Baby Pond Fish, And Winter!

[Jaymz]

We've had a mass spawning in our pond some two or three months ago, we've counted at least forty young fish, Orfe and Shubunkins, and my worry now is for Winter, what are the odds of them surviving, what can we do to support them, etc etc? We've had the pond years now and all the other fish have dealt with Winter ok, but this is the first time we've had a hatching and we're a little concerned for the little guys!

Many thanks.

 

[tetraqueen]

I think most will be okay ensure it is deep enough for them to go down and that it will never ice over.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

What is the length, width and depth of the pond? These are some of the most important factors. What sorts of fish do you have in the pond and how many and what are their sizes roughly? Is the pond filtered at all?

 

[Jaymz]

The pond has a large boxed gravel filter, the water is very well aerated, due to spraybars, fountains and waterfalls that lead into the main pond (It also runs through a heavily planted small pond with we believe was designed to act as another filter, maybe in a biological sense?) The pond is eleven/twelve feet long, varies between fie and six feet wide, and about three foot deep.

Last count we had thirteen 'main' fish, either two koi or one koi and a tench (The 'Tench' is black, so we barely ever get to see him), both about twelve inches long, we got these fish with the pond when we moved in, so they're at least ten years old, then the rest are Orfe and Shubs, around 4 - 6 inches in length.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

They should be fine throughout the winter as the pond is deep enough for them, although it would be best to rehome some of the fish in the pond and thin out some of the stocking in general in spring as the fish in the pond could spawn again in spring and you don't want to end up with an over-crowded/overstocked pond as your current juvenile fish continue to grow .

 

[black angel]

Most will become food for the adults but you might get a few surviving. Ive got some that are a couple of inches long and its really survival of the fittest.