Fish for Backyard Pond

[mobe_45]

Here's a calculator to figure how many gallons your pond is. http://www.pondvolumecalculator.com/ Fish need shade when the water is 80 degrees. Keep algae down as it robs the water of oxygen. With no aeration figure 1 inch of fish per gallon. When aerated you can increase that quite a bit. If your fish are at the surface gulping air (except for koi types), they need more aeration, or fewer fish.

 

[enola]

Serenity, where do you live in the south? I am in western SC, water in a small pond gets really warm here. The biggest problem with fish in ponds here is raccoons.

 

[Serenity06]

Serenity, where do you live in the south? I am in western SC, water in a small pond gets really warm here. The biggest problem with fish in ponds here is raccoons.

South Alabama. The pond is between two trees and in front of a grape vine so it gets a lot of shade. We have very few coons here. We have dogs so whatever varments that do come in our yard night usually gets killed - mostly just armadillos and opossums.

 

[Serenity06]

If it never works with fish.. A couple frogs are a great addition (at least for me ) or a pet turtle!

I thought about that, but wouldn't frogs and turtles just get out?

 

[Serenity06]

Here's a calculator to figure how many gallons your pond is. http://www.pondvolumecalculator.com/  Fish need shade when the water is 80 degrees. Keep algae down as it robs the water of oxygen. With no aeration figure 1 inch of fish per gallon. When aerated you can increase that quite a bit. If your fish are at the surface gulping air (except for koi types), they need more aeration, or fewer fish. 

Okay thank you. I will definitely try that.

 

[Majd]

I thought about that, but wouldn't frogs and turtles just get out?

I don't think they will after they get used to the pond and as long as they are not being pushed around by humans ... I would make a small wire fence just a few inches long around the lake for a baby turtle to settle in the pond

 

[Serenity06]

I don't think they will after they get used to the pond and as long as they are not being pushed around by humans ... I would make a small wire fence just a few inches long around the lake for a baby turtle to settle in the pond

Could turtles handle cold weather?

 

[MeepBeep]

Could turtles handle cold weather?

In a small artificial pond, no... Neither can frogs or many other native species... Most native species like frogs and turtles need natural 'banks' along the waters edge that they dig into and/or a deep bed of leaves, mud and other debris at the bottom of a natural body of water below the frost line that they can sink into and avoid freezing... Plastic lined ponds don't provide that...

If you keep frogs and/or turtles and even many fish you will have to bring them inside during the winter months...

 

[enola]

I am in SC. I had a small plastic pool in my front yard that a frog and a native turtle lived in. When fall came, I don't know where they went, but they were back first thing in the spring. For three springs in a row.

 

[Majd]

Cool!