Winter Care For Pond Fish Contd....

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Fish are more susceptible to predation by raccoons, birds and other animals due to their slow metabolism and the absence of plants due to the cleaning of the pond. Leaf netting will be of help even in this aspect.

Other protection methods would be Koi Kastle (as it provides a place for them to hide) and Scarecrow. Scarecrows are effective for keeping predators away throughout the year. Get a scarecrow that can sense movement with a motion detector. This device will frighten the predator by spraying a burst of water whenever any intruder tries to come near the pond.

Melting the ice

You need not worry if the pool freezes for a couple of days as there is plenty of oxygen in cold water. However the situation becomes worse if there is any rotting matter in the bottom of the pool as toxic gases produced in the muck could build up.

For the fish to survive when the pond freezes over, there must be a hole in the surface to allow the gases to escape. Float a piece of wood or a ball in the pool in order to maintain gaseous exchange between the water and the air. Another easy method to maintain air hole in the ice is by using a thin saucepan. Make the thin saucepan sit on the ice. Pour boiling hot water into the pan. This will slowly melt the ice below. Do not smash a hole in the ice, as the resulting shockwave underwater can damage or kill your fish.

Other effective methods are the floating pond heater, floating pond de-icer, aerator and water pump.

So, get ready, equip yourself as winter has begun. Protect your fish from the harsh weather with these simple and handy tips.