Posted by denmennis on September 09, 2002 at 03:30:00:
In Reply to: Will fish in winter live if pond freezes over? posted by Turtlemh on September 07, 2002 at 20:55:14:
:I have a turtle pond right now and i dont have room for my fish inside with my turtles... So i was wondering if i leave the fish outside in my plastic pond will they die?
It depends on what type of fish and the depth of your pond. Goldfish, koi and African cichlids can overwinter in ponds. Your pond needs to have a portion that is 3 feet deep to provide a place for your fish to escape ice and freezing temps. In the south, you can get away with a max depth of 2 feet. If your pond surface completely freezes over, you should get a deicer to keep a portion of the surface free of ice to let noxious gases escape. Never try to break up the ice on the pond surface because the shock waves that you create can kill your fish.
dj
