How to Raise Goldfish in a Garden Pond

Water features in the yard have become a popular and tranquil addition to the landscape; and every pond should have its residents, particularly koi goldfish. These beautiful creatures can live for many years if cared for correctly. Raising koi goldfish can be educational and rewarding. To raise goldfish in a pond, follow these steps.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Condition the goldfish for 1 year. Wait through a winter hibernation cycle and then do not feed for several months. When spring arrives, the goldfish will begin breeding. For best breeding results, males should be 3 to 5 years old, and females should be 4 to 6 years old. Make sure the goldfish are healthy to ensure successful breeding.

2. Give them privacy. Create a separate area called a spawn pond. In the spawn pond, the fish will need good water quality, proper water temperature, and a place, or edia, in which to lay their eggs.

3. Populate the pond. Place two males for every female into the spawn pond. A male goldfish will develop white spots on the pectoral fins and on the gill covers when he is looking to breed. The males will chase the females, triggering the female to spawn. The fish usually spawn between dawn and mid-morning unless disturbed.

4. Watch the pond temperature. Ideal spawning temperature is between the upper 60 degrees F to the low 70 degrees F. For incubation period of the eggs, 68 degrees F is best. The temperature for young fry should be 70 to 75 degrees F.

5. Make it comfortable. A media to harbor the developing eggs, as well as the new hatchlings, should be suspended in the water. This media can be made from a variety of constructions: yarn attached to a cork; evergreen branches bundled together; or plastic PVC pipe with frayed rope attached to it. The newly hatched goldfish babies, called fry, cannot swim; the media will help keep them safe. Remove the adults from the spawning pond, as eggs and fry will be eaten by adults if they remain together. Don't feed the fry until 3 to 4 days after they hatch.

6. Keep it clean. Breeding ponds need to maintain good water quality. Good aeration and oxygen content are needed to prompt fish to spawn. After spawning, a thorough water change is needed. To help clean the water, use very fine filter mesh to avoid drawing the small fry into the filter.

7. Thin the herd. One month after hatching, cull out at least half of the young koi goldfish. After an additional 2 to 3 weeks, cull again. As they grow, give the fry higher protein foods.

Tips & Warnings

• As hard as it is to cull the fry, remember it is for the best of the group. See if the culled young ones might be given to a friend, neighbor or a school.

[pr0crastinat0r]

on 11/3/2009 Thanks for the pond info. We would love to have an experience person like you on our website. Please come by if you get a chance. www.OldGardenPond.com