A garden pond not only offers a habitat for classic pond fish such as sticklebacks, moderlies or goldfish. Many aquarium owners ask themselves whether their exotic pets might feel comfortable in the pond.
What do you have to consider when keeping aquarium fish in the pond?
The first thing to clarify is whether the fish all year round or only in summer to be kept in the pond. Exotics that cannot tolerate low temperatures move back into their warm aquarium in autumn. They enjoy the warm season outdoors. In autumn and winter they enrich the aquarium in the living room again, can be observed and cared for.
Fish from cold water aquariums are less sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Many of them need the cold season. The cold stimulates their normal rhythm of life, including the reproductive cycle. To make it easier for the animals to spend the winter, the pond can be covered with special foil or Styrodur.
requirements for the pond
A garden pond is suitable for fish if it deep and big enough is. Ponds that are too shallow or too small have too little water content. In summer it quickly gets too warm for the residents. The pond should have a capacity of at least 400 l have.
If the animals are to stay in the pond over the winter, this must be done at least 80 to 100 cm deep be. This ensures that it does not freeze completely.
The location of the pond should not too sunny be. If the sun shines on the water all day in summer, it heats up too much.
The size of the pond must be adjusted to the size of the fish. Larger species need correspondingly larger ponds.
habitat
In order for the animals to feel comfortable outside, they have to find their usual habitat. Species that like to be among plants need a well-planted pond. A permeable substrate is required for bottoming fish.
socialization in the pond
Platies and Swordtails / Year-round in a pond in a temple complex in Bali
Many fish are extreme in the garden pond prolific. Often the fall population of guppies, swordtails or livebearers is significantly larger than that released in the spring.
Arrangements must be made in good time to accommodate the offspring. Other aquarium friends or pet shops may take the young animals away. Otherwise, a sufficient number of tanks for overwintering must be provided.
Put fish in the garden pond
The fish in question are placed in a bucket with some aquarium water. Now will Add the pond water by the ladle at intervals of 5 to 10 minutes. After 2 to 3 hours, the animals have become accustomed to the pond water and can be released.
Return fish to the aquarium in autumn
Bottom dwellers like catfish burrow into the ground. It’s almost impossible to find them again. It helps if the animals spoiled with additional delicacies from the beginning of September become. Then they are easier to find and catch.
The fish become accustomed to the aquarium water in the same way as when they were released into the pond water in the spring.
Which aquarium fish are suitable for keeping in a pond?
Fish for year-round pond keeping
- killifish
- sunfish
- blue-ribbon danios
- bitterling
- American dogfish
- orfe
- Shubunkin
- some macropod species from China
- European wild shrimp
Fish that can be kept in the pond in summer
Which aquarium fish are NOT suitable for keeping in a pond?
All fish that have special requirements in terms of current, temperature and water quality should remain in their aquarium.
Advantages and disadvantages of keeping ponds
Advantages:
- The animals have more room available for swimming.
- They live outside in a largely natural environment.
- Some species can grow in the pond feed independently.
- The animals are healthier and more vital.
- They are outside often more colorful than in the aquarium.
Disadvantages:
- The animals let themselves difficult to observe at all.
- Many become shy.
- The Summer Guests must be caught in the fall.
- There are many outside natural predators.
- Waterfowl can carry spawn or tiny young fish to other waters by their legs. In this way, exotic species could spread here and displace native species. A simple bird protection net stretched over the pond prevents this.
Many species enjoy staying in the pond in summer. The extra effort for the carer is definitely worth it.