Wintering over pond during move!!

Is it ok to winter the pond over w/o running the pump, because if not I will be moving it real soon! I have a neighbor feeding them everyday, but I do miss them. And I also wondered if it is still ok to move them. I would think it would just make them a little warmer for the time being, until the water cooled back down? What do ya think?

Thanks, Traci S

Hi Traci! Good to see you again.

How deep is your pond? Do you have koi in it? What plants do you have in it? You say you are moving it soon. How soon? Have you had cold weather there yet?

Ahhhh so you ARE alive!

Yes, I have fish in it, and I also have plants that I leave and let winter over in the pond. And Yeah, I'm still alive!

So good to see you posting again! Welcome back!

As far as the fish go as long as they can get below the ice they should be fine but it would be better for them to have a hole in the ice all the time as toxic gas will accumulate under that ice. I use a bubbler for an aquarium and just put the air pump under a bucket next to the pond for the winter. If the water temperature is under 55 degrees carp have a very hard time digesting the food and it can actually make them sick unless it is really low protein food. I use cheerios as my fall and spring food for my koi. As long as your new pond at your new place has time for the water temp to get to the same temp as the pond you get the fish from the fish will be fine. It would be better to move them in the spring/summer but life isn't always easy to get things exactly your way. Cut all your plants back to remove all dead and dying growth and that way they won't be toxic for the fish either.

Good luck and let me know how you are doing.
Hugs, Lani

Thanks so much Lani! I knew I could count on you! If I could wait til spring I would, but I can't. I have to move them now. There isn't any ice, and the temps still get up to 55-60 deg here pretty much everyday. I usually do not feed them at all after this time of year. I will cut all the dead plant matter back and sink all the pots to the bottom. E-mail me! I'd love to talk!

Thanks, Traci