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Help - new house has a pond full of fish

6 replies

FirstOfficerDouglasRichardson · 16/07/2015 08:01

We have just bought a house with a pond full of fish (biggish goldfish). The previous owner left food, told us a handful of flake and a handful of pellet but didn't tell us how often... Is it daily?
And the pump and the little fountain thing, does that stay on overnight?

I need to buy a book and learn because I have absolutely no idea how to look after them. Or can anyone recommend a website that may help?

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FirstOfficerDouglasRichardson · 16/07/2015 08:03

Oh and I am now at work so please don't think I'm ignoring any posters who reply.

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EauRouge · 16/07/2015 08:57

This time of year there will be tons of bugs for them to eat so I'd probably feed them every other day.

Is there just a pump that operates a fountain or is there a filter too?

Once the winter starts and the temperature drops below 10C most days then you don't feed them. They won't starve because they go into a semi-hibernation state where all their bodily functions slow down. If you feed them during this time then the food just sits in their gut and they are prone to bacterial infections. You can get wheatgerm food for the winter months if your fish look active and you think they need some food.

This might help you out with the basics.

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FirstOfficerDouglasRichardson · 16/07/2015 14:18

Thank you so much. There is a very fancy pump and filter. The previous owner told us he's just had a big clean out of it all. As soon as I get home I'm going to look at your link.

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TreeSparrow · 16/07/2015 23:30

Excellent advice already. Just remember not to clean the filter in tap water (rinse in a bucket of pond water), dechlorinate any fresh water you top up with, and when feeding only feed as much as your fish will eat in 2min. A handful sounds too much to me unless you have a huge pond or koi carp.

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NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 16/07/2015 23:35

sorry unhelpful comment, but given that goldfish are I believe part of the Carp family, your name amused me OP. Yoyr nane saje doesn't have the best record with fish in ponds. Just don't do a fly by and drop boiled sweets on it!

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FirstOfficerDouglasRichardson · 17/07/2015 05:28

Last night we found a box left by the previous owners full of stuff relating to ponds and fish, including a very fancy book that I'm probably going to have to spend this weekend reading. Thank you so much for the advice.

And naught I promise not to do any low level sweetie bombing fly bys, I'll stick to party bags when it's DS's birthday!