Brought in the fishies

[Laura]

I noticed that with the cooler weather we've had that the pond has been cooler - it was 15 yesterday, and we've had a warm spell for a couple of days. My stock this year were 2 dojo loaches, a school of gold WCMM and a pair of Norman's lampeye killies. I had brought in the female killie earlier this week when I found her floating. I assumed she was in distress from the cooler temps we had - once I brought her in she started recovering.

I know it's a bit early to take in the fish, but it was a nice day yesterday and I was kid-free. I also wanted to find the male killie so he didn't run into similar trouble.

I found 9 lampeye fry in the pond which I'm excited about. I've kept the pond setup in the event there are other fry or WCMM eggs that can hatch out before the weather gets too cool and I'll check it periodically before a final teardown.

I've also brought in a couple of small water hyacinth to try in the same tank and see how they do overwinter.

What are other people's plans for overwintering, or are you lucky enough to have a big pond that you can overwinter in?

[OldMan]

I will be bringing in my fish a little later in the year. We have had some very cool mornings but during the day it has been getting warm enough to still keep the water temperature over 20. I use a 150 gallon stock tank so fish cannot overwinter in it. This year I have Xenotoca eiseni in it, so I can let it go until the water temperature get quite low compared to what tropicals can tolerate.
I also have some water hyacinth that I will try to overwinter, but have been advised by people in my fish club that it is next to impossible, so we shall see. I figure that it won't cost me anything to try. The plants will be put into a tank that I use to grow other plants, so the lights and ferts will be there whether or not the water hyacinth is in there.

[GaryofMontreal]

I've been bringing in eiseni, and the ones born after I put the adults in are enormous compared to tank raised fish of the same age. I'm kind of shocked. I fed the pond (at a school closed for the summer) once or twice a week at most.
I'll leave the goldfish out for awhile, as late as I can.

I closed down my backyard 30 gallon pond. I had Zoogoneticus tequila in there, and they grew very well. I put out young fish and brought in colourful adults. I could have waited a bit more, but a raccoon kept coming and removing the filtration powerhead every night. He would place it beside the pond, and running it dry was not a good thing.

[CACAdmin]

I could have waited a bit more, but a raccoon kept coming and removing the filtration powerhead every night. He would place it beside the pond, and running it dry was not a good thing.
Maybe he figured the powerhead was filling the pond and if he pulled it out, the pond would dry up and he wouldn't have to get his feet wet to have fish for dinner.:spinny:

[Ursus sapien]

We closed down the tilapia pool today, 1000g lightly heated. 23 tilapia, 4 big comets 1 oranda, 2 25cm oscars and assorted fry.
The small pond, 150g, comes down this week. Long fin white clouds, rosy red minnows and a few brilliant rasboras. It would be so cool if the rasboras spawned:-)
I haven't had a back yard in close to 15 years- it was a blast!

[Pamelajo]

My barrel pond will stay going for a while yet as it is gold fish. I am hoping to move them to the bigger pond soon. I would like to try leaving them out. The lady I got the used pump from says she leaves hers in all year and just uses a de-icer so I might give it a try. I may put some kind of tarp over it too.

[CACAdmin]

I ust have a marisas and a few White Clouds in the pond, so no rush to bring them in.

For those of you figuring out a home for the winter for your smaller pond fish, the start of school could be the perfect solution. Setting up a school tank would provide the perfect winter home for your fish. Come late spring, the fish could be returned to the pond, and the school staff wouln't have to worry about what to do with the fish over the summer holidays.

[Pamelajo]

Next summer I may try some hets in my 30 gallon for a change.

[CACAdmin]

Hets did well for me when I kept them in the pond... I even had a couple of fry. My difficulties arose when I brought them indoors. I gradually lost them. I think maybe the tank temps might have been too warm for them. :Dunno:

[Pamelajo]

Mine is in a shaded spot that gets a little sun so the barrel water is usually cooler. I would have to wait til it is warm enough for them. With the goldfish I could put them out earlier so they actually get their wintering in spring and fall and in the house during our winter months was actually summer for them.

[CACAdmin]

They'll just think they're living south of the equator... Australia maybe...lol.

[Laura]

I've been bringing in eiseni, and the ones born after I put the adults in are enormous compared to tank raised fish of the same age. I'm kind of shocked. I fed the pond (at a school closed for the summer) once or twice a week at most.
I'll leave the goldfish out for awhile, as late as I can.

I closed down my backyard 30 gallon pond. I had Zoogoneticus tequila in there, and they grew very well. I put out young fish and brought in colourful adults. I could have waited a bit more, but a raccoon kept coming and removing the filtration powerhead every night. He would place it beside the pond, and running it dry was not a good thing.
Your racoon and my racoons must be comparing notes. Mine take out the powerhead too and once moved the spitting ornament so that it was emptying the pond!

My fish too looked better after a summer in the pond. The WCMM are a good size and the dojos look fantastic.

[STANKYfish]

We were excited to see our fish in the spring, with no losses. I swear the small pond was froze solid. They got a new pond this year that is 3ft deep in the middle, so they will stay outside for winter once again..