Can you help and identify these fish?

Joined
Jul 27, 2018
Messages
2
Reaction score
1
Country
United States
See the dark fish that were born in my pond about two years ago. I have koi and some shabunkins. I am in Chicago northern suburbs.
20180727_153601.jpg
 
Joined
Jul 14, 2018
Messages
538
Reaction score
486
Location
Huntsville, AL
Hardiness Zone
7B
Country
United States
Sorry, I can not see the fish. I think you may need to turn off your pump so you can get a clear picture. Sounds interesting.
 
Joined
Jun 9, 2018
Messages
481
Reaction score
872
Location
Tennessee
Showcase(s):
1
Hardiness Zone
7a
Country
United States
They are difficult to see in this picture, but the eye placement and thick dorsal fin make them look like bullhead catfish. Do they have any barbs? Is your pond large enough that it receives visits from wild waterfowl?
 

sissy

sissy
Joined
Jan 17, 2011
Messages
33,086
Reaction score
15,702
Location
Axton virginia
Showcase(s):
1
Hardiness Zone
7A
Country
United States
I have black koi and they are still black and very hard to see .But they are a dull black like that
 

sissy

sissy
Joined
Jan 17, 2011
Messages
33,086
Reaction score
15,702
Location
Axton virginia
Showcase(s):
1
Hardiness Zone
7A
Country
United States
could be eggs deposited by a bird .Are they like real sharks mitch ,I have never seen one .I see one of his has barbells ,if you look at the back one you can see them
 
Joined
Jun 11, 2012
Messages
7,046
Reaction score
7,240
Location
Water Valley, Alberta
Showcase(s):
1
Hardiness Zone
2a
Country
Canada
Not real sharks, they are algae eaters like plecostomus but apparently are cold water hardy.
They grow pretty big, up to 3 feet.
I see them for sale on some pond sites in the US.
 

Jhn

Joined
Jul 3, 2017
Messages
2,215
Reaction score
2,261
Location
Maryland
Showcase(s):
1
Hardiness Zone
7b
Country
United States
Agree with sissy they look like black koi to me. Hard to tell though.

Idk if it is a hi fin banded shark and if they are as cold hardy as advertised. I tried them in my pond years ago and they didn’t survive the winter. I am located in zone 7b, so I wouldn’t think they would winter over up in Chicago. But who knows that is just my one time personal experience with them. I never tried them again after that.

The adults are one ugly fish, but juveniles are pretty cool looking.
 
Joined
Jul 14, 2018
Messages
538
Reaction score
486
Location
Huntsville, AL
Hardiness Zone
7B
Country
United States
Based on the big scales and the fins in this last picture I would agree it is a black carp. Maybe a grass carp if it doesn’t have barbels.
 
Joined
Jun 11, 2012
Messages
7,046
Reaction score
7,240
Location
Water Valley, Alberta
Showcase(s):
1
Hardiness Zone
2a
Country
Canada
That last picture does look closer to a carp.
We don’t have a lot of information to go on, including pictures of the possible parents.
If there were only koi and shubunkins in the pond, and the if OP is certain the fish were born in the pond, and if the fish are overwintered outside, not brought inside...
They’re certainly not shubunkins.
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
30,910
Messages
509,916
Members
13,120
Latest member
jennicabailey

Latest Threads

Top