Goldfish Pond (Cold Weather)!

[Master Zero]

Good afternoon!

I know that Goldfishes can live in coldwater, but my Goldfish pond’s temperature reading is at 39 degrees (colder at night); there is ice around the pond. The base of a plant/tree/bush that is overlooking my pond has also frozen sold (huge ice crystals , maybe form being drenched by the water fountain).They are also not eating as mush as they would, but I think that is because the cold weather has slowed down their metabolism right? I am a little worried about their loss in appetite, and I was wondering if it would be “safe” to bring them in side. My tank’s temperature is at 75, and all current residents are still young so I would not have to worry about being overcrowded. I have 14 Goldfishes, the biggest being at 7.5 inches.

1. Would the biggest Goldfish try to eat my youngest Shark (2.5 inches)?

2. What problem(s) should I expect if I do decide to move them in?

*** Side Note: I was waiting for the pond to freeze over before I move them in. ***

Thanks in advance!

[crazyred]

Depending on how deep your pond is I would think that they would fare worse if you moved them into a tropical environment at this stage.

If your pond is pretty deep (3-4 feet) then they're probably far enough down that the water is much warmer. I think it's normal for their appetite to slow down.

This is just my opinion, someone else might have another experience to share.

[Master Zero]

Thanks you far you reply!

The pond is actually two feet deep ((4'wide x 5'long x 2'deep) x 7.5 = 300 gallons), and will probably freeze if it gets much colder. I was just a little worried about their loss of appetite.

There is a sown storm that is suppose to come by some time tonight so if it does freeze, then that will be my chance to put them inside and enjoy their company.

[crazyred]

In that case then yes, I would bring them in, but acclimate them to the warm temp very slowly. It could shock and kill them to go from water that cold to warm water too quick. Enjoy your goldfish!!

[oscarbartoni]

What part of the country do you live in? If you live in a part of the country where the frost does not go down to 18 inches then you should be alright with leaving them out doors during the winter as long as there is an opening for gases to escaope and you can do this with a floaring heater. When the temp goes below about 45 degrees you should not feed then because the food will not be digested by the fish by by bacteria and can cause a lot of problems. You do not wish to put the goldfish in the tropical fish tank because the goldfish do not like to be as warm as the tropical fish. If you have a basement you could put a large trank (Rubbermaid or other big tub will do) or a kiddy wadding pool to put you goldfish in during the winter. Make sure to put a net over the top to keep them from jumping out of the container. If you wish to have them breed for you then you need to cool them down for a couple of months and then raise the temp slowly (like the water does normaly in the wild.

[Master Zero]

Thank you for your reply!

I live in Philadelphia. When I moved here two years ago, the pond froze both winters (the filter was off and there wasn’t any water fountain either); so I am thinking that those two factors might prevent the pond form freezing over this time around. But that remains to be seen.

If you wish to have them breed for you then you need to cool them down for a couple of months and then raise the temp slowlyInteresting, how high should I slowly raise the temperature too and how many months should I leave them in this “cooling state”?

[oscarbartoni]

I live in Massachusetts and the frost line is about 4 foot (the water will freeze to about four foot at times) so most people that keep goldfish and koi up will only keep them outdoors up here as long as there is not a complete freeze of the pond. One way is to keep a floating heater in the pond or make sure the that the pond is deep enough to not freeze. It should only take a couple of months of cooler water to condition the goldfish and koi to be able to breed them when the water warm up to about 60 degrees. You will know the males when they start to get white spots on their gill covers and females will fill up with eggs and therefor be larger in girth. Make sure to provide plenty of fine leaved plants or roots for the eggs or the fish will eat all of the eggs. Of course you probably will not be able to save all of the babies because they can lay many thousands of eggs each year.
.

[Don Vito]

Ok, I am by no means a goldfish expert. I live in Pennsylvania about an hour from philly. I don't know how it's possible to keep fish in a pond. I would think the whole pond would freeze with temps like we have. The only thing I can see is if you have a heater in there that keeps the pond warm enough not to freeze. I have seen lakes frozen on the surface, I dont see how a pond can stay warm enough not to freeze entirely. Maybe im wrong, or a little cautious, but thats just me. Goodluck with your goldies!

[lloyd berg]

old folks that know things around here pay close attention to pond critters to predict winter weather. when they hunker into the mud--the last warm day has past. and if they dig in close to shore then a mild winter is assumed. obviously if the critters are wrong the consequences are severe. goldfish need a deep bed of leaves and loose substrate to hide in when they hibernate. if the pond freezes to the bottom so will any fish so winter weather is an important factor to consider during the construction of ponds.
some folks try pumps to keep the water moving fast enough to avoid freeze over. it isn't practical in my winters though.

[oscarbartoni]

Goldfish are cold water fish that can (and do) live in the same waters as a lot of native fishes. Water under the ice is water is warmer than the ice covering it (or the whole pond or lake woud freeze). Have you ever been ice fishing? The fish are still swimming (as long as they have enough room under the ice) but they are not as active and therefor they do not give off as much ammonia. Also colder water holds more oxygen than warmer water. I have had goldfish ponds up here in Massachussetts and all I did was to put a small floating heater to keep a small hole in the ice for gas exchanges. As long as the pond is deep enough the water will not freeze solid.

[Master Zero]

Ok so today I decide that it was time for me to bring them inside. The pond was cover with a light sheet of ice (except for the part where the water ejects from the fountain and filters lands on). The ice got thicker near the border of the pond. The tube that connects to the filter was frozen soiled! So I grab my net and want “fishing”. I filled a bucket with pond water and bought ever fish that I caught inside. So begins the acclimation process. To acclimatize them I put half tank water and half pond water in my 20 gallon tank; then after 30 minutes in the 20 gallon, I moved them into their winter home. They seemed happy and jumpy, any sudden movement will cause them to move quickly to the other side. I might put my Shark in a 40 gallon until spring because of the Goldfishes massive size. They’re very “disruptive” to my Sharks, the Oscars doesn’t seem to be annoyed by them. These guys are huge! Their stomachs are MASSIVE! As for the pond, I will bring inside the filter and fountain so that I can clean them for next season.

Unlike my Sharks and Oscars, they don’t stop right before they hit the glass.
Will they cause any damage to the tank?

[lloyd berg]

there perspective right now is similar to us looking over a roof's edge. best to wrap the tank and open it very slowly over the next couple of days. keep the temp low low low and they will burn that belly off instead of polluting your tank (daily). they were ready for a layaway winter (overeating) so take advantage of their prep.

[Master Zero]

Thank you for your reply!

Since I will be relocating the Sharks, I will be unplugging the heater living the tank at room temperature. The Oscars should be fine without one.

Thanks again!

[Master Zero]

Ok, I think I’ am in trouble! These are my current tank readings.

pH = 7.2 – 7.6 (maybe 7.4)
Ammonia = 0.25 – 0.50 (somewhere in between)
Nitrite = 5.0
Nitrate = 5.0

I’ am very sure that Nitrite and Nitrate are not supposed to be that high. Will two water changes a week (20%) bring it back down or should I make it three times (I’ am using the Master Test Kit)?

[Buddha_Red]

you dont list how long this tank has been up and stocked in your profile (most dont)

Those readings are exactly like cycle readings to me. Based on those numbers, i expect it to be in the before ammonia spike stage. If indeed this is a new tank, your sharks will not do well at all for cycling.

[oscarbartoni]

You do not mention the sizes of the goldfish, They could be too large for the 40 gallon tank. I have seen many goldfish over 12 inches long. I would say that yo need to do daily watrer changes to help keep the ammonia and nitrite down until the tank cycles (as long as it is not ovrcrowded). Then if itis overcrowded yo willneed to do regular water changes more often than once a week to help them survive the winter. You socars souldnot be in with your goldfish because the oscars are warm water fish andif the oscar is large enough he/she will wind up eating some or all of your goldfish. Do not keep oscars in water that is cooler than about 72 degrees. If you have room in you basement or somewhere you coud get a kiddy wading pool to put your goldfish in for the winter.

[Master Zero]

Thank you for the replies!

I will be transferring the Sharks to the 40 gallon tank. The Goldfishes are in the 125 which has been running for about six week maybe (initially for 5 months, but it was unleveled so I had to start all over about six weeks ago). I have 14 Goldfishes; the biggest is at 7.5 inches and the rest range from 4.5 to 3.5 inches. And yes I will be updating my profile. The basement does not go below 75 degrees, so it will be no problem for the Oscars.

[lloyd berg]

anytime you change the population of a tank dramatically the readings go beserk until the dust settles. do water changes everyday and feed zero for a week. then retest. that is how long it will take for the bio. to either adjust or crash. don't sweat until then. IMO