Outdoor Fish Pond Fish

Keeping fish in the aquarium is what most people tend to do. Maintaining an aquarium can be part of a hobby or improve the overall look of your living space. Nowadays, there are fish keepers who intend to keep fish in the backyard ponds. They can offer a great eye catchy setup with the plants, fishes and other aquatic life. This is entirely different from keeping the fish indoors in the aquarium. The fish species are exposed to the weather. Be it summer or winter, they are obviously affected by the changes. So in such cases, we need to look for fishes that can withstand the temperature conditions. Factors like the pond size, water quality, depth, etc. can also affect the fish species which will best flourish in your outdoor pond. So if you are someone planning to keep fish in your outdoor ponds or water gardens, then this article can help you in finding the best species suiting your need.

Planning For Outdoor Fish Pond

There can be two types of outdoor ponds: In ground or above ground. The depth of your pond ecosystem will depend largely on the weather of the area. For example, in order to withstand winters and support aquatic life, the depth should be sufficient. In ground ponds should be dug at least one foot below the frost line so that fish species can survive during winter. And above ground ponds are better off in climates that don’t freeze. Larger and deeper ponds are better for maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Also, it is found that circular ponds have better water circulation.

Choosing The Best Site

Choose the location nearer to your home so that you can enjoy the view closer. And while hunting down the correct site, keep the following points in mind:

• Check for local requirements and make sure if you need a permit
• The location should be such that the pond life receives equal amounts of sunlight and shade so that they can flourish in the healthy way.
• Be cautious as there can be buried cables and power lines in your property.
• The pond may require pump, filter, etc. which may need electrical power. So look out for possible power options and build the outdoor pond near to an electrical outlet.
• Placing ponds in slopes is risky for the pond life as water runoff can wash chemicals into the pond.
• Do not place ponds near trees. This can lead to leaves and other plant parts falling in the pond and clogging the filters.

Choosing The Suitable Outdoor Pond Fish

This is the most important step when you are setting up an outdoor pond with fish and other plants. Like already said, weather of your location greatly influences the fish life the outdoor pond can sustain. Clean water and good maintenance is also important for sustaining the fish life. Let us see some of the best choices of fish which can be kept in outdoor ponds.

Goldfish

There are a variety of goldfishes. And what we are talking about is the common goldfish; the long bodied non fancy variety. They come in a variety of colors: orange, red, yellow, white, etc. Being hardy, they can survive in a variety of weather conditions, even the freezing temperatures. This makes them a good choice for your outdoor pond. They can cohabitate with other fish species. They have a lifespan of about 10 years or more. They can also grow to very large size if kept in larger ponds. They are not so picky when it comes to diet and are omnivores. They are also easy to maintain. So goldfishes can be a good choice if you are planning to set an outdoor pond.

Koi

Koi is another ornamental fish which can survive in outdoor ponds. They are descendants of carp. Koi is a Japanese word which means love/ affection. And the fish is known to be friendly like what the name suggests. They also come in many varieties with different colors. They are hardy like goldfishes and hence can withstand freezing temperatures. However, if the temperature constantly drops below freezing temperatures, then it might get difficult for them. However, they can survive normal winters without trouble. They can also attain larger sizes and hence can survive well in large ponds. The koi carps are omnivores. Quite similar in appearance to goldfish, you can differentiate them with the barbels (slender and fleshy protuberances) present in the lips. They can live for about 15 years or more. They also costly and require good maintenance.

Weather Loach

Weather loaches are one of the most common fish species in the pond. These are coldwater fish which are also known as pond loaches. They are social and peaceful fishes who are friendly towards other fishes as well as humans. Being a predictor of bad weather, they are found to behave crazy before storms and hence the name weather loach. They are bottom lowers and usually subside in the bottom strata of the pond. They also like to burrow in sand. They can also grow larger in size and hence well suited for large ponds. A surprising fact about them is that they can even survive without water for a few hours. They can live for about 10 years or more.

Hi Fin Sharks

Hi Fin Sharks are another great option for outdoor ponds. They can dwell well with goldfish and koi. The term shark is just namesake and they do not have teeth. They like to school and so you can keep about 3-4 of them which will make them the happiest. They have impressive bold markings with symmetrical patterns having contrasting white and black colors. The omnivores fish is a great algae eater. They have good cold weather tolerance. They like to dwell more at the bottom. In large environment they can grow to larger size. They can live for about 10 to 15 years.

Rosy Red Minnows

These small fishes are usually sold as feeder fishes. But they can survive well in outdoor pond ecosystems with fewer predators.  They are inexpensive hardy fish. They are adaptable and can survive in varying weather conditions. They are active even when the pond freezes and you could see them swimming under the ice. However some large fishes can snack quite a few numbers. They are omnivores. They are social species. However, they are often disease ridden and hence it is better not to buy them in huge batches and introduce in your pond. They have a lifespan of 5 years or more.

Fishes like catfish and sturgeons can also survive in outdoor ponds. However, you need to be cautious. It is better not to cohabitate catfishes with other fishes who cannot defend themselves. And sturgeons cannot take down well with warm weather above 18 degrees. Taking proper care of the fish in your outdoor pond is of great importance. Healthy water and good maintenance is the key to good outdoor pond ecosystem.