I have a question regarding how many fish my pond can safely handle. Last year I started out with 6 KOI and one goldfish. Towards the end of the summer a friend of mine gave me 3 goldfish due to a leak in his pond. So that brought me up to 10 fish.
Now I have noticed my KOI have had babies. At least 4 as far as I can tell. So now my total is 14!
My pond is approximately 1500 gallons…give or take. I never knew the exact gallons. The deep end is 3 feet. I have a bio filter in the falls and also a skimmer box with four brushes. I used bene bacteria faithfully. No problem as yet with water clarity and it all tests in the “safe zone”.
Should I start looking for a new home for some of these fish or do you think my pond can handle them?
Our pond is about 11 by 16 and we started out with about 8 goldfish. They loved their new home and by late fall we had about 60 new little goldfish to find new homes for. Right now I have about 40 babies to catch and put in the little pond and wait until they get a nice size and farm them out too. We haven't had any problems with the water just too happy
fish.Jodi
Well now I not only have KOI babies, I have Goldfish babies as well. So I will definately be finding a home for these guys. I just don't know how many would be considered a "safe" level of fish for a pond my size.
Hey Goldiehawn,
Have no fear we will help you determine just how many is too many for your pond.
Because of this thread I will be building a very informative page for the website that will answer this question in much more detail but will take a little time.
In the mean time first let me say that, "How many fish can I have in my pond?" is quite possibly on of the most difficult questions to give blanket answers to.
I have seen and read many different angles, suggestions, ideas, and recomendations on stocking levels for ponds. Additionally, I have been face to face with a hundreds of ponds stocked with way too many fish, some thriving and some just simply surviving.
I can make CONSERVATIVE suggestions on stocking levels for your typical backyard pond, but the reality is, everyone pushes the envelope. Let's face it! It's just down right fun buying fish!
I would like to get more information about your situation and actually address your particular pond and it's stocking levels.
I don't want to make this topic more complicated than it needs to be, however there are many things I would like to take into consideration before I can give you specific stocking levels for your fish pond.
Please answer the following questions:
How old is your pond?
Is your pond heavily planted with aquatic plants.
What are the dimensions of your pond? 16 x 21, 11 x 16, 8 x 11?
What are the dimensions of your three foot deep area.
Tell me about your feeding regimen. Once a day? Twice a day? Once a week? Twice a Week?
Do you ever do water changes? If so, How often and how much water?
Is your pond in full sun, part shade, full shade?
Not including the babies, EXACTLY how many goldfish do you have?
Not including babies, EXACTLY how many Koi do you have?
Do you have a stream on your pond? If so, how long is the stream?
I will look forward to your reply. I will explain the reasoning behind each question in my next reply after I get your response.
Happy Pondering,
The Pond Digger
lol! I have a lot of homework to do! I will have to check and get back to you! Thanks!
............
We will all look forward to you completing your assignment.
This litle will assignment will help show the masses just exactly why the question,
How many fish is too many? is such a tricky question, and why a general rule of thumb is not the best answer.
Have a great day!
The Pond Digger
Ok...I have done my homework to the best of my ability...lol!
How old is your pond? I had it enlarged last year so....1 year
Is your pond heavily planted with aquatic plants... I have 3 lily plants a few marginals and lots of hyacynths and lettuce...
What are the dimensions of your pond? ......12' wide x 14' long
What are the dimensions of your three foot deep area....about a 4'x4' area.
Tell me about your feeding regimen. Once a day? Twice a day? Once a week? Twice a Week?.....was twice a day with warm temps..now down to once
Do you ever do water changes? If so, How often and how much water?...no...haven't yet. ...just top it off due to evaporation
Is your pond in full sun, part shade, full shade?...full sun
Not including the babies, EXACTLY how many goldfish do you have? I have 4 gold fish (and babies)
Not including babies, EXACTLY how many Koi do you have?...I now have 8 KOI (and babies)
Do you have a stream on your pond? If so, how long is the stream?...no
So there's my answers teacher!!! lol! Don't know if it matters or not but my pump is 4,500 gph
You're Not done yet, sorry!
I need to know how many inches each fish are TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE! You don't need to catch each one of them out and use a ruler.
You see the difference between 100) 1" Mosquito Fish and 4) 25" Koi is a major difference!
How many fish you can keep in your pond is directly related to how big the fish are, you see.
Your pond might be able to house 10) 10" Koi perfectly but might be in danger if the 10) Koi were 24" each. Here is where it gets tricky because you could add more fish to the pond today, but would be in trouble several years from now. Like I said earlier, most people push the envelope and stock their pond perfectly for TODAY and don't worry about the future.
Back to your pond. I want to use it as an example. If you can deliver the fish measurements to me, then I can show you how to bring this all home. That is why I am not worried about the babies today.
I want to address your main stocking level of fish and then you can make adjustments accordingly.
I'll be back to check on you later.
Peace,
The Pond Digger
Wow! You're strict!!! LOL!
Ok..Three of the four goldfish are about 5" long. I have one "fancy" goldfish that is about 5" also but extremely FAT!
The Koi are as follows...3 of them are 10-12" the remaining 5 are around 6-8".
PS...I have at LEAST 8 babies and one is already 3"!
Boy, I am glad you have to do all the work and we get to just read it and get the answer. Can't wait Jodi