Earlier this year I build a small pond. Maybe about 800Ltrs. Most of it is just around 8inches deep with a small deep section at one end about 16inches.
I must add that it was not planned for fish. I just wanted a water feature in the garden that might get the odd frog or something like that. Didn't get frogs but dig get Mosquitoes. Millions of them. Water was teaming with larvae.
So, without thinking too far ahead I got 5 little Orfe. Maybe under 2inches. Put them in the pond and they fixed the mosquito problem in under 2 days. All gone. Didn't think such little fish could eat so much so quickly.
Anyway. Winter is now coming and that little pond really is not set up for overwintering fish. Just not deep enough.
So. I got myself an aquarium. 140Ltrs. Ran the new aquarium filter in the pond for a month before doing the move. and then brought the fish in with 100Ltrs of pond water.
That was month ago. Fish seem very happy in their new (temporary) home and they're eating well and water is crystal clear and I test it for amonia etc every two days. No problems so far.
But that's my problem. The only thing they'll eat is shrimp dried or live they don't care. But they won't eat man-made foods like koi pellets, koi sticks etc.
They're now about 4.5 inches in size. I'm concerned that shrimp is high in protein and could, in the longer term, cause problems with ammonia and I would rather they'd take a lower protein food some of the time.
Sorry about the long explanation.
Yes. I've already started digging the new pond for next year so won't need to over winter them indoors again so please don't tell me to do that.
My question is just about food. Do you guys know of any food that they'll eat? Or should I just keep feeding them shrimp (they love it - the fish, not the shrimp)
I must add that it was not planned for fish. I just wanted a water feature in the garden that might get the odd frog or something like that. Didn't get frogs but dig get Mosquitoes. Millions of them. Water was teaming with larvae.
So, without thinking too far ahead I got 5 little Orfe. Maybe under 2inches. Put them in the pond and they fixed the mosquito problem in under 2 days. All gone. Didn't think such little fish could eat so much so quickly.
Anyway. Winter is now coming and that little pond really is not set up for overwintering fish. Just not deep enough.
So. I got myself an aquarium. 140Ltrs. Ran the new aquarium filter in the pond for a month before doing the move. and then brought the fish in with 100Ltrs of pond water.
That was month ago. Fish seem very happy in their new (temporary) home and they're eating well and water is crystal clear and I test it for amonia etc every two days. No problems so far.
But that's my problem. The only thing they'll eat is shrimp dried or live they don't care. But they won't eat man-made foods like koi pellets, koi sticks etc.
They're now about 4.5 inches in size. I'm concerned that shrimp is high in protein and could, in the longer term, cause problems with ammonia and I would rather they'd take a lower protein food some of the time.
Sorry about the long explanation.
Yes. I've already started digging the new pond for next year so won't need to over winter them indoors again so please don't tell me to do that.
My question is just about food. Do you guys know of any food that they'll eat? Or should I just keep feeding them shrimp (they love it - the fish, not the shrimp)