Pond fish often live on foods like floating pond plants, plankton, and the very small roots of the pond plants that float in the water. Pond fish also eat the larvae of insects, worms and other small creatures. A natural food supply is not always available all year round so you need to feed your pond fish other things such as store bought fish food. Pond fish will rush to the top of the pond to feed and it is very enjoyable to watch.

Pond fish are generally bigger in size than the everyday aquarium fish so you need not over feed them, and it is actually recommended to skip one day of feedings. This will keep their digestive systems regulated. Never just throw an over abundance of fish pond food into the water as this can cause an excess of algae to form on top of the pond. An over abundance of food can also bring unwanted visitors such as raccoons as well as other creatures and also it will cause your pond to give off a foul odour. Make sure to give your pond fish a variety of pond food.

Eating the same food everyday is not good for us and it is not good for our pond fish. Before you buy any fish pond food, you need to take into consideration the time of year, temperature of the water, and the age and spawning cycles of your pond fish. We all know one food does not meet all the requirements your pond fish. So be sure to read the food labels carefully.

Try to feed the fish several times a day but in small quantities, just enough that the pond fish will eat, leaving none left floating on the top. Try to feed them at the same time of day and in the same spot if possible. By doing this you will be able to regularly check your pond fish to make sure they are healthy and disease free.

Using An Aerator

An aerator, powered by a small aquarium pump can be used to keep an opening in the ice. It is quite hard to get the placement correct so that it works efficiently. It should be placed about half way to the bottom of the pond. If it is too deep itcan cause the whole pond to be chilled, it is too near the surface it can freeze.

Using a Deicer or Heater

Deicers can be used on all types of ponds including concrete, lined or preformed ponds. They can make a hole in the ice to serve as a breeding all for the fish. Larger deicers can keep the pond completely ice free throughout the winter.

Using a Water Pump

A water pump can help to keep an opening in the ice but needs to be carefully placed in the same way as the aerator. The pump needs to be mounted in the deepest part of the pond, again about half way to the surface. Closer to the surface it will freeze and close to the bottom it will circulate the water too much and make it too cold. You would need to regularly inspect the pump to make sure that it is still working and has not frozen or run dry.

Covering the Pond

You can protect the pond during the winter by covering it, especially during very severe weather. This would also help to choose the amount of electricity and the wear on the heater. the cover needs to allow toxic gases to escape and oxygen to end up on. wooden frame can be built over the pond and then covered with plywood which is then covered with insulating materials. It needs to be sturdy enough to last for the whole winter and to withstand snow accumulation and freezing.

Feeding the Fish

During the winter fish will need very little food as their metabolism slows down so reduce the amount of food that you give them. Only give enough food that they can eat in 15 minutes and if they ignore it you will know that they do not need feeding a few more days.

Conclusion

The essential points to looking after your fish during the winter are to make sure that toxic gases can escape when ice covered pond and that you do not overfeed the fish during this time. If you look after your pond, your fish will come through the winter and be healthy in the Spring.