10 rounded pond that was about 2 feet deep, it would hold roughly 1,184 gallons of water.  If you had 10 6-inch fish we know that they need at least 600 gallons.  So 1,184 gallons would be plenty and leave them room to grow.  If they made more fish (happy fish often do this!) you might suddenly have 10 6-inch fish and 20 2-inch fish.   As they grow you would need to “cull” your fish.  To cut down on the number of fish, remove some fish to give enough water for fish to be comfortable and grow.  Eventually through culling each year as necessary, your fish could grow to 30 inches (remember they need 300 gallons of water each).  This means that your 8 x 10 pond may have only 3 or 4 fish that are 30 inches long.

You always have the option of culling the larger fish and keeping the small ones if you want more fish.  OR – call us and we can expand your pond!

Overstocking fish creates an imbalance in the pond’s ecosystem and can be detrimental to the health of your fish.  Goldfish can be kept in closer proximity.

This table is a general guide for fish about 7 inches long.  This also assumes good conditions regarding circulation, aeration, filtration, bacteria colonization and good plant life.

How many Fish Can I Have in my Pond?

Pond size (assuming a rounded shape at 2 ft deep) # gold fish or # Koi
5 x 5 7 4
5 x 8 12 7
8 x 10 21 13
10 x 10 25 16
12 x 10 30 19

Want to understand the numbers?  Using the equation to figure out the gallons of your pond, you can figure out how many fish you can have.  (L x W x 80%) x average depth x 7.48 = gallons in a pond.  We use 80%  here, because ponds are not square; they are about 80% of a square.  So if you have a 10 x 8 foot pond with an average depth of 2 feet, it would look like this: 10 x 8 x .80 = 64.   64 x 2 x 7.48= 957.44 gallons.  957.44 divided by 74.8 (assuming a 7 inch koi) = 12.8.   I would round up to 13 (no one wants to see 80% of a fish!)

Want more information on how to keep a pond healthy?  Click HERE for more fish care basics.