My first pond (pics)
- Thread starter Rogger Castells
- Start date
LouPhoenix
New member
I keep Orandas, Ryukins and Pearlscales in my pond and they still look very nice. I know the commons. comets and the less-fancy shubunkins tend to revert to their 'carp-like' look, so just make sure you get the fancier ones.
Also, being that we live in mosquito-central I would also recommend throwing in a few mosquito-fish. They really do keep the larvae in check and get along with everything in the pond.
Ghost shrimp do a great job on deitrus control in my pond.
I also agree that a good biofilter is just about all you need in a pond. Mine requires very little maintenance, down to just cleaning the pump out once in a while.
Kogo
In Memoriam
i prefer my ponds to be elevated at least 6" above ground level. this prevents runnoff from the lawn / garden from washing into the pond when it rains.
as for fish, predation is always a concern. birds, racoons, and possums are all known to raid ponds especialy for big fat slow moving fish. once the racoons find a pond they will keep returning until they are trapped and relocated. there are several devices to discourace wildlife.
as for fish, if you decide to go with somthing smaller, and not a goldfish, i have had alot of success with gouramis. they are colorfull, active, dont eat plants, and will even breed in the pond if the conditions are right.
have fun.
as for fish, predation is always a concern. birds, racoons, and possums are all known to raid ponds especialy for big fat slow moving fish. once the racoons find a pond they will keep returning until they are trapped and relocated. there are several devices to discourace wildlife.
as for fish, if you decide to go with somthing smaller, and not a goldfish, i have had alot of success with gouramis. they are colorfull, active, dont eat plants, and will even breed in the pond if the conditions are right.
have fun.
Rogger Castells
New member
Lou, do you have any pics you can post? I would like to see your pond and goldfishes, were do you get the mosquito fishes.
Don't forget a pleco or two. They keep the pond clean by eating lots of algae and have a very cool, prehistoric look about them. I had one that would float upside down on the surface at feeding time and suck up the koi food.
LouPhoenix
New member
I will as soon as I get home tonight. It's small, about 100 gallons and it is elevated, about 2 ft. off the ground.
Best place for any freshwater fish is the neighborhood fish farm. They have just about everything there (Very nice Koi and Goldfish selection there). Mosquito fish are less than $1 each.
LouPhoenix
New member
that would be Neighborhood Fish Farm. 
I vote for at least one pleco! They're very cool and considering you see them living in the canals around here, would be plenty hardy for a pond.
I also love ponds that have water plants in them like water lilies. When we get a house at some point, I'm gonna do one with water lilies and those cool lily pads that look like a frying pan!
I also love ponds that have water plants in them like water lilies. When we get a house at some point, I'm gonna do one with water lilies and those cool lily pads that look like a frying pan!
Rogger Castells
New member
NFF is this the name of the place or are you guys talking of a generic neighborhood fish farm?
Rogger Castells
New member
Thanks
Rogger Castells
New member
Thank you Marco
REDDAWG43
New member
Man...I can't wait to see it in person.
Hey with the turt, the thing is they are cold blooded, and like any reptile it will need to thermoregulate it's body temp. So for sure you will need to keep the water warmer than freezing like you said it was. I kept my turts water at 78-80 degrees.
Also to warm up they like to sun themselves. You could add
an Island in the center but none the less the turt will try to get out. So a small thin fence around the are should be good enough to keep it in the area.
Turts are slow, but can disappear in no time at all.
Cats might be your only problem...I have not seen an over abundance of birds in your neighbohood, and I doubt you have species of snake that would try to eat it.
Hey with the turt, the thing is they are cold blooded, and like any reptile it will need to thermoregulate it's body temp. So for sure you will need to keep the water warmer than freezing like you said it was. I kept my turts water at 78-80 degrees.
Also to warm up they like to sun themselves. You could add
an Island in the center but none the less the turt will try to get out. So a small thin fence around the are should be good enough to keep it in the area.
Turts are slow, but can disappear in no time at all.
Cats might be your only problem...I have not seen an over abundance of birds in your neighbohood, and I doubt you have species of snake that would try to eat it.
LouPhoenix
New member
Hey Rog, got home late last night and it was too dark to take any pics... If there's no further catastrophes at work, I'll make it home with enough daytime light to take a decent picture today... 
Turtles are tricky and THEY ARE better escape artists than you'd think. They will dig under any barrier/fence not deep enough -my red ear sliders did that and escaped to the much, much larger lake by my house-
Another thing that gets annoying in my area is the number of cane toads who feel that my pond is some sort of amphibian 5 star resort. Besides being poisonous, they will foul up the water if they get stuck in the pond. If they get to lay their eggs in the water, you might as well do a complete water change, because that slimy crap will get on everything. It's best to just take them out and freeze them as soon as you spot them.
Turtles are tricky and THEY ARE better escape artists than you'd think. They will dig under any barrier/fence not deep enough -my red ear sliders did that and escaped to the much, much larger lake by my house-
Another thing that gets annoying in my area is the number of cane toads who feel that my pond is some sort of amphibian 5 star resort. Besides being poisonous, they will foul up the water if they get stuck in the pond. If they get to lay their eggs in the water, you might as well do a complete water change, because that slimy crap will get on everything. It's best to just take them out and freeze them as soon as you spot them.
