First time overwintering fish in the pond. We had a cold winter here and I went out regularly to check my "babies". I left the pump running all winter and everything was fine. The pump died just a couple weeks before the final thaw and the pond froze over so I carefully cut a hole in the ice and dropped in an aeration stone and suspended it about 6"down. The fish still seemed okay. Within a few days of the thaw I noticed the smallest goldfish ( about 3/4") were dead. First day 1 fish, next day a few, next day a few more. then the bigger fish and bigger fish and then the biggest. Just 1 - 3" fish survived.( of course he is just a plain orange goldfish and not one of the "pretty" ones!) I'm not a technical type person and I don't know what type or size my pump is. I've never tested my water. I've always relied on the visual for determining if my water is healthy (fish behavior, clarity, algae growth, plant health, dragonflys and insects etc.)
Knowing I might run into trouble, because of never over wintering before, I did bring about a dozen various size fish in for the winter.
Any ideas?????
Knowing I might run into trouble, because of never over wintering before, I did bring about a dozen various size fish in for the winter.
Any ideas?????