raising pond fish indoors

[[email protected]]

I've had a pond for several years with half a dozen Goldfish/Shubunkin
and a couple of Orfe. Each year I see lots of small fry in the
shallows but that's all I ever see, presumably they become tasty
morsels as they never make it through to the following year.

So I had this idea (well two)

First was to rescue some of these fry and move them to an outdoor
water feature such as a barrel with small pump and a few small plants,
keeping it through the winter might be a problem though.

My preferred is to house them in an indoor tank and after growing them
to a size where they won't become fish food, return to the pond in a
year (or maybe two).

As I know nothing of keeping indoor fish (though I'm reading lots and
finding all the faq's and websites I can) is the second option
feasible? Having visited a couple of Aquarium stockist's I have got
differing opinions, one says yes its ok the other says no they would
be hard to feed and water temperature differences (pond to tank) would
be too stressful. But I guess many of you folk breed indoor fish so
what do you feed them on?

I was hoping to set up a small 2ft tank with pump/filter and have it
running with no fish for a few weeks to stabilise so when the fry
appear there would be an environment ready to take them.

Has anyone tried this or could offer any advice?

many thanks

Minty

[Charles]

On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 18:18:38 +0000 (UTC), wrote:

>I've had a pond for several years with half a dozen Goldfish/Shubunkin
>and a couple of Orfe. Each year I see lots of small fry in the
>shallows but that's all I ever see, presumably they become tasty
>morsels as they never make it through to the following year.
>
>So I had this idea (well two)
>
>First was to rescue some of these fry and move them to an outdoor
>water feature such as a barrel with small pump and a few small plants,
>keeping it through the winter might be a problem though.
>
>My preferred is to house them in an indoor tank and after growing them
>to a size where they won't become fish food, return to the pond in a
>year (or maybe two).
>
>As I know nothing of keeping indoor fish (though I'm reading lots and
>finding all the faq's and websites I can) is the second option
>feasible? Having visited a couple of Aquarium stockist's I have got
>differing opinions, one says yes its ok the other says no they would
>be hard to feed and water temperature differences (pond to tank) would
>be too stressful. But I guess many of you folk breed indoor fish so
>what do you feed them on?
>
>I was hoping to set up a small 2ft tank with pump/filter and have it
>running with no fish for a few weeks to stabilise so when the fry
>appear there would be an environment ready to take them.
>
>Has anyone tried this or could offer any advice?
>
>many thanks
>
>Minty
>


The fry are very delicate, difficult to move them without killing
them. Instead, move the plants that have the eggs on them, let the
eggs hatch indoors.

I usually have a bit of string algae in the pond in the spring, the
fish lay their eggs there, and I move the algae indoors. That gives
the fry something to eat until they are ready for prepared food.

I use sponge filters, that way I don't suck up the fry. The sponge
also becomes loaded with small plants/animals. which the fry eat as
well.
--
Charles

Does not play well with others.