Why should you get a fish pond?

Fish pond koi

Why a fish pond? Some pond owners are nervous to create a fish pond. Some people have bad memories of ever-replaceable carnival fish or tiny goldfish swimming in circles.

Regardless of your past experiences with fish, when you get a pond, keeping fish is a whole new deal. Fish represent a vital part of your pond’s circle of life.

And when it comes to their life span, with the right treatment and a little TLC, your fish could end up out-living you.

Fish Pond Creatures
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Fish pond

fish pond

Fish are great living creatures in a water garden. They add color and interest to the water garden., but they are so much more. They are interactive and friendly, creating a lively element to your water garden for all to enjoy, especially at feeding time.

Of course, fish are also attractive, interesting, and even personable – much like your pet cat or dog. Their color can enhance the visual impact of a pond. Koi in particular, as a species, grow very large, and their sheer size adds an impressive element to some water features (but not without a significant impact on the balanced ecosystem).

There are numerous types of fish that you could put in your pond. The most popular are koi, goldfish, shubunkins, sarassas, orfes, and even catfish.

Basic Fish Pond Ground Rules

If you are new to water gardening or don’t know that much about maintaining fish, then remember the following basic ground rules.

First, fish need good, clean water. There’s a simple way to evaluate (at a glance) the suitability of your pond. If you wouldn’t let a child wade in the pond, then it’s not good enough for fish, either. The water should be clean-smelling. Clarity of the water right down to the bottom is good and a yellowing of the deeper water is bad. Green water is okay, but it can be troublesome.

Second, fish that are maintained in outdoor ponds can obtain nutrition from a variety of natural sources, such as wayward insects and plants, but they need a prepared (staple) food at least once per week.

If you choose to feed the fish every day, you definitely need a filter, but if you only feed them once or twice per week, the fish will grow slowly and will probably not (as far as waste goes) exceed the environmental carrying capacity of the pond.