Question to all the fish folks out on the site
Little background info. I am a nature guy that enjoys, appreciates, and value all life - all the way down to the smallest levels…ok maybe not mosquitos.
– Located in Central Indiana (zone 5 -I believe) – small 50 gallon preformed pond 18inches at its deepest part with a waterfall and veggie filter cycling it. I have 8 fish – they are feeder goldfish and mollies all around an inch in length. Also have a couple of snails from the local pet store that were free. They all have been in their new home for about 2 months now and seem very spry and healthy. I plan to shut down and pull my ponds pump come winter. I haven’t been able to find the fish and snails a home and don’t want to buy an aquarium set up in the house for them. I would like to try and overwinter them in my insulated but cool garage (not heated) and not just watch them freeze in the pond or simply write them off for fertilizer. I don’t want/plan to heat or feed them during this time. I have a large 30 gallon container (no filter) which would house them nicely - They are not skinny fish but by no means have extra weight on them (they look like normal aquarium fish). I did not originally feed them in my pond – they fed on the algae and other natural items in the pond. I did start feeding them the last few weeks to try and get them a little more weight. Just feeding basic flake fish food that was given to me by my brother this summer after his son’s fair fish died. (Probably not the best for weight gain but it was free). I’m guessing the coldest overwinter water in the 30 gallon garage tank would be in a range from the high 30F to mid-40F degree range. From what I have read that is good hibernation temps for the goldfish – (probably too cold for the mollies). Like I stated above - No filter in my plan to store them - which I’m guessing should be fine since they won’t be eating and adding waste. I would plan to do a few small water changes to help with the ammonia build up. I plan to monitor the water temps during the winter and especially during those water changes. I have a small aerator to keep them oxygenated and plan to monitor water temps via a floating thermometer.
So with what I have outlined above do you think this is possible with a good survival rate?
Would fish that small have enough matter build up (size/fat) to make it over 4 months in a hibernation state?
Should I throw the snails in with them? No clue on them or what type they are?
Is light or no light critical to this process?
Anything I would need to do different to help in the cause?
If I’m heading down the right path above- This leads me to a few addtional questions…
My small pond/water feature current water temps vary from low 50’s at night to mid 60’s at day – it cools and heats quickly because of its size plus the large water fall drop and veggie filter. I believe everything I have read states fish need to stop being fed in the low 50’s because they won’t process it when they hibernate causing bacteria build up leading to death.
How should I handle this with such temperature fluctuations?
When should I stop feeding them? Guessing soon but with little algae left in my pond and the fish still being very active I want to give them all the nutrients to help them without causing harming them.
OK …maybe I have lost my man card and going way off into the deep end of the pool to try and save a few non-expensive fish but like I stated above – it seems the older I get the more appreciation I get for the value of life- even the little ones.
Many thanks for any answers in advance and sorry for the long post.
Little background info. I am a nature guy that enjoys, appreciates, and value all life - all the way down to the smallest levels…ok maybe not mosquitos.
– Located in Central Indiana (zone 5 -I believe) – small 50 gallon preformed pond 18inches at its deepest part with a waterfall and veggie filter cycling it. I have 8 fish – they are feeder goldfish and mollies all around an inch in length. Also have a couple of snails from the local pet store that were free. They all have been in their new home for about 2 months now and seem very spry and healthy. I plan to shut down and pull my ponds pump come winter. I haven’t been able to find the fish and snails a home and don’t want to buy an aquarium set up in the house for them. I would like to try and overwinter them in my insulated but cool garage (not heated) and not just watch them freeze in the pond or simply write them off for fertilizer. I don’t want/plan to heat or feed them during this time. I have a large 30 gallon container (no filter) which would house them nicely - They are not skinny fish but by no means have extra weight on them (they look like normal aquarium fish). I did not originally feed them in my pond – they fed on the algae and other natural items in the pond. I did start feeding them the last few weeks to try and get them a little more weight. Just feeding basic flake fish food that was given to me by my brother this summer after his son’s fair fish died. (Probably not the best for weight gain but it was free). I’m guessing the coldest overwinter water in the 30 gallon garage tank would be in a range from the high 30F to mid-40F degree range. From what I have read that is good hibernation temps for the goldfish – (probably too cold for the mollies). Like I stated above - No filter in my plan to store them - which I’m guessing should be fine since they won’t be eating and adding waste. I would plan to do a few small water changes to help with the ammonia build up. I plan to monitor the water temps during the winter and especially during those water changes. I have a small aerator to keep them oxygenated and plan to monitor water temps via a floating thermometer.So with what I have outlined above do you think this is possible with a good survival rate?
Would fish that small have enough matter build up (size/fat) to make it over 4 months in a hibernation state?
Should I throw the snails in with them? No clue on them or what type they are?
Is light or no light critical to this process?
Anything I would need to do different to help in the cause?
If I’m heading down the right path above- This leads me to a few addtional questions…
My small pond/water feature current water temps vary from low 50’s at night to mid 60’s at day – it cools and heats quickly because of its size plus the large water fall drop and veggie filter. I believe everything I have read states fish need to stop being fed in the low 50’s because they won’t process it when they hibernate causing bacteria build up leading to death.
How should I handle this with such temperature fluctuations?
When should I stop feeding them? Guessing soon but with little algae left in my pond and the fish still being very active I want to give them all the nutrients to help them without causing harming them.
OK …maybe I have lost my man card and going way off into the deep end of the pool to try and save a few non-expensive fish but like I stated above – it seems the older I get the more appreciation I get for the value of life- even the little ones
.Many thanks for any answers in advance and sorry for the long post.
