Pond fish

Pond fish

If you have a garden and you have space for a water pond, surely you would rather have fish there than in an aquarium. Fish recreate better in a natural environment than under four glass walls. However, ponds need certain requirements so that the fish can live in good conditions.

In this post you will discover the characteristics that the pond needs and how to choose the best fish. Do you want to learn all about it?

Necessary characteristics of the pond

Needs for pond construction

The measurements of the pond outdoors must be adequate to guarantee a good stay for the fish. Just like when we set up a fish tank and look at the size, something similar happens in the pond. For each type of fish that we are going to introduce, it will need more or less space.

In a pond the most important measurement is depth. Because outside we cannot protect them well from temperature changes, depth is essential. In case the cold seasons are tighter, the fish will be able to take shelter at the bottom of the pond, where the temperatures remain more stable. Otherwise, if the depth is small, it will be easier for the temperature to affect them.

The minimum depth you must have an outdoor pond is 80 cm. This allows the fish to be resistant to frost and unexpected drops in temperature.

The next variable to consider is size. Each fish of about 10 cm in length needs 50 liters of water. Therefore, each time the fish grow larger or want to add more fish, you need to know the limitations of the pond.

An important aspect to protect them from the sun and cold is the incorporation of aquatic plants. These plants provide a good shade and create a micro food for them. The best plants are water lilies and water lettuce.

How to choose your fish

Koi fish for ponds

A pond is governed by rules of survival similar to those of a pond. Aquarius. It must be taken into account which species de peces is going to be introduced. The first thing to keep in mind is the size and number de peces we want to have. Depending on the size, you will need a larger or smaller volume of water.

Once we have decided the size and number, we must look at the behavior of each species. There are very territorial and aggressive fish that can present problems with their companions. There are also some that can be eaten other species or their young.

One aspect to take into account are the basic needs of the type of fish that we want to put. For example, if we search tropical fish, the water temperature must be above 20 degrees. If the climate of our region has lower temperatures, the fish will die. Obviously, we cannot have a saltwater pond or, in the case of having one, its care must be extreme.

It is highly advisable to have a reserve aquarium in case any of the fish become ill or are reproducing. In some of these cases, we can isolate the fish in question so that it does not affect the rest or the survival of the offspring.

Examples de peces pond

Best fish for ponds

As mentioned before, it is important that we choose wisely which species de peces We are going to introduce it into our pond. Until recently, the most common thing was to choose koi fish for its longevity and resistance. However, at present, its sale is prohibited so we have to look for other alternatives.

Although these oriental fish are great and famous, there are many other species that are ideal. The most recommended are those whose resistance and adaptation are greater. Conditions in ponds are not as artificial as in aquariums. If a fish is taken out of its habitat and into an aquarium, it will have to adapt. In aquariums the adaptation process is faster since the characteristics of the ecosystem where it lived are recreated with the smallest detail. This does not happen with a pond. Here the conditions are environmental, so it is important to select well.

Then I'm going to give you a list of five very hardy and long-lived fish for ponds. In addition, they have the advantage that they can live well with each other.

Golden barbel (Barbus semifasciolatus)

golden barbel for pond

This fish is quite small. It barely reaches 7 cm. However, it is very long-lived (it is capable of living 7 years). These fish do not withstand low temperatures well, so it is necessary that, in winter, we transfer them to an aquarium at home.

Regarding its behavior, we can say that it is quite peaceful and needs only small communities. If you want to have golden barbel, you will have to buy at least six.

Chub (Leuciscus ides)

Chub fish for pond

This fish is known as Cachuelo. These fish can live up to 20 years if they are well cared for. It does not need other fish to thrive in the tank and we do not have to worry about temperatures. These fish come from the north, so they are already used to the cold.

Corydora pepper (corydora paleatus)

Corydora pepper

Do you remember the corydoras? They are the perfect fish clean bottom. In this case, they will help us keep the pond bottoms clean. It is a little less long-lived than the species seen above, but its life is long enough to become attached to them. They can live up to four years.

So that their well-being is guaranteed, it is best to acquire six specimens so that they live in a small community.

Bream fish (Abramis bellows)

Bream fish in pond

This fish can live up to 17 years and reach sizes up to 80 cm. The downside of this type of fish is that as they get bigger, they become more aggressive and surly.

goldfishCarassius auratus)

Carassius auratus

The well-known golden carp or kite fish, is one of the most common fish in ponds. They are chosen thanks to their color and ease of breeding. Its size is small (they only reach 20 centimeters). They are so long-lived, that specimens with up to a century of life have been registered.

It is a fish with a peaceful behavior that will not cause problems or need other conspecifics to live. In general, given its ease of care, it is advisable to acquire more than one kite fish.

Pond fish feed

feeding de peces pond

Pond fish need food that is easy to digest and as comfortable as possible. If you have fish of different species in the pond, it is important to know in what proportions you have to give them. Each fish needs a certain amount of food to satisfy its needs. The best option is to have fish that have similar needs and that, in turn, do not have behavioral problems.

The best food For fish it usually costs about 8 euros. It has enough to feed a dozen de peces for a time.

Thanks to this post you will be able to have your pond ready and place the species de peces more suitable for it. Enjoy your pond!


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  1.   Juan said

    I have thrown five fish from an outside tank into a pond measuring about 2m X 9m. How long will it take to reproduce?

    I have a canvas on, leaving only half a meter on one side uncovered so that the fish have light there and, at the same time, it does not fill all of mosquitoes. I have thought that as they reproduce I will remove the canvas, so that they have more light, since then they, due to their large number, will eat all the mosquitoes.

    I am doing it right? Any advice?

    Thank you.

  2.   Carlos said

    Good morning

    What do you think about introducing calcareous rocks into a goldfish pond? Can it cause problems with the water and health of the fish?

    Thank you

  3.   Ricardo said

    A pond of 5 meters in diameter, how deep do you need? Here we have the 4 seasons quite marked maximum temperature in summer 35 degrees but always and in winter quite humid the temperature sometimes 2 degrees