Pond Fish: Types, Care, And What You Need To Know
Valuable Information For Fish Owners In Maryland, DC, And Northern Virginia
If you want to learn all about backyard pond fish, this is the guide for you! You can click these links to skip to each section and learn about:
- A few different types of pond fish
- Diseases to be on the lookout for
- The best number of fish for your pond
- Feeding pond fish
- A couple pond additions for fish
- Some different behaviors
- Introducing them to a new pond
- Winter care
Before we dive in, you can “dive” into this ecosystem pond and swim around with some beautiful koi fish:
Don’t have time to read the whole article? Download your free PDF copy of our Guide to Keeping Your Fish Safe, Happy, and Healthy
Types Of Pond Fish
Koi are the most common fish for a reason as they can live long and are great pets.
Unlike common koi, these have longer fins and a slimmer shape, plus they’re more hardy.
These fish can enhance the look of your pond with their many colors and fan-like tail.
They can live in outdoor ponds, and quite well as they are a hardy fish coming in different colors.
These fish can enhance the look of your pond with their many colors and fan-like tail.
They are for the bubble-like “hood” on their head, giving them a cool look even though they’re slow.
You can find out more about them here >>
Pond Fish Diseases
Pond fish get sick like any other animal, but it can be harder to spot. They can hide and be easy to miss, especially if you have more than a few. But if you can identify it, and the cause, it’s more than likely you can treat and cure it. You can deal with most pond fish diseases by isolating the affected fish and treating them with antibiotics.
Along with fungal infections and pop-eye, some common diseases are:
These are white, stringy worms that attach to the outside of fish. They cause red sores and inflammation at the attachment site.
Also known as white spot disease, ich is caused by fish stressing over changes in the water, usually pH or temperature.
This disease causes fading color or decaying tissue around the fins or mouth.
It strikes when immune systems or low, causing the kidneys to retain fluid, causing bloating.
The Best Number Of Fish For Any Pond
Fish are an important component of ecosystem ponds but you don’t want to have too many. This can throw the ecosystem’s balance off and end up harming your fish. There are many aspects to consider, such as location, pond volume, growth, and more.
Here are 3 simple rules to follow for the best amount of pond fish:
Rule 1: a 6” fish per 100 gallons of water
Rule 2: 1′ of fish per 10 gallons of water
Rule 3: 1” of fish per square foot of surface area (24” deep pond)
You can see the rules in action and get more information here >>
Feeding Your Pond Fish
For starters, make sure the food pellets are the appropriate size. This ensures easier and better digestion so your pond fish can be happy and healthy.
Speaking of digestion, the best time to feed your fish is when the temperature is between 50-85°F. Feeding them outside this range isn’t good for them, especially in winter when they don’t digest quickly.
If you have an ecosystem pond, you won’t have to feed them at all! Your fish can feed off the algae, plankton, and other nutrients in the water, meaning that when you feed them it’s for fun.
You can learn more details on feeding your pond fish >>
Pond Protection Additions For Your Fish
You may want to install some add-ons to protect your pond fish and keep them healthy. Having a great blue heron and other predators fishing in your pond isn’t good for your wallet, your backyard pond, or your fish.
Here are a few ways to keep your backyard pond fish safe:
These provide a great hideout from herons, raccoons, and other pond predators. They also give your fish more swimming area.
Netting keeps herons from landing in your pond and prevents other predators from wading in. It’s also great during fall for catching leaves.
You can also use decoy fish for predators to catch, or try and catch, instead. Other options include using a fake heron or dog to ward off any unwanted predators.
This video can tell you more about fish caves and tunnels:
Pond Fish Behavior
Something may be wrong with your fish if they start doing any of these:
1. Not moving
2. Always at the pond bottom
4. More active than normal.
You can learn more about fish behavior >>
Introducing Fish To Your Pond
It would be nice if you could place them right on in, but doing so can injure your pond fish. Any new water may have different chemical makeup and temperature which can cause your fish to stress out. Stressed fish are more likely to get sick or injured.
This is why we have a nice, slow process for introducing your pond fish to their new pond home.
Winter Fish Care
Leave your pond fish alone during the winter. The only thing you need to do is create a hole in the ice, and not by breaking it. Breaking the ice sends shock waves through the water that can harm your fish.
It’s best to use an aerator or a de-icer to create a hole in the ice. These devices are great because they allow harmful gases to escape, keeping your fish safe and healthy during winter freezes.
There’s more to know about pond fish winter care >>
Enjoy Your Pond Fish Friends!
Fish can add life, excitement, and fun to your water feature. You can name them and watch as they develop their own personalities plus you can hand feed them. But, they do more than liven up your pond. Pond fish also filter the water by eating algae and other nutrients living in your pond. As part of the pond ecosystem, fish are like adding a filter with flare.