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Fish Care

Caring For Your Fish

Fish Specifics How to Care for Fish

  • Goldfish and Koi grow in relation to their nutrition, water conditions, and are also affected by their genetics.  Jumbo fish will get large, regardless of tank size.  Goldfish can grow to be 10"- 12" in length.  Koi can get to sizes in excess of 24".
  • Goldish and Koi are able to breed by the time they reach 5"- 6" in length
  • Both Goldfish and Koi thrive in temperate water conditions.  Dormancy occurs during the winter once water temperatures drop below 55°F.  This is also the point in which they should stop being fed.  
  • As long as the pond does not freeze to the bottom and an air hole is provided on the pond's surface, your fish will survive the winter.
  • Clean, healthy water is critical to fish health.  Keep your pond filtered both mechanically and biologically.  

Introducing Fish to Their New Home New Home Fish

There are a few steps you should take before introducing the fish to their new homes. Aquascape sells all of the following products, which you can order through us. Assemble together the following:

  • Pond Thermometer: This is necessary to check your pond's water temperature.  Whenever you are transferring fish from one area to another, check the water temperature of both areas. They should be within a few degrees.  Aquascape sells submersible Pond Thermometers that help to monitor the temperature throughout the year.  
  • Pond Salt: This helps to reduce stress, restore the fish's protective slime coating, and prevent parasites.  
  • Pond Detoxifier: This will remove chlorine, chloramines, and ammonia (which is especially prevalant in new ponds).
  • Beneficial Bacteria: This will do just what the product says.  It will add beneficial bacteria into the environment, which will help in overall filtration and cleanliness.
  • Fish Net: Aquascape's fish nets are designed to safely scoop fish in and out of your pond.  

Upon arriving home, make sure your pond water is dechlorinated.  Float the plastic bag containing your fish on the pond surface (keep the bag closed).  To avoid shock to your fish, float the fish bag on the pond's surface for approximately 15 minutes, add some pond water into the bag, and wait another 15 minutes before releasing them (minimize the amount of water from the bag into pond). This will allow the fish to become acclimated to any temperature and water quality differences in their new home. 

Newly introduced fish may immediately hide due to the stress of travel and new surroundings. Minimize initial feeding and treat your pond as you would normally. 

Fish Feeding Tips Feeding Fish

  • Fish do not have to eat everyday
  • Give your fish what they will eat in 2 - 3 minutes per feeding.
  • Higher temperatures increase the metabolic rate of fish.  Although fish may be fed once a day, they enjoy several feeding times.  Be careful, excess food becomes nutrients in the pond that may readily be used by algae.
  • Stop feeding when water temperature is below 50°F.  Remember to check your pond thermometer. 
  • If you feed from a consistent location, your fish can be conditioned to be rather friendly. 
  • Store fish food in a cool, moisture-free environment in an air-tight container.
  • In early spring or late fall, when temperatures range from 50°F to 65°F, use Premium Cold Water Fish Food Pellets.

Different Types Of Fish Food Fish Food

Aquascape offers a variety of fish food options for you and your pond, all you have to do is choose which one you feel is best for your fish depending on their size.  If you have fish varying in sizes it may be best to use the mixed pellet option to feed them.  Each fish food option offers either a small, medium, or large pellet.  

  • Small Pellet: For fish from 3" (8 cm) and above
  • Medium Pellet: For fish from 7" (18 cm) and above
  • Large Pellet: For fish from 8" (20 cm) and above
  • Mixed Pellet: All size fish from 3" (8 cm) and above

OPTIONS:

  1. Premium Staple Fish Food Pellets: Aquascape Premium Staple Fish Food Pellets are formulated for everyday use.
  2. Premium Cold Water Fish Food Pellets: Aquascape Premium Cold Water Fish Food Pellets can be fed at temperatures as low as 50°F/10°C.
  3. Premium Color Enhancing Fish Food Pellets: Aquascapes Premium Color Enhancing Fish Food Pellets will promote brilliant colors on all pond fish. 
  4. Premium Fish Food Flakes: Ideal for small pond fish to provide premium nutrition.  Made with plankton and shrimp meal.

My Fish Might Be Sick

Diagnosing and Treating Fish Behavior

Sometimes your fish friends can start feeling under the weather.  Luckily, Aquascape made a chart to help you narrow down what could be wrong and how to treat it.  

Fish Sickness Chart

Most Fish Issues Can Be Prevented by Following These Steps 

  • Understand Your Water Quality: The majority of issues are caused by poor water quality. Make sure that the fish population is under control and don't be afraid to do partial water changes often and consistently.  Make sure when adding water, or when doing a partial water change, that you treat the water with Pond Detoxifier to eliminate chlorine/chloramines and chelate heavy metals.  Aerating pond water is also something that can potentially increase water quality dramatically. 
  • Buy Your Fish From a Responsible Retailer: Never buy sick fish and, if possible, quarantine fish for a few days before adding them to your pond.  Always ask how long the retailer has had the fish.  If they have just received them in, ask the retailer to hold the fish for a few days to make sure the fish recovers from stress related transport and new water chemistry. 
  • Keep a Close Eye on Your Fish: If any signs of disease are seen, start using Pond Salt immediately and start feeding with medicated fish food.  If things look like they are getting worse, immediately treat the pond with the appropriate treatment.  The longer you wait to treat the problem, the less chance you have of saving your fish. 
  • Test Your Water: Test it yourself or have your local retailer test it for any signs of a problem.  It is also important to test the water coming directly from your tap as it is increasingly common to have issues including ammonia coming directly from your source water. 
  • Feed Your Fish a High Quality Food: Feeding a high-quality food will ensure that your fish are getting all the vitamins and nutrients they need to maintain proper health.  Be sure to feed often and consistently, but do not over feed. 

Before treating any potential problem with your fish, it is important to make sure that you are using the correct dosage or treatment rate to prevent any reoccurence.  Remember, prevention is the best cure.  The easiest way to avoid disease problems is to maintain optimum water conditions. Feeding a quality diet and adding Beneficial Bacteria on a regular basis will help to maintain a balanced Ecosystem.  Disease problems must be addressed in early stages to be successful. 

Rescue & RelocationKoi Fish

Do Not Dump Your Fish In A Lake

We at Kingdom Landscaping LOVE fish, and we are more than willing to welcome them into our home.  Every year we get numerous phone calls and emails from people who want to get rid of some or all of their fish.  Instead of taking your excess fish to a lake or local body of water, please contact us at 301-416-0033.  

We will NOT purchase your fish, but we will happily pick them up and bring them back to one of our ponds here on the mountain.  And eventually relocate them to another ecosystem pond.