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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To buy two goldfish

25 replies

BigWolfLittleWolf · 22/02/2021 17:05

To go in the pond my DH has created?

It is approximately 725 litres, 5 foot length by 3 and a half width which sounds huge but it’s only 45cm deep...

I’m not sure if I’ll be able to persuade DH to take it to 60cm deep as he wants its shallow as we have a 4 year old (the pond is fenced and the back door is only locked do actually, the chance of DS falling in is slim to none)

Goldfish are my favourite fish and I’d really love two calico/Shubunkin ones but I’m unsure if they would survive winter in just 45cm..?

OP posts:

BoJoHoNo · 22/02/2021 17:22

Are you in the North of South? I wouldn't in the North of England but you may be ok if you live somewhere warmer.

Original poster

BigWolfLittleWolf · 22/02/2021 17:25

South East so winters aren’t usually too severe!

OP posts:

Tinty · 22/02/2021 17:29

4 year olds can still drown in a couple of inches of water. Don’t leave him alone in the garden with a pond.

With a shallow pond and goldfish you will have to keep it topped up with water, a couple of inches can easily evaporate in hot weather.

percheron67 · 22/02/2021 17:30

I hope you can have two little souls. My chap is about to move to a bigger tank so that he can have a friend!

BoJoHoNo · 22/02/2021 17:31

Should be ok then. If you can persuade your husband to have a small section (would only need to be a foot square) at 60cm depth then this would be ideal. Gives the fish somewhere to hibernate if there's a severe winter and would allow you more options for planting and creating a better eco system.

Original poster

BigWolfLittleWolf · 22/02/2021 17:41

4 year olds can still drown in a couple of inches of water. Don’t leave him alone in the garden with a pond
Our back door is always locked so he can’t get outside unless we unlock the door for him, the pond will be fenced and he isnt ever unsupervised so the risk is practically nil, DH just feels safer having it shallow enough to only come to DS knees.

OP posts:

Original poster

BigWolfLittleWolf · 22/02/2021 18:23

If you can persuade your husband to have a small section (would only need to be a foot square) at 60cm depth then this would be ideal
Good idea, I’ll see what I can do

OP posts:

speakout · 22/02/2021 18:29

A pond and a 4 year old.

Wouldn't happen on my watch.

One of the things I loved about having a garden with young children is that they could start having a little bot of freedom.
I could cook in the kitchen with the back door open while my 4 year old was within earshot/and easy check.
We fenced off the garden with a high fence and a gate with a strong bolt at the top.
The garden was fairy hazard free.
Gave both me and my kids freedoms.

Original poster

BigWolfLittleWolf · 22/02/2021 18:44

@speakout

A pond and a 4 year old.

Wouldn't happen on my watch.

As I’ve said, the back door is always locked so DS can only get out if we let him out. He is never unsupervised, I wouldn’t let him out unsupervised even if I didn’t have a pond! We are either out there with him or I’m watching from the window. Our living room window looks directly out onto the garden so I have a clear view of him sat on the sofa.

The pond is here to stay, in just questioning if I can put goldfish in or not

OP posts:

TheDoctorDances · 22/02/2021 18:48

Make sure you read up on the nitrogen cycle before you purchase any fish. It can take weeks.

teraculum29 · 22/02/2021 18:52

For the pond I would recommend a filter pump with fountain, so there is always oxygen in the water plus movement of the water will help in colder weather so it wont freeze over.
and obviously you need to put some sort of net on top to protect the fish from jumping out from pond, from cats or other predators

mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork · 22/02/2021 19:15

I have a smaller pond than you and had 4 fish in it at one time. Still have at least 2 (a goldfish and a tench. My goldfish were quite old (moved with me from elsewhere). I don't have a filter but have a couple of "stones" that bubble oxygen through the water all year (linked to small electric pump in my nearby shed). I also have oxygenating plants. Tench are good because they are scavengers and clean up stuff near bottom of pond. In winter, if pond freezes over, you need to gently hold a hot saucepan on the ice to gently melt an ice hole. Don't ever bash the ice to break it because you can stress and concuss the fish. Read up about fish ailments and first aid and how to treat the water for parasites, etc. Watch out for herons!

mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork · 22/02/2021 19:16

Ponds are great. Mine has acquired frogs and newts and has visiting dragonflies and it is really small.

TheWaif · 22/02/2021 19:16

I'm sure it needs to be at least two foot deep for them to survive..

ViperAtTheGatesOfDawn · 22/02/2021 19:21

You'll have more wildlife if you don't have fish, and less maintenance. But if you do, yes, it needs to be deeper and goldfish do produce a lot of waste.

MrsWooster · 22/02/2021 19:27

Could you put a rigid grid over the top for the next few years? You never let dc out unsupervised now, but you may well want to as he gets a bit older...

spanieleyes · 22/02/2021 19:31

Watch out for herons!

Beseigedbykillersquirrels · 22/02/2021 20:01

Personally I think you do need to consider pond safety. It's all very well saying your son can't get out of s locked door, etc, but one day he might. You can get solid pond grids that fix on top of them and it's only for a couple of years. My friend's sister once accidentally rolled into an uncovered pond wearing roller skates when she was nine. She was a capable swimmer but that didn't matter as she was wearing skates. Luckily someone saw her and dragged her out but it wasn't easy. Best to just avoid any and all element of risk. I'm sorry for derailing but uncovered ponds and children really aren't a good idea.

Tal45 · 22/02/2021 20:06

We have a pond and I had no problems with my lo, I was always outside when he was and it was no problem at all.
We have newts, toads and frogs. I've also put in plants to encourage dragon flies and damsel flies x

Original poster

BigWolfLittleWolf · 22/02/2021 20:34

We already have a wildlife pond out the front, it has a thriving newt population but very little else.
Our back garden is thoroughly fenced so I very much doubt much wildlife could get in and I fancy an ornamental pond.

OP posts:

InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream · 22/02/2021 22:01

For fucks sake put a rigid grid over the pond. Never ever ever have an uncovered pond in a garden with a young child, fenced or not. Even if it's only a few inches deep. Doors can be opened. Gates can be opened. No child is ever supervised every single second. Just don't.

Newnameagain111 · 22/02/2021 22:20

Would it dry up in summer?

TheWaif · 23/02/2021 19:34

I'd be more concerned about how much water they'd have when it freezes.

Cherrysoup · 23/02/2021 19:43

You need to oxygenate a shallow pond, particularly when it gets very warm in summer. I’d want a fountain/mini waterfall, some way of getting the water moving. Read up on how many inches of fin you can have per gallon of water and think about how big the fish are likely to grow. Given how mild it is, now is a decent time. You can get something called Fresh Start at any Pond supply shop, which removes the chlorine. Make sure you top up with treated tap water, chlorine burns the fish’s gills.

newyeardelurker · 23/02/2021 19:55

I have a small pond, as a previous poster said you need a deep bit in the middle for cold weather. Plenty of oxygenating plants, been ok so far without a pump. We got four goldfish last year, one died, now have about 30 little ones and 3 big. Plus a frog 🐸.

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