After having ponds for about 20 years, we have at last suceeded in rearing a few baby fish !!
Quite a few..... Mainly common carp, but quite a few shubunkin and goldfish.
I'm finding it difficult to count them - they won't keep still! But I reckon we have about 50 plus!
Pics coming up (one pic shows one of the normal goldfish who is about 5 inches long to compare the sizes)
[Edited on 26/9/11 by stevegough]
but in a catch (separation net) as the young will get eaten by the larger ones,even the parents, save the smallest ones urgently ,have a close look for very small ones and rescue them asap. good luck
I know, but I think they have gone past that stage now - we have had one since about may, the rest have been sprogged in waves from about july -
[pretty sure they are still hatching as there are some barely 5mm long] - as the top end of the pond is full of plants, (and quite a bit of
blanket-weed, too!) they seem to have managed to stay out the way. The main part of the pond is nearly 4 ft deep, and the 16 large fish spend 99% of
there time there.
My main worry is that the pond will be over-stocked......but the cold winter is nearly on us, so we'll have to see if they survive.
Get a net over the top or your local cats will be popping by for Fresh Fish 3 times a day.
Ive always wanted a pond but just never got round to building one..
dont worry about being over stocked ,your local aquarium dealer will usually buy them...
If you have enough plants plenty of young will always escape being eaten. The fry ideally need to get to around one inch to survive winter outdoors. Goldfish etc. tend to spawn once early in the year and then again later. The offspring from a late spawn don't really have the time to get big enough for the winter. You could always net the smallest ones out and raise them indoors.
quote:
Originally posted by skodaman
You could always net the smallest ones out and raise them indoors.