Tropical Fish Forums

[Dae]

OK first off, let me explain why the pond is not ours. We're renting this property, we don't own it. I knew of a pond in the garden but assumed it was empty since it's a rental property, no sane person would leave fish in a rental property pond in the UK and not let anybody know.

Since I didn't go in the garden much last year (moved in march 05, I was very pregnant then) I had no idea fish lived there. Much to my horror when I went out to the garden this spring, the pond is full of fish! Worse off, there are several dead. I know absolutely NOTHING about ponds, as we only keep tropical fish indoors.

They're some type of goldfish, no idea really. Roughly 5-10cm in length, no fancy tails, either all gold, gold & white, gold & black, or gold & black & white. The tub has had NO filtration, NO heating, and NO care whatsoever. As it's obviously been fairly self sufficient I don't know what to do now that it isnt.

So what I need to know is: What can I do to help these poor fish? They're dying and I want to save them. Here's the basics, as I understand them.

-Water Test Readings:
Ammonia: ?
NitrIte: 0
NitrAte: 0
pH: 6.4
KH: 0
GH: 0
Water Temperature: ?

-Pond size and Filtration: approx. 160cm wide, 231cm long, no filtration that I can see. No idea how deep it is, sorry.

-Pond Inhabitants (How many, how big?): unknown numbers of goldfish, seems to be fish ranging from about 5-10cm in length

-How long the pond has been set up: ?

-Is the pond planted: Yes

-Pond maintenance routine: None

Here's a composite picture of what's in it as far as plants from last spring.


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55L & 300L Planted freshwater community tanks

[Maura]

Gosh that's a beautiful little pond.

The water readings look pretty good, so I don't think you need to do much except for getting the dead ones out, and possibly finding homes for the extras if there are a ton of fish in there. Once the water warms up you might want to start feeding them a little (but obviously they took good care of themselves last year). That, and making sure there is no way the baby can fall in.
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Maura
"You did then what you knew how to do and when you knew better... you did better!" -Maya Angelou

[Oscer]

Personally I think the fish should be fine, considering the water readings and general health of the plants. Like Maura said, start feeding them a little and maybe do a water-change.
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Years of fish keeping = Good advice

[mike in cardiff]

Where to in Wales are you? I`m in cardiff

[dalsicle]

Nice looking pond, wish my landlord would let me dig up the garden to put a ond in.

I didn't realise there were any other welshies on here, I'm from Merthyr

[Dae]

I wouldn't imagine there are many welshies on here. I'm not truly welsh, being from the US, but I live in wales now.

I didn't dig this pond up, it was here when we moved in, thus my terror in finding fish in it! I have found it to be pretty self-sustaining, thankfully, so I try not to stress too much

Thanks everybody for all the advice!
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55L & 300L Planted freshwater community tanks

[Oscer]