My first forays into ponds

After lamenting the lack of pond advice, here I am to document my research and consequent building and stocking of my pond.

[priveting]

[gengartheghostie]

Fishy fishy fishy fish

[thatfishblog]

Top view of the chubs during a water change.

[cake-cow]

Today the rescue I volunteer at got a phone call about a goldfish. He’d been found by an estate agent in two inches of water. Senshi’s now in quarantine before he joins my pond crew in a few weeks.

… His unofficial name is Hottudoggu.

[cake-cow]

I really meant to put this on @shubipond but here we are

[shubipond]

Hi I was just wondering if you knew about tank sizing for fish. I have one goldfish at the moment but am looking to add more. From what I've heard goldfish need 20-30 gallons and the other fish I was needs 20 too. So does that mean one 20-30 tank is okay or would a 40-50 tank be needed??? Sorry to bother

With goldfish, the bigger the better. The sizes you're talking about are for fancies--you cannot keep a common in that size! 50 would be amazing, but I have heard 29g for the first fish and and extra 10 per extra fish. An extra 20 is far superior and 50g would be a+++Ideally with these fatties, you want the most ground space possible. They're grazers, and will spend their days trying to find little bits of food left in the substrate.

[seatrench]

Koi Pond

(source)

[hella-free-space]

POND PUPPIES

[shubipond]

Pond clean day! Featuring Bento, Chanko, 3 unnamed fish (though I'm mulling over ideas) and Wasabi who is Sick Of My Shit Chanko has a little issue with his back and I think it's because the pond has been very low in level so the pond rings have been at weird angles

[shubipond]

Hey! I’ve never really had a pet before, would a goldfish be a good choice if I want a companion but have to spend most of my day at work? I can’t find an estimate for how many hours maintenance/feeding per week I would be spending on a fish, and I don’t want to end up neglecting it. Thanks!

Honestly, I’m not totally sure I’m the right person to ask! Most important are space requirements. Ideally, fancy goldfish- more like fantails and ryukins and other cuties than my shubunkins and tamasaba- need 29g for one fish, plus an additional 10 at MINIMUM for each future fish. That’s a lot of space to dedicate to two or three fish. 

Feeding? Takes seconds. Maintenance, however, can be a chore. I’d dedicate at least an hour weekly to water changes, once the tank is settled. When you’ve initially added the fish you have to keep an eye on your ammonia levels. Ideally you would also want to fish-out cycle with ammonia to ensure that the goldfish wont be exposed to levels that can kill or, you know, just hurt them.

Look I love goldfish but I am SO GLAD I have a pond. My pond was left to establish for nearly a year before I got fish!

You spend a lot of money on fish. You become an expert in water chemistry and the nitrogen cycle. There are very few vets for fish, so you spend a lot of time looking up every possible ailment ever. There are always more bits of equipment, new foods, and all because having a happy lil dude is the best.

In summation:

I love goldfish. But they may not be right for you. You do have to monitor them a lot, and there’s a lot of work (and money!) that goes into the initial set up.

[kai-ni]

Surprise 4th of July sale :) My ‘Mystery boxes’ are 10% until July 4th!

I have a Reptile Mystery Box and a Fishkeeping Mystery box!

Keep in mind if you leave a note with what animals you keep, I can tailor the boxes to your animal! I have a lot of brand new and handmade supplies for everything from bearded dragons to cresties, to hermit crabs, and fish. It’s all good stuff, only what I would use for my own animals!

The ceramic items are handmade by me. I’d love to see some animals using them!

Etsy Store

[kai-ni]

Last day to take advantage of the sale!

I still have lots of great tropical reptile stuff (for cresties, other geckos, or amphibians) and I’m just DROWNING in great aquarium stuff, seriously. Those boxes’ll be packed.

[shubipond]

What do you mean tamasabas exist and are good pond fish What do you mean I could have had chunky bois all along

[vaapadataru]

Wakin and jikin are also lovely types that do well in ponds! Not as chunky though :)

[shubipond]

I'm a sucker for chunks

I'd love a bunch of fantails but they're a little too delicate for the rougher winters here! I started with fantails in an aquarium and I just have a soft spot for them :)

[shubipond]

What do you mean tamasabas exist and are good pond fish What do you mean I could have had chunky bois all along

[shubipond]

My fish spawned without my knowledge or consent

[shubipond]

Iris laevigata ‘Colchesterensis’

Iris sibirica ‘Caesar’s brother’

[shubipond]

I also managed to get Iris colchesterensis, a reasonably rare form of iris. The plant in pink just in front of it is a Marsh orchid! The place I get these things from basically grow them for fun, they appear in his himalayan primrose plugs!

[shubipond]

I guess I kinda owe updates on this. I've had my pond now for nearly a year and out fish in about 3 weeks ago! Unfortunately I have a big issue with algae- but yesterday I went and got MORE plants. Also please meet my friendly blackbird! They're a sweet juvenile!

[shubipond]

Agreed usage for old 13 litre tank that once housed a Betta: pond cube.

[rainbowbarnacle]

POND CUUUUBE :D

[pixielight-dee-foxfire]

how do you make the pond go up into the cube

[shubipond]

Create a vacuum and remove all the air!

[pixielight-dee-foxfire]

but then it’s not buoyant?

[shubipond]

It's held up by supports. The glass would sink anyway!

[shubipond]

Agreed usage for old 13 litre tank that once housed a Betta: pond cube.

[rainbowbarnacle]

POND CUUUUBE :D

[pixielight-dee-foxfire]

how do you make the pond go up into the cube

[shubipond]

Create a vacuum and remove all the air!