Pond fish

[horselady]

We've just moved into a new place and seem to have adopted/inherited a pond full of fish ranging from big orange ones to teeny black ones. I know nothing about fis whatsoever. The previous occupier left some food etc. also a bag of straw with a note saying to put some straw in an old pair of tights, weigh it down and put in the pond every few months to keep algae away. How do you know how much food to give the fish, do you just use common sense and assume if some is left after a while they have had too much? Do you do it once a day or more? Any tips would be good.

[paddywak]

Once a pond is established as yours is the fish dont actually need feeding s there is plenty of natural food in the water, the food we give them only encourages growth, enhances the colour and generally helps keep them healthy. As to how much you feed them it takes a bit of trial and error as all sorts of factors such as water temperature and number of fish all have to be taken into account but the guide I was given was little but often and if there is any left in the water after 5min they had too much. As to the fish the teeny black ones are probably baby goldfish which will gradually change colour

[horselady]

Thank you Paddywak. Very helpful, I would never have realised the black ones were baby goldfish!

[paddywak]

Glad to be of help

[paddywak]

forgot to mention that the staw should be barley straw, dont know why but it's the only kind of straw that seems work. I've never tried it but I've been told lavender cuttings work as well

[horselady]

Yes it is barley straw.