Fish moving slow and barely eating. Should I be worried?

[texmaster]

Hi folks,

I know most of you are in a frozen tundra and it hasn't spared Texas much either but today its back in the 50s so I'll be turning my filtration back on. Came out to see the fish and feed them but they are very slow moving and not eating much at all. We've been in the low teens for the past week and hardly ever going over freezing so is this normal behavior or should I be worried? Took a small video for reference.

And yes they are getting oxygen through a bubbler. (No not a water fountain your cheeseheads!)

 

[j.w]

Yep it's normal for them to slow down in winter weather. Their metabolisms slow way down so they don't need food either. Mine just sit there down low in the water when freezing temps arrive. Your fish look fine!

 

[texmaster]

Thanks Good thing too. Damn weather broke apart some pipes.

 

[brokensword]

also, the water lags the air temp. Ponds are slow to lose heat and once cold, slow to gain it. That's why fish movement is still slow. If you have a thermometer, you can verify this.

 

[addy1]

Best not to feed until the water not air temp is up over 60ish if not higher.

 

[texmaster]

Thanks everybody

Is it unusual to loose a skimmer pump or I guess any pump after a temp freeze? I shut everything down when it got down to 15 degrees at night and now the skimmer pump is a dud. This will be the 3rd pump since 13 and I'm starting to wonder...

 

[Lisak1]

What kind of pump @texmaster ? If it's a submersible pump and it stays under water (not frozen in ice) then the freeze shouldn't bother it.

 

[texmaster]

What kind of pump @texmaster ? If it's a submersible pump and it stays under water (not frozen in ice) then the freeze shouldn't bother it.

Hi Lisa.

Yes it's a submersible pump in the skimmer

 

[Lisak1]

Then the cold weather shouldn't be the issue. What brand pump? Perhaps a better quality pump is in your future?

 

[texmaster]

Then the cold weather shouldn't be the issue. What brand pump? Perhaps a better quality pump is in your future?

Agreed. And I dont have a clue what is good. The old pumps were the same kind. Model Number SKP5000. And of course I can't find it anywhere online.

 

[mrsclem]

If the pump is actually getting ice building on it or drying out that is probably the problem. Is the water in your skimmer freezing?

 

[adavisus]

At 40°f water temp inverts, the cosey warm 40°f water is at the bottom of the pond, where the ground warmth effect can also provide some warming

If they stay ever so still, not stirring the inverted layer, like a blankie,they really really are in no hurry to stir the currents....

 

[texmaster]

If the pump is actually getting ice building on it or drying out that is probably the problem. Is the water in your skimmer freezing?

it was on top. I've pretty much given up on it and ordered a new one.