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How to Choose Your Garden Pond Fish
- 1). Consider the size of your pond and choose your fish accordingly. If you have a small garden pond, some fish types will not thrive. Fish such as koi, although a common selection for garden ponds, need plenty of space. The size of your pond will also determine how many fish you can maintain. An overcrowded pond causes lower oxygen levels and can be dangerous to your fish.
- 2). Opt for hardy, resilient types of fish. A pond is an ecosystem, just like the one you create when you house fish within a tank. The environment within a garden pond, however, is not as easily controlled--especially if your garden pond is large. Because of this, it is important to select fish that are not sensitive to minor changes in their environment and will not sicken and die as the weather or pH balance in your pond changes.
- 3). Buy similar types of fish. Not all fish are able to coexist peacefully with one another within a limited space. If you want to stock your pond with more than one type of fish, you must first consider the temperament of the fish. Your fish also should be of a similar size to one another to prevent the larger fish from infringing on the food supply of the smaller fish. Ask your fish supplier to inform you which pond fish are community fish and which are better suited to life with their own species.
- 4). Choose healthy fish for your pond. A healthy fish will swim vigorously around its tank, be eager to eat and have a plump, full appearance. Unhealthy fish may be lethargic, hold their fins close to their bodies or be unwilling to leave the surface of the water. An unhealthy fish can easily spread disease among the pond's other inhabitants. Even if you find the perfect fish with a healthy appearance, purchase it only if no other fish in the tank display signs of sickness or disease.
- 5). Select larger fish rather than smaller ones. Although some smaller species of fish are beautiful and would add flare to your garden pond, you are not the only one who would be enjoying them. Small fish are easier prey for birds and neighborhood pets that may venture into your yard. If you are determined to have small fish, house them safely in an indoor fish tank rather than a garden pond.
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