You just ended up adding a pond to your backyard and can’t wait to add some fun to your pond. You visit the market to get your pick of some live-action for your pond, but you end up finding out that there is a large variety of fish for garden ponds.
Depending on where you live, there is a large variety of fish that you can add to your pond to bring it to life. To make it easier for you, we have listed 6 types of pond fish that are easily manageable and can survive through any weather.
Yes! Not every fish can survive in different weather conditions. So you have to be considerate of weather conditions before you decide on a certain type of pond fish.
Goldfish
The good old goldfish is a classic and adding it to your pond will instantly elevate it. These little fellas are mesmerizing to look at when the light bounces off their golden skin.
There are different species of goldfish. Some of them grow only a couple of inches while others can grow up to a foot. So you can choose whichever species best suits the size of your pond.
The goldfish do best in a pH range of 7.2 to 7.6 while the best temperature for them ranges from 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
Koi Carp
Koi are the most popular pond fish. You will be surprised at the diversity of color patterns in Koi which only adds to the attraction of this fish.
You can add different color patterned Koi into your garden pond and turn it into a rainbow-colored pallet.
Koi differ in size as per their species. Broadly they are divided into 13 official classes, however, the amazing fact is that there are more than 100 different sub-species of Koi.
It means if you decide on picking Koi for your pond, you will definitely find something to your liking.
They are also quite adaptable to the variance in temperature as long as it does not change quickly. They can survive at a temperature ranging from 59 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit and a pH range of 7.5 to 8.
We recommend Koi if you have a fair-sized pond as they need space to swim. The ponds best suited for Koi should at least be a meter deep.
Golden Orfe
They are also typically known as Ides. These fish are recommended for those who have large ponds. Typically Golden Orfe grows about a foot and foot and a half in size. In fact, in larger ponds with plenty of food availability, they can grow up to three feet.
But they require more than a meter depth of water as they are big fish compared to other types of pond fish. Golden Orfe is also quite sensitive to the quality of water. This is why it is important that you run “Golden Orfe toxicity test” before adding it to your pond.
In terms of temperature, Golden Orfe can survive freezing as well as quite a high temperature. It obviously makes them ideal for backyard ponds. However, the best-suited temperature for Golden Orfe ranges between 50 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
The ideal pH for them must be more on the alkaline side ranging between 7 to 8.
Plecostomus
If you are someone who is looking for an easy-going pond fish, then Plecostomus is ideal for you. Not only are they peaceful, but they also get along quite well with other fish.
So you can easily add them to your pond with other varieties of fish.
The best part about Plecostomus is that they eat algae. It makes them ideal for outdoor ponds. The common Plecostomus grow up to 1 to 2 feet long whereas the Bristlenose Plecostomus only grow about 4 inches.
This is why the size of the pond will play a crucial role in deciding which Plecostomus is best suited for the pond.
They do quite well in temperature ranging from 72 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. However, if the temperature drops more than 50 degrees Fahrenheit, you will be required to bring them inside as they won’t survive.
Guppies and Mollies
Guppies and Mollies are often kept in an aquarium, however, they both can do quite well in outdoor pools. Guppies require water above 75 degrees Fahrenheit and Mollies need it above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
It means that you will need to bring them indoors during the winter season.
Both species are easy to take care of. As they breed quickly, you will need to catch quite a few of them often and sell it to a local pet store. Never release them in wild!
Red Shiners
Red Shiners have North American origin and they thrive in freshwater. Red Shiners are ideal for small ponds as they small (about 3 inches).
As the name suggests, they have vibrant colored bodies with silver, sometimes a vibrant blue with orange-red fins.
They need water temperature between 59 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Although they can withstand extreme cold, we advise you to bring them indoors if the temperature goes below 59 degrees Fahrenheit.
