What About Fish? (Frequently Asked Questions)
If you have a pond, chances are you have it for the FISH! Fish are beautiful, friendly, and ever-changing. They are a major part of the dynamism of ponds.
We're going to answer a few of our most frequently asked questions about our pond fish in this article.
1. What fish does Cool Ponds sell?
We sell domestic koi and goldfish. Both come in a range of sizes and beautiful colors. Our koi come in a wide range of colors. Some of our favorites are bright yellow and blue varieties. Our goldfish are the red and white Sarassa types, muilt-colored Shubunkinis, and orange Comets.
We buy exclusively from one fish dealer, and we have been very happy with their health and selection of fish over the years.
2. What do you feed fish and how often?
We carry a high-protein fish food that is packed with nutrients to help them grow fast, keep their colors bright, and produce less waste for your water!
We recommend you start by feeding your fish just once a week. If your water stays clear (no green water!), then you can slowly up your feeding frequency. The key is to use a high protein food and feed no more than the fish can eat within a minute or two.
Remember-- you know better than your fish! Fish have no impulse that tells them when they're "full", so they will always "beg" you for food, regardless of circumstances.
You DO NOT have to feed your fish. They find plenty to eat on their own -- trust us!! Feeding is just for your enjoyment only.
For a more in-depth look at what you feed your fish, read our article here.
3. How you protect fish from predators?
Firstly-- it starts with your pond's construction. Your pond should have steep sides so that Great Blue Heron and raccoons can't access the water easily. And little to no shelves; those shelves you do have should be packed with aquatic marginals.
We've had fantastic luck with floating alligator decoys to deter Great Blue Herons. Read more here.
We're experts at pond construction. See our ponds up close to see for yourself at our support center and display gardens.
4. How healthy are the fish sold at Cool Ponds?
We purchase our fish exclusively from a single, bio-secure fish hatchery. When we receive them, we visually inspect each fish for bacterial infections and parasites. Then we quarantine the fish and treat with medication to ensure they are parasite-free.
Once the fish are in our for-sale tanks, we inspect them periodically to ensure they are healthy. We want you to come back to Cool Ponds every spring for a new fish friend, so we will never sell you a fish we wouldn't be happy to put in our ponds!
A word of caution: when you're purchasing new fish for your pond, please purchase from a responsible fish supplier! Ask them about their quarantine practices. If they don't have any quarantine practices in place, don't take the risk for your other fish -- pass on buying fish from that place!
5. What do you do with your fish in the winter?
Fish are cold-blooded, so their metabolism slows tremendously in the winter. They almost look to be "sleeping" in your pond. Just keep a hole in the ice with an aerator or de-icer for them to breath and then leave them be!
Read about cool weather fish food here, which prepares your fish for some long months of slow metabolism.
For info on how to set up your aerator or deicer for winter, read more here.
6. How many fish is too many?
Our rule of thumb is 1" of fish per 10 gallons of water. That's the maximum amount of fish your pond can hold -- so it's best to keep your population well under this limit. Some general tips: don't purchase too many fish in the first place, limit places for your fish to breed (like muck on the pond bottom, overgrown lilies, submerged aquatic plants), and mix in a few koi with your goldfish. Koi are much better at eating their own eggs than goldfish.
What if you already have too many fish? Find out here.
7. How does buying fish from you work?
We have large tanks separating our types and sizes of koi and goldfish. You pick out each individual fish you want to take home, we will net them out of the tanks and place them in a plastic bag with air. They bags will last about 45 minutes, so please do not make any pit stops on the way home! If you're traveling longer than 45 minutes, we have portable battery-powered aerators for rent.
Once home, float the bag with your fish in your pond for about ten minutes until the water acclimates. Then release your new fish friends! Don't worry if they're skittish for awhile. That's normal.
8. How often do you bring in new fish?
We bring in new shipments of fish every 1 - 2 weeks. Please note we only carry fish while the weather outside is cooperative! This means we only stock fish from mid April to August.
Stop by to see our great selection of koi and goldfish! Your new pet is waiting for you.
We're going to answer a few of our most frequently asked questions about our pond fish in this article.
1. What fish does Cool Ponds sell?
We sell domestic koi and goldfish. Both come in a range of sizes and beautiful colors. Our koi come in a wide range of colors. Some of our favorites are bright yellow and blue varieties. Our goldfish are the red and white Sarassa types, muilt-colored Shubunkinis, and orange Comets.
We buy exclusively from one fish dealer, and we have been very happy with their health and selection of fish over the years.
2. What do you feed fish and how often?
We carry a high-protein fish food that is packed with nutrients to help them grow fast, keep their colors bright, and produce less waste for your water!
We recommend you start by feeding your fish just once a week. If your water stays clear (no green water!), then you can slowly up your feeding frequency. The key is to use a high protein food and feed no more than the fish can eat within a minute or two.
Remember-- you know better than your fish! Fish have no impulse that tells them when they're "full", so they will always "beg" you for food, regardless of circumstances.
You DO NOT have to feed your fish. They find plenty to eat on their own -- trust us!! Feeding is just for your enjoyment only.
For a more in-depth look at what you feed your fish, read our article here.
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3. How you protect fish from predators?
Firstly-- it starts with your pond's construction. Your pond should have steep sides so that Great Blue Heron and raccoons can't access the water easily. And little to no shelves; those shelves you do have should be packed with aquatic marginals.
We've had fantastic luck with floating alligator decoys to deter Great Blue Herons. Read more here.
We're experts at pond construction. See our ponds up close to see for yourself at our support center and display gardens.
4. How healthy are the fish sold at Cool Ponds?
We purchase our fish exclusively from a single, bio-secure fish hatchery. When we receive them, we visually inspect each fish for bacterial infections and parasites. Then we quarantine the fish and treat with medication to ensure they are parasite-free.
Once the fish are in our for-sale tanks, we inspect them periodically to ensure they are healthy. We want you to come back to Cool Ponds every spring for a new fish friend, so we will never sell you a fish we wouldn't be happy to put in our ponds!
A word of caution: when you're purchasing new fish for your pond, please purchase from a responsible fish supplier! Ask them about their quarantine practices. If they don't have any quarantine practices in place, don't take the risk for your other fish -- pass on buying fish from that place!
5. What do you do with your fish in the winter?
Fish are cold-blooded, so their metabolism slows tremendously in the winter. They almost look to be "sleeping" in your pond. Just keep a hole in the ice with an aerator or de-icer for them to breath and then leave them be!
Read about cool weather fish food here, which prepares your fish for some long months of slow metabolism.
For info on how to set up your aerator or deicer for winter, read more here.
6. How many fish is too many?
Our rule of thumb is 1" of fish per 10 gallons of water. That's the maximum amount of fish your pond can hold -- so it's best to keep your population well under this limit. Some general tips: don't purchase too many fish in the first place, limit places for your fish to breed (like muck on the pond bottom, overgrown lilies, submerged aquatic plants), and mix in a few koi with your goldfish. Koi are much better at eating their own eggs than goldfish.
What if you already have too many fish? Find out here.
7. How does buying fish from you work?
We have large tanks separating our types and sizes of koi and goldfish. You pick out each individual fish you want to take home, we will net them out of the tanks and place them in a plastic bag with air. They bags will last about 45 minutes, so please do not make any pit stops on the way home! If you're traveling longer than 45 minutes, we have portable battery-powered aerators for rent.
Once home, float the bag with your fish in your pond for about ten minutes until the water acclimates. Then release your new fish friends! Don't worry if they're skittish for awhile. That's normal.
8. How often do you bring in new fish?
We bring in new shipments of fish every 1 - 2 weeks. Please note we only carry fish while the weather outside is cooperative! This means we only stock fish from mid April to August.
Stop by to see our great selection of koi and goldfish! Your new pet is waiting for you.
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