Asked By: Dale of Paoli, PA
A: We talk about how koi and certain types of goldfish, like Sarassa and Shubunkins, can overwinter in your pond or water garden even when water temperatures dip to near-freezing levels.
But what about other common pond fishes?
Well, it depends on your USDA hardiness zone, which divides the country into zones based on how cold the temperatures get. Just as with plants, some fish species can be "hardy" in some climates and not in others. An Oranda, for instance, might do just fine overwintering in a pond in Orlando, Fla., but up in Fargo, N.D., that same fish would turn into a popsicle—even with an aeration system and de-icer.
When the temperatures begin to fall in colder zones, here's what you do:
1. Keep a close eye on your pond's water temperature using a thermometer, like the
Floating Pond Thermometer. When the mercury hits 68 degrees or so, it's time to bring those less hardy fishes—including Plecostomus, Oranda, Telescope goldfish and Black Moors—inside.
2. Carefully scoop those snowbird fishes out of the pond with a net, like
The Pond Guy Collapsible Fish Net, and place them in a bucket pre-filled with some of your pond's water.
3. Re-home the fishes in a properly sized indoor fish tank or aquarium outfitted with the right mechanical and biological filtration system for the job. Be sure to condition the water and pre-treat it with some beneficial bacteria to kick start the system's biological filtration, too.
As soon as sun thaws your pond water—or at least heats it back up to room temperature—it's safe to return those fishes to their "summer" home.