1. My young D noticed the Koi as well as the catfish gobbling up small fish. I did not beleive it. But when I noticed the number of small fishlings, it was considerably less. Is it normal for bigger fish to consume the little ones? At least my aquarist says so. According to him about 10% chance is there for this 'phenomenon'.
2. Frogs visit my pond every evening and croak all night, swimming happily. Another friend told me yesterday that these frogs can consume fish. But these amphibians cannot be prevented from entering my pond. Can this be really true?
3. Silt removal from the bottom once or twice a month - is this really necessary and advisable? I found out that my fish were short on oxygen due to blakish water and I'm changing water partially once in about a week from the bottom using a hand pump (discussed in my other thread with drawing) - I chose the bottom because that is where all the dirt settles down. Though it is necessary, I felt the addition of organic dirt (from the overlooking trees) was too much and too quick in a short span of time. Now, I have covered a net over the pond to prevent these little debris (comprising of flowers, leaves and little twigs, even some fruit) from falling into the water.
4. I feed them with fish food (granular type) every morning as my aquarist says. If the fish are starving, how do they behave? Do they get restless and troublesome?
5. Some fish that have died in the past sinks into the bottom, but some have floated. In one of the threads it was told that dead fish always float. Why is this?
6. What do the fish do at night?
7. I have water lily, and two other plants in the water and they are doing well. But the question is, is it sufficient to supply all the oxygen to the fish? I do not use any pump for that purpose.
8. My pond gets all the afternoon sun. Is that blakish water due to the algae that is understood to grow profoundly under full sun and warmth?
Some questions, help!
This is my opinion based on what I've read and experienced myself.
Absolutely, the big fish will eat the smaller-that is nature.
I feel that frogs are your friends. Frogs and toads eat alot of bugs and even though some say that the larger bull frogs etc, can eat small fish-I've had NO problems.
Silt removal from the bottom of the pond is a good thing. How often you want to do it depends on how much gunk you get down there. some type of pump and skimmer would help.
If you have some algea and bugs, fish shouldnt starve even if you do not feed them. Once day (all they consume in 5 minutes or so) should be enough.
IMO, water lilies and plants will NOT supply enough oxygen in the water for your fish. They may supply some O2 in the day but they use it at night. If you are serious about your fish, get some type of water mover in your pond, even an inexpensive small fountain type (you can get a Lowes for under $20) to supply extra O2 to your pond. You can put it in one corner away from some of the lilies.
This is more important than any of the other things you mentioned in my opinion.
Good Luck
charlotte
They don't like some pellets. Mine love the Tetra Pond floating fish sticks and won't eat the pellets. I also have some goldfish in my pond and some shebuncumbs (sp?) as well as the koi. I use a little of the goldfish flakes for an extra treat..
Thanks Charlotte. I will take into account your suggestions.
Another question I missed:
9. Where do the fish lay eggs? Does disturbing the bottom has any ill effect on these?
Hi Dinu: I'll try to answer your questions:
1. Koi definitely will eat small fish. I have koi, comets, and shubunkins and the koi eat their babies every year. They don't get them all cause I started with 6 and now have 14. Don't worry about it. It's just nature.
2. Frogs will eat small fish and small birds. I had a frog a couple years ago that would eat every small bird that came up to the pond for a drink. It was just too gross to see so let's just say froggie went bye bye. . Again, don't worry. It's totally natural.
3. I take my net and clean the bottom about once a month or so. Sometimes more depending on what it looks like. Take what you drag up and put it in your plants or gardens. It's fantastic fertilizer.
4. I feed my fish a small amount twice a day in the summer and once in the morning in the spring and early fall. Once the water goes below 55 I stop feeding completely. Don't worry, they won't starve. I haven't lost a fish yet from starvation. :) Every time I walk up to the pond my fish come to me with their mouths gapping open. We call them the little beggers. But don't let them fool you. Fish eat bugs and algae when they get hungry.
5. When a fish first dies it goes to the bottom. Once their little bodies start to decompose they come to the top. Same as a human body. (sorry if I'm too graphic) If/when you see a dead fish in the water dispose of it immediately. Any dead fish in your pond is not good. In a large body of water the other fish will eat the dead fish which your fish eventually will do. But in a confined area like a garden pond the bacteria from a dead fish isn't good.
6. I have no clue. LOL I'm in bed at night. LOL
7. I sure wish you had some sort of pump. Plants do give off oxygen but generally speaking not enough for your fish. Are your fish spending alot of top at the top of the water? If so they need more oxygen.
8. I'm not sure about your blackish water. It sounds to me like the decomposting of leaves or old fish food. First, make sure your fish eat all the food you give them within 3 to 5 minutes. If they don't you're feeding them too much. And keep the leaves and debris out of the water. Perhaps your fish are into the plants digging making a mess. They "love" to do that.
And your last question, Koi lay their eggs in your plants. That's why they dig. Comets are a member of the goldfish family. They have live birth.
Hope all this helps.
"T" :)
I dont think Goldies have live young. I beleive all carp lay eggs?
Yes- they DO eat their young, as well as anything else they can fit in their mouths,lol.
Some silt is fine in your pond- as good bacteria lives in it. I clean my pond out maybe three times a year with the flush mode. (I run the hose in it til it clears up). There is still plenty of goodies in the bottom so it doesnt go into a major cycle again. It does a "mini cycle". I do this only because I do not have a filter and my plants arent grown in enough to handle the bioload.
Cleaning your pond depends on many factors. Bioload (fish-etc) sun/trees... dying things, size of pond. One of the worst mistakes you can make is having too many fish in too small a place.
Basically if it aint broke dont fix it. If your fish are healthy I'd let well enough alone.
If your fish are dying- you have a problem. I would first check for diseases or parasites. If they dont have those- then I would clean the pond, removing about half of the old water.
Get a test kit of you can afford one- it should have a chart with what is normal for your water. Lack of oxygen is a big problem in alot of ponds. Put your hose up in the air so when it hits the water it causes bubbles and churning water. I'd leave it there for an hour or so.
Some fish sleep at night. They go into a coma like state and just "rest". Carp do this.
If you want to keep some special babies- I'd net them and put them in an aquarium that can handle the bioload until they are big enough to avoid being eaten.. No goldfish bowls please.Hope this helps!
Dinu,
crimsontsavo just gave you correct answers on everything she said. Sledder was giving you great advise until she told you that goldfish have live babies. Goldfish LAY EGGS same as any other carp such as koi.
Koi are large users of oxygen in a pond. Since I don't know how big your pond is I am assuming that you have a small pond which isn't sufficient for koi. If your water is still as you said it is then IMHO it would take at least 150 gallons of water for each koi of smaller size and take much more for larger koi. Goldfish are also messy fish but they don't need as much room and air as koi because they do stay much smaller. If your pond is indeed small I would suggest you sell your koi and just keep the goldfish which would make your pond come into balance easier without adding a pump which I would think in India would not be easy to find or to use.
Plants that live completely under the water will make oxygen for your pond to help your fish.
It is good that you are trying to keep the leaves and fruit out of your pond. I would say that removing the sediment from the bottom with a syphon such as you describe is a great idea and at the same time you can remove at least 1/3 of the water in the pond and replace it with fresh water.
I have raised fish since I was 8 years old. I paid for my college with money from my fish operation and have kept fish all the time since my childhood. I have had various ponds of various sizes for 15 years and now raise koi to sell to local dealers. I also show my koi and belong to the only water garden and koi society in Idaho. I tell you this to let you know I do know what I am talking about much of the time.
Happy Ponding!