How Many Fish Can I Stock?
This to a larger extend depends upon the depth and size of the pond. It also depends upon the quality of the water, having more fish surviving if the water is of good quality. The general rule is having 2,5cm of fish length for every hand-sized area of water surface. If you have too many fish in your pond, the fish will not breed well and there will be greater chances of having the fish die of illnesses. Put differently there will be just few resources to cater for all the fish in the pond. The system will degenerate.
Stocking your pond with fish
You should introduce native fish first into your pond and you have to do this sparingly. The fish might include goldfish, rudd, tench - click here for fish characteristics. Take a look at your pond and see if it will be able to provide all the needs of the species. Remember that there are some fish species that are very aggressive and will eat other fish such as Tench.
Buy fish that not too big for your pond. Fish around 7,5 to 15cm in length are ideal and they cost much less than the big fish. The smaller fish tend to be much easier to transport than the big fish and settle down easily. Fish should be put in a plastic bag with some air when taking them home. The fish need to be placed in a cool position and if they are too large then the fish retailer will have to transport them for you.
Troubleshooting Fish
You can not just live your fish to fend for themselves in the water. You will
need to clean the pond and remove anything that might cause the development
of diseases.
Do not just chuck the fish into the pond. Introduce them into their new home gradually. Unto the plastic bag and sit it in the shallows at the side of the pond. Let the fish out of the plastic after about an hour.
8 Top fish-buying tips
- Buy fish only from a reputable specialist
- Fit each fish tank with a filter pump
- Choose the fish that you want
- Buy fish with clear eyes, an upright top fin and unblemished skin
- Do not buy fish with missing scales, fins that are torn and ugly white spots
- Buy small active fish
- Scoop up the fish with a soft plastic net
- Do not transport the fish in very hot or very cold weather
Feeding fish
You do not have to be bothered about feeding fish in a wild life pond as they will enjoy eating the dragon flies, nymphs and other aquatic insects. The fish will feed on the plant in the pond as well. This is different from an ornamental pond as the pond will be clear. You have to feed the fish yourself otherwise they will starve to death.
The fish will need to eat dried flies, shredded shrimps and ant eggs. The fish need to be fed food at the same time of the day and they should be given too little rather than slightly too much. Do not overfed the fish as well as this will make them sick and will also result in pollution build up.
6 Frequently Asked Fish Questions
I'm sure you have a dozen questions that you would want answered when it comes
to taking care of fish in your water garden. I am going to answer 6
questions that I found to be the most asked by fish lovers.
Don't worry about feeding the fish in winter as they are able to live on their own body fat.
Routine task
You must set up a regular care programme to ensure that the fish pond remains clean and is in perfect working order. Inspect the fish to make sure that they look healthy, Watch out for any strange skin color discolorations. A fish that is not swimming or just floating is a sure sign of trouble. Use a soft net to scoop it out of the pond and lace it in an isolation tank until its well again.
Regularly check the pond to see if it has been overrun by fauna and flora for example too many snails, algae or duckweed. If and when you clean out the pond, be careful that you do not damage any small fish that are hidden away in the mud.
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Important Fish Pond & Water Garden Articles to View... - Learn how to choose a fish pond pump ... pond pumps circulate oxygen enriched water to keep fish and pond filter bacteria alive. Fish pond filters make sure water gardens remain clean and healthy for you and the pond fish. Learn how to choose a UV light for your fish pond... UV sterilizers make sure backyard ponds remain crystal clear and green algae free. Water garden plants help to keep garden ponds in balance by removing nutrients on which pond algae feed. Most fish ponds and water gardens are built from flexible pond liner. If your fish pond ever suffers from blanketweed this is the page to view.
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