contact us

fish

• fish
• plants
• other creatures

Common Goldfish

This popular fish, most often reddish orange, usually grows to about 6 inches long but can get bigger in a large pond. Goldfish can tolerate shallow, somewhat stagnant water and survive water temperatures up to 95 degrees for brief periods. They can overwinter and learn to recognize their feeder.

Comets

These specially bred goldfish have long, deeply forked caudal fins (tails) that can be as long as their bodies. Gold comets can grow more than a foot long. While they need a depth of 30 inches or so for wintering over, they can take even more extreme temperatures than their common cousin, down to almost freezing and up to 104 degrees.

Sarasa comets, which have red-and-white markings on a silver base, do best in water that remains cooler than 70 degrees.

Shubunkin

This goldfish, developed in Japan, also grows to a robust 12 inches or longer with a lonf, flowing tail that is almost plume-like. Its most unusual multicolored body distinguishes the shubunkin, which is available in blue, purple, black, red, and brown. It prefers temperatures over 45 degrees and lower than 70 degrees.

Fantail

Goldfish in this group have wider, more transparent fins and tails. This makes them slower swimmers and more vulnerable to predators, and their ballroom finery can soon be like Cinderella's rags. Only about half as long as the common goldfish, they have roly-poly bodies and are considerably less flexible about extreme temperatures. The Japanese strain is reddish orange, and the calico strain is mottled.

Moor

This is a special type of fantail, easily recognized by its extremely dramatic black color, although the shadowy garb makes it especially difficult to recognize in a pond. Slightly larger at 5-5 inches long, it also has a double caudal fin and may have comical pop eyes. You will need to provide for them to be overwintered indoors.

Koi (Cyprinus carpio)

Koi are members of the carp family. They can grow quickly and maximum length can reach about 3 feet. Koi will reach 18 inches in 3 to 4 years, depending on the pond size, food, and water conditions. The average life span of Koi is 25 to 35 years. Koi can withstand a wide range of temperatures, however sudden changes in temperatures are not good for them. Koi can survive under the ice in extreme cold as long as the water does not freeze solid. Koi will not move around or eat much if the pond water is very cold.

Some individual fish just inexplicably die, but overall,Koi are remarkably hardy and healthy fish; much more so than goldfish or tropical fish. Chlorine or chloramine in pond water and windblown insecticides are very dangerous to Koi. Smaller Koi have a much higher mortality rate than larger Koi and are more susceptible to diseases and changes in the environment. Koi get along well with goldfish or other tropical fish; as long as the other fish aren't aggressive or small enough to eat.

Koi are very rewarding to a pond owner. They are very sociable and love a crowd of friends. They are less apt to be shy when they are in a large group. Koi will eat from your hand, provided you have the patience to earn their trust and friendship. Here are a few helpful hints: Feed them in the same place every time. Drop a small handful of pellets and stay there to observe. The bravest or hungriest will start to eat and the rest will follow. They must see you when they eat. Don't walk away from the pond before they start to eat. Withhold food for a day if they won't eat in front of you. Gradually, the Koi will equate you with food. This usually takes about 3 to 5 days. Tease them closer with small sprinklings of food. Put your hands in the water while they eat. The Koi will learn that food comes from your hand. Start with just a few pellets. The bravest Koi will soon be nudging your hand. It is only a matter of time and all of your fish will swimming, jumping and splashing toward you every time you walk by the pond.

Butterfly Koi

Butterfly Koi are have longer fins and tails. They are costlier than common Koi and hardier as well. If you do not wish to keep your pond running in the winter months Koi can be kept in an aquarium. Aquariums need good filtration and aeration systems. A filter utilizing carbon is recommended for aquariums. Koi are not live bearers but lay thousands of eggs in a single breeding. Koi must be at least 3 to 4 years old and of sufficient size before they breed. Koi require special water conditions and environment for breeding. The eggs and baby Koi should be separated from the adult Koi or they will more than likely be eaten. The baby Koi hatch in about 3 to 7 days depending on the weather. The survival rate for baby Koi is less than 50%. There are several color varieties of Koi with different names for each variety. Koi with more than one color are unique in that there are no two that look exactly alike.

Tench

Once called the doctor fish because it was thought to cure pondmates of disease, the tench fish spends most of its time cleaning waste matter from the bottom of the pond. Look for the gold tench, which is bright enough for you to see it even when it is on the bottom. It usually grows about 18 inches long and is relatively tolerant of both temperature swings and occasional dips in oxygen. Its adapability makes it a good choice for many different parts of the United States.

Other Fish

Golden Orfe (Leuciscus idus)

This slender fish is a good choice if your pond is well oxygenated, not subject to runoff that contains any toxins and at least 40 square feet. Not only is the orfe large (18 inches in length), it's also a schooling fish that needs friends to bring out its natural friskiness. The orfe will help you keep your pond clean by nibbling on floating insects and keeping the mosquito population down. They are fun to watch and come in two other colors: Blue and Silver.