The goldfish is a freshwater fish. It comes from the carp family (Cyprinidae) and is available in many cultivated forms. Goldfish were developed in China around a thousand years ago, making them the oldest domestic animals known.
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The peculiarities of the goldfish
Small and large goldfish populate aquariums and garden ponds. Everyone knows the typical image of a goldfish in a round glass, an absolutely inappropriate way of keeping. Even if the variations for the aquarium are a third smaller than their counterparts for the pond in the garden, a goldfish needs space and space to move around. The garden pond should have at least one cubic meter of volume. This is how a goldfish is anatomically structured:
- Depending on the cultivation, up to 35 cm in length
- Variations in the aquarium around a third smaller
- Goldfish do not have a stomach; they digest in the intestines.
- They have no teeth, just in their throats.
- The mouth can be pulled forward.
- Goldfish wear a scaly dress, except for the “Oranda” variety.
Although not to be suspected, goldfish are both the most common and most traded domestic animal. Breeders in Asia, Italy, Florida or Israel provides goldfish enthusiasts all over the world with the animals they want. Goldfish are certainly so popular because, similar to fish in an aquarium, they have a calming effect on the viewer. Their gentle and graceful movements make for an almost majestic sight and are the culmination of a beautifully landscaped garden pond.
Cheerful guys are about to explore the garden pond and swim into every corner. If there are pond plants and stones, the animals can stay in between and withdraw. Goldfish are curious animals; they can even become tame and take food out of your hand.
The attitude in the garden pond
If goldfish live in a garden pond, a few requirements should definitely be observed. Goldfish love to “dig” on the bottom of the garden pond. That is, a natural soil with sand and / or earth is important for the animals.
Basically, a garden pond should not be exposed to intense sunlight, at least a third of the water surface must be shaded. Otherwise, the growth of algae and the water temperature will increase, both of which are unfavorable for goldfish. Goldfish love temperatures between 4 ° and 30 ° but feel very comfortable especially around 20 °. The deeper a garden pond is, the sooner fish can stay in their preferred “feel-good zone”; in general, the temperatures are more constant in higher water depths.
The garden pond should contain aquatic plants as a home for goldfish for both shade and retreat. Flat-lying leaves such as B. water lilies give the water shade and the goldfish the opportunity to hide. A natural floor provides the opportunity to give in to the innate urge to look for food.
Depending on the size of the garden pond, a different number of goldfish can be used. However, one should keep in mind that goldfish like to reproduce in great numbers. A couple can quickly become a large family with more than 10 animals. They prefer to do this when they feel really comfortable in their pond. It also depends on which type of goldfish is used in the pond, as the goldfish family includes several variants. They are of different sizes and therefore need the appropriate space in the pond.But the space available should be considered, as well as the fact that parent goldfish sometimes eat their brood. If the garden pond is around 1.50 deep and therefore frost-free even in winter, the goldfish can survive. To be on the safe side, however, a measure should be taken to ensure that the water surface of the garden pond does not completely freeze over. This can be achieved, for example, with a styrofoam plate that is placed on the surface of the water, or with special plastic balls.
The selection of goldfish
There are a variety of goldfish cultivated forms, but not all are suitable for being kept in a garden pond. However, those who limit themselves to the simple varieties can hope that the animals will feel comfortable and will remain healthy and lively as pond inhabitants for a long time. Since goldfish are rarely seen in a pond, and then only shadowy, the use of particularly looking specimens, such as a Dutch lion head, would not be really worthwhile.
The number of goldfish is just as important so that the quality of the water remains optimal. Especially if there is no water filter in operation, there should not be too many goldfish in the pond, otherwise the oxygen content would drop too quickly.
Knowledge: Goldfish can live to be around 25 years old with appropriate care!
But even if that is a proud age, everyday life often looks different. There are both goldfish that have gotten older, but most of them are unlikely to see half that age yet. Too many imponderables can play a role in age, some even claim that too much care can even be responsible for when goldfish only live a short time. What is certain is that the food plays a major role. If the garden pond has a healthy microclimate and the size of the fish used is sufficient, it does not even necessarily have to be fed. But even with goldfish there is a kind of disposition and genetic disposition that ensures that one is old and the other is only half as old.
The size of the goldfish
The size of the goldfish is also not unimportant and you should know it if you want to put them in the garden pond. Lengths of up to 35 cm are not uncommon. It should be pointed out here that a bit of humbug is often practiced with regard to the size of the animals, there are no dwarf goldfish and species that remain small! Fish grow during their entire existence, just one slower and the other faster. However, with increasing age, growth slows down so that it is barely noticeable in old age.
The feeding
The larger the pond, the less goldfish need to be fed. In large and naturally landscaped garden ponds, you can almost completely do without feeding. If you want to fill a small pond with goldfish, you should consider when feeding that the dosage of the feed becomes more difficult the smaller the pond is. The water values can deteriorate very quickly due to the feed, especially in summer. With falling temperatures, less and less feed is given until it is completely stopped in winter. Then goldfish hibernate and no longer need food.
Goldfish are omnivores, which greatly enriches the choice of food. In addition to special food in pellet form or sticks, there are also freeze-dried small animals such as water fleas or mosquito larvae. Basically, it is advantageous not to limit yourself to dry food, but to offer a colorful mix of all food components. However, it is important not to throw too much food into the pond, as the water quality suffers.
Winter in the pond
For the goldfish that are to stay in the garden pond over the winter, on the one hand the conditions for wintering in the pond must be optimized and, on the other hand, the fish must also be able to do so by its nature. Simple goldfish, the comet’s tail or the grass goldfish are specimens that can stay in the garden pond during winter. In principle, the animals should have been living in the garden pond for more than 6 months, then they are used to the environment.
However, a water depth of 1.50 meters is required for successful wintering. In addition, a piece of the water surface must always remain free of ice so that the animals can get oxygen. So-called Koi balls made of plastic or a float can be placed on the surface of the water. In addition to the effect that this area remains free of ice, it also has a decorative character.
Winter in the house
If the garden pond does not have the ideal conditions for the wintering of goldfish, the animals can also move to a cold-water pool in the house. But there are also a few things to consider for this, for example the room temperature should not be “room temperature”. That said, a cold basement or a frost-free garage is ideal. Goldfish can hibernate in a barrel or in a glass tank in the basement and do not necessarily have to be supplied with oxygen here. The animals are also not given any food during their winter rest.
Return to the garden.
In spring, the fish can slowly be prepared again for their return to the garden pond. This is done by feeding slowly and when the temperature is at least 4 °. Of course, there should also be no more threat of frost when the animals move back into the pond.
Protect goldfish from unauthorized access.
Perhaps, on this occasion, thought will also be given to securing the pond as a matter of principle so that cats do not get the idea of fishing for the goldfish. Depending on which protection you choose, you also protect children from falling into the pond. The following options can be helpful for this:
- Pond fence
- Electrosaun
- Cats Stop Spray
- Plants cats don’t like like frankincense.
- Net over the pond
Legal questions can arise from this protection, especially if it is not your own cat that is to be kept away by such measures. Perhaps it makes more sense to equip the pond with enough space for the fish to retreat so that they are not at the mercy of a fishing cat.
Conclusion
Goldfish are still popular residents of a garden pond. If you cannot achieve a winter-proof pond, the residents can move into a cold-water pool in the house. Here, however, the size and number of the fish must be taken into account so that they have enough space in the water. Plenty of space in the water is not only important here, but also in the garden pond. If there is no ventilation system, not too many fish should be used together. Goldfish can not only grow big, but they can also get very old. This is only a “skill”, but at least even an average of 10 years is a considerable amount of time. This is not only due to the good feeding – which by no means means lavish feeding – but also to keeping the animals as appropriate to the species as possible. Sufficient space and plants in the garden pond,
