Recent Questions
     Pond Fish

Q. Dear Dr. Pond,

How deep does my pond need to be in order to keep fish over the winter?

A. Most people think that their pond needs to be built below the frost line in order to keep fish over the winter. This is a very common myth, especially in colder climates when in fact there are thousands of thriving two-foot deep ponds all over the country. The water in your pond will only freeze eight inches down, even in Canada, because of the insulating qualities of the earth that surrounds the pond. If you build your pond deeper than two-feet, you now have a "swimming pool" by most municipal standards and you now must erect a safety fence and contend with strict building codes and permits. A deeper pond only means more work with no real added benefit.

Q. Dear Pond Doctor,

I think a raccoon is eating my fish. Every few days, 2 or 3 more are missing. What can I do to prevent this?

A. When you go out to enjoy your pond in the morning and you notice that a few fish have gone missing, it's very tempting to blame raccoons, cats, and other critters.  Before you go setting up traps, consider the following facts.  Most four-legged creatures, including raccoons, generally prefer to stay dry.  Sure, they may hang out on the side of your pond and try to take a swipe at your favorite Koi or Shubunkin but fortunately, most fish will swim to deeper water out of harms way when threatened.

One predator you do need to watch out for is the blue heron because they don't mind wading in for the occasional Koi canapé. The best solution is to set up a decoy or a Scarecrow motion-activated sprinkler along side your pond.  A surprise jet of water does well in warding of these waders and doesn't harm the bird other than bruise their avian ego.  It's a good idea to move the decoy or sprinkler around once in awhile to keep them guessing.

Giving your fish places to hide also helps increase their odds of survival.  Rocks and short sections of PVC pipe can be used to build miniature caves in the walls and ledges of your pond.  Aquatic plants like lily pads work well too, by creating a natural camouflage that has the added benefit of keeping your Koi cool on hot summer days.

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