We are officially in mourning here

out of our 13 fish in our pond, 2 did not survive the winter so far There are still a portion that is frozen and some might still be under there because I didn't count 13.

I am really upset because we hadn't lost any the other 2 winters but this winter was so crazy hot then cold, freezing weather than non freezing weather I just don't think their little gills could take it.

I love what it adds to my backyard but the life aspect part of it makes me sad.


Does anyone else have a pond? How did your fish do?


I posted this here because these are not my pets. They came with my house.

Re: We are officially in mourning here

aw, poor fishies

Re: We are officially in mourning here

we have a pond, yes our fish have survived th epast 2 years, but the water is still too cold to tell, they havent come out yet.
We have a frog that made it.
I will let you know. I just hope our big guy made it

Re: We are officially in mourning here

We don't have a pond, but I know that our neighbor also lost some of their koi b/c of the erratic weather

Re: We are officially in mourning here

I thought you were surposed to take them out for the winter??

Re: We are officially in mourning here

Sorry for your loss

Re: We are officially in mourning here

My dad has had a pond for the last few years and hasn't lost any fish. I know he was concerned one winter when it got really cold. I think he installed a little heater in there (I could totally be making that up but I know he went to a pond store one year and he was doing some project to make sure his fish were safe during the winter). I'll find out the next time I speak to him. Sorry about your fishies

Re: We are officially in mourning here

Posted by npbride

My dad has had a pond for the last few years and hasn't lost any fish. I know he was concerned one winter when it got really cold. I think he installed a little heater in there (I could totally be making that up but I know he went to a pond store one year and he was doing some project to make sure his fish were safe during the winter). I'll find out the next time I speak to him. Sorry about your fishies

Re: We are officially in mourning here

Posted by npbride

My dad has had a pond for the last few years and hasn't lost any fish. I know he was concerned one winter when it got really cold. I think he installed a little heater in there (I could totally be making that up but I know he went to a pond store one year and he was doing some project to make sure his fish were safe during the winter). I'll find out the next time I speak to him. Sorry about your fishies

Re: We are officially in mourning here

I'm don't have a pond and I'm not a fan of fishes, but I'm sorry for your loss!!

Re: We are officially in mourning here

Posted by tray831

Posted by npbride

My dad has had a pond for the last few years and hasn't lost any fish. I know he was concerned one winter when it got really cold. I think he installed a little heater in there (I could totally be making that up but I know he went to a pond store one year and he was doing some project to make sure his fish were safe during the winter). I'll find out the next time I speak to him. Sorry about your fishies

Sounds exactly like my dad! The fish in his pond are his pride and joy and when they die, its the saddest thing. Some winters he's lucky and some he's not. One year we had a neighborhood cat eat them all. OMG, it was horrible. So every year he puts a screen across the pond. He also puts a piece of wood in the pond once the winter months come; I dont know if it retains what little heat it can to help them survive, but it seems to help.

It's great to get them as babies in the summer then by the time spring rolls around, the Koi are HUGE!!

Re: We are officially in mourning here

I know DH had to put a screen over the pond, he hates the look, but when we had ducks and and saw a HUGE black crane a few times in our yard, he didnt want to take any chances.

Re: We are officially in mourning here

I don't have a pond but I've heard horror stories of egrets and herons finding them and having a feast.

I know some pond people who put black pots in the bottom to give the fish a place to hide and they don't hand feed them. That way when they see shadows, they don't come to the surface and put themselves in danger.

We're planning on having a pond too, although I don't know how deep or if we'll hire out or do it ourselves.

Re: We are officially in mourning here

We take the pump down from the waterfall and put it into the pond so it bubbles and then that area doesn't freeze over.

I am just sad because it was one big one probably an original one from the pond when the original homeowners put it in and the other was a little guy. My husband's friend is so upset because he named him Guippeto and every year would buy him a Christmas gift Not one for my DD but one for the fish So he told my husband that he is in mouring and not going out this weekend.

At least my husband was not home when I found these two because when we lost Jaws (he was an original fish several years old my husband had tiki torches lit in memory of Jaws

I am sad they died and hope they didn't suffer because of the erratic winter. For the last 2 winters we hadn't lost any- Jaws was our first-- oh no there was one that something ate but Jaws was the first time one did in the pond and now these two.

Re: We are officially in mourning here

Awwh, I'm so sorry about the fishes

Re: We are officially in mourning here

Can you put a heater in the water, or take them inside during the winter? .

Re: We are officially in mourning here

My grandfather lost a few this year and to be honest, we can't remember the last time a fish died in the winter. He too has the heater.

Re: We are officially in mourning here

My sister has been really lucky and so far her fish are okay. We don't know about the babies yet, though cuz we can't see them.

She also puts the pump for the waterfall in and makes sure it doesn't freeze by checking every day and if it seems like it's going to freeze over she pours warm water on the ice to open the hole.