Feeding Pond fish for a week

[Narcisus]

Off on hols for a week soon and I’m struggling to find someone to feed the fish. Everyone decided to go away at same time !

It’s a small pond of about 120 gallons with 8 goldfish and a 12’ Koi.

Suggestions welcome.

[condor]

There should be professional dog walkers/pet sitters in your local area that will feed your fish for approx £5 a visit. At a guess it will be a tablespoon of 'fish food' per day, so not an arduous task You can ask them to put your wheelie bin out on the right day too.

[elanfan]

Where r u located op

[Narcisus]

I'll check the pet sitters option. Sheffield area.

[HustleRussell]

IMO if ordinarily well fed, the fish will experience little to no distress from a week without feeding.

[Narcisus]

HustleRussell said:

IMO if ordinarily well fed, the fish will experience little to no distress from a week without feeding.

Cheers they always seem ravenous at feeding time I would feel guilty not feeding them for a week A couple of the Goldfish are getting on a bit.... Probably around 20 years old.

[anonymous-user]

I thought you could get slow release food ?

[BoRED S2upid]

HustleRussell said:

IMO if ordinarily well fed, the fish will experience little to no distress from a week without feeding.

This. Give them a bit extra before and they will be fine for a week.

[elanfan]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/aquarium-automatic-feeder...

[HustleRussell]

Narcisus said:

HustleRussell said:

IMO if ordinarily well fed, the fish will experience little to no distress from a week without feeding.

Cheers they always seem ravenous at feeding time I would feel guilty not feeding them for a week A couple of the Goldfish are getting on a bit.... Probably around 20 years old.

Goldfish are to fish as Labradors are to dogs! Greedy buggers. Honestly they’ll be fine. They’ll have a good old rummage in the pond and find some tasty insect larvae and detritus to eat.

Don’t get me wrong, they’ll be happy to see you when you come back.

[Narcisus]

Thanks guys in-laws have come to rescue they will pop round a couple of times.

[HustleRussell]

What always used to worry me is that the fish-sitters would over feed which pollutes the water. People tend to give too much without realising that it pollutes the water.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

I had fish ponds for 21 years.

It always amazed me that I didn't feed them between October & April & they didn't get thinner.

[Narcisus]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

I had fish ponds for 21 years.

It always amazed me that I didn't feed them between October & April & they didn't get thinner.

Now i'm going to have to google that !

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

I must have been doing something right as many of the fish that I left when I moved were the originals from 1999.

[Narcisus]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

I must have been doing something right as many of the fish that I left when I moved were the originals from 1999.

Was it a big pond ? My problem is it's only a small pond so I have to keep on top of the filter cleaning usually twice a week this time of year with about a 15% water change on the 2nd clean.

I had another big Koi which was around 6 years old but lost him in the winter.

I have an all in one filter and pump that I just drop in the pond and I always um and ahh on turning it off or leaving it on in the winter.

I think we a few particularly cold days and I think with the pump mixing the water up the cold just had the better of him.

So that's another question turn the pump off so the fish have that warmer layer at the bottom and recommission when temps start rising or leave it running throughout the winter ?

[spikeyhead]

Narcisus said:

Was it a big pond ? My problem is it's only a small pond so I have to keep on top of the filter cleaning usually twice a week this time of year with about a 15% water change on the 2nd clean.

I had another big Koi which was around 6 years old but lost him in the winter.

I have an all in one filter and pump that I just drop in the pond and I always um and ahh on turning it off or leaving it on in the winter.

I think we a few particularly cold days and I think with the pump mixing the water up the cold just had the better of him.

So that's another question turn the pump off so the fish have that warmer layer at the bottom and recommission when temps start rising or leave it running throughout the winter ?

Can you move the pump intake so it's not at the bottom of the pond?

[Narcisus]

No unfortunately its a single all in one unit.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Narcisus said:

Was it a big pond ? My problem is it's only a small pond so I have to keep on top of the filter cleaning usually twice a week this time of year with about a 15% water change on the 2nd clean.

I had another big Koi which was around 6 years old but lost him in the winter.

I have an all in one filter and pump that I just drop in the pond and I always um and ahh on turning it off or leaving it on in the winter.

I think we a few particularly cold days and I think with the pump mixing the water up the cold just had the better of him.

So that's another question turn the pump off so the fish have that warmer layer at the bottom and recommission when temps start rising or leave it running throughout the winter ?

Yes, two rather sizeable ponds. One deep enough to come to the top of my chest the two times I fell in.

[Narcisus]

:-) that must be a right of passage ... I’ve also been head first in mine although because it’s so small I nearly drowned ! My head and shoulders were underwater with my legs sticking up in the air !

Luckily the wife was around to pull me out although I think she wasn’t as quick as she could have been ....