What should i do with my pond fish in the winter??

[baseballfan111]

What should i do with my pond fish in the winter? I live in Minnesota so it can get cold. I know there is heaters for the winter. But should i bring inside. What size of a tank would you recommend? I have a koi small right now, 4 fancy goldfish, and 4 mystery fish either common goldfish i added or baby fancy tails. My mom and i were thinking of a 50 something gallon aquarume.

 

[skiltrip]

I'm just curious, cause I am thinking of building a pond. How big is your pond. (how many gallons & measurements etc.)?

And how big is your Koi? I love koi.

- kip

 

[pondfreak4365]

hi Baseballfan,
A 50 gallon would probably be fine, just be ready for all those water changes. Goldies and koi are poop factories

 

[dolphin]

Hi baseballfan111

Why do you want to bring them in during the winter?

Goldfish and koi can survine down to temperatures close to freezing.

 

[baseballfan111]

I do live in minnesotA and it gets cold i mean like below 30 in december and january so is that still warm enough for a heater? By the way to answer a q from on person my pond is 100 gallons and is loaded with plants. My koi is small about the lenght of the fancys but a little bigger. Ponds are fun tho but if you have a hungry can hanging around i would reconmend geting a net to put of at night for sure and if the fish is leaving the pond mysterysly keep the net on for ever.

 

[Flippin'thing bit me eye]

Buy them a fur coat each

 

[dolphin]

Hi baseballfan111

If you mean below 30F then the fish will be fine. If the pond freezes over, then make a small hole on the water by leaving a small ball on the surface.

You will only need to worry if the pond completely freezes solid.

I once had a gold fish that lived in a water butt. During a cold winter it completely froze, apart from a small area in the middle, about 1ft by 1ft by 6". The fish could be seen, (but only just, through about 2ft of ice) swimming in it's little pocket of water.

 

[LimpyFins]

Dolphin - it does get quite cold here in MN in the winter. Temperatures of -10° F/-23° C are very common in December and January. I don't know anything about keeping a pond, but I would think that a small one would freeze over completely.

 

[baseballfan111]

What about a heater would that work?

 

[ado]

baseballfan, i think what you're referring to is the de-icer available for ponds that prevents the top from freezing allowing oxygen to continue intot he water. i've read in several books that if you make sure use a de-icer your fish should be fine. but dont' take my word for it as i've yet to try it on my own pond. i'm interested to hear what people have to say about this. for the last few years i've brought in my koi during winter i want to leave them out there this year since i've made their winter homes home to new fishes.

 

[baseballfan111]

also does anyone know what to do with all my water plants

 

[pondfreak4365]

What kind of plants? Hardy water lilies can make it through a freeze. I bring my tropical lilies in and put them in one of the aquariums. My climate is very different, but I leave cattails, taro, lizards tail, pennywort and spider lilies in the bog during winter.

 

[baseballfan111]

I have 2 pots of lilly pads and some other stuff i get that info soon.

 

[teknikz]

with them being coldwater fish id have thought that they'd have been ok with the cold water in winter.....it will only freeze ontop....n it stays warm ...well warmer....near the bottom......im not 100% sure tho

Tek