Question of the Day:
Hey Dreamscapes, Is it okay to add new fish to my pond at this time (November) of the year?
Benefits:
One of the great things about getting new koi, or any new pond fish for that matter, in the very early Fall is that you can find some great pricing on koi and other pond fish. Especially in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, most fish sellers are anxious to get rid of stock toward the end of the season before it gets cold, as they are looking to not have to maintain them indoors over the Winter. For that reason some good deals and great pricing can be found on koi from late August through September. Dreamscapes recommends that if you are interested in taking advantage of these deals, to do so no later than mid-October for the Lebanon County, Lebanon PA area.
Drawbacks:
By adding fish to your Zone 5/6 pond later than the beginning of October, you are risking the health of the added fish. It is absolutely true that fish undergo a level of stress when it comes to acclimating them to a new environment. Stress can reduce their slime coat and make them more susceptible to the parasites that are inevitably living in your pond water. Fish should be given a substantial amount of time to adjust to their new environment before going into torpor (fish “hibernation”).
Pond fish in Central Pennsylvania should also establish their new eating patterns before cold weather hits, which also gives you the opportunity to observe the pond fish for any health issues. Even if they do survive, you may find you have a very unfriendly and/or skittish fish come Spring because they are not use to YOU either!
Pond fish in Central Pennsylvania should also establish their new eating patterns before cold weather hits, which also gives you the opportunity to observe the pond fish for any health issues. Even if they do survive, you may find you have a very unfriendly and/or skittish fish come Spring because they are not use to YOU either!
Answer:
Introducing pond fish, whether it be Koi, Goldfish, Orfes, Sharks etc, to new environments with only weeks before they stop eating or even as they begin to go into torpor is not a practice that the Dreamscapes team recommends.
It could ultimately end fatally for the fish.
Proper Fish Acclimation in Central Pennsylvania
There is often a lot of different recommendations about how to properly add fish to ponds. It is important to note that an outside ecosystem is VERY different from an inside fish tank, as Mother Nature happens to the outside pond and not to the indoor tank. The follow set of instructions is how Dreamscapes Watergardens recommends to acclimate fish. This guideline acclimates the fish to not only the temperature of the pond, but also to the pH, which is very important.
1) Float bag for 30 minutes in pond
2) Add approx. 1 cup pond water to bag
3) Float bag for 10 minutes
4) Add approx. 1 cup pond water to bag
5) Float bag for 10 minutes
6) Add approx. 1 cup pond water to bag
7) Float bag for 10 minutes
8) Individually release fish by hand into pond
1) Float bag for 30 minutes in pond
2) Add approx. 1 cup pond water to bag
3) Float bag for 10 minutes
4) Add approx. 1 cup pond water to bag
5) Float bag for 10 minutes
6) Add approx. 1 cup pond water to bag
7) Float bag for 10 minutes
8) Individually release fish by hand into pond
So what now?
For more information on koi pond fish, please contact us directly!
Located in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Dreamscapes Watergardens installs and renovates koi fish ponds and pondless waterfalls (disappearing waterfalls) all over the Central Pennsylvania area. For more information on koi ponds and waterfeature installations, please contact us directly!
Dreamscapes also carries a full line of pond supplies from water treatments and fish medications to pond pumps, heaters, fountains, plants and fish! Tadpoles and snails are also available at our Aquatic Retail Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania seasonally while supplies last from May-August. If you think you need it, we have it!
Retail Hours: April 5th-October 27th 2018:
Monday-Wednesday: By Appt
Thursday-Friday: 10am-5pm
Saturday: 9am-12pm
October 28th-April 2019: HOURS BY APPT
Contact Us
2155 State Route 343, Lebanon Pa | 717-272-6555 | [email protected]
Dreamscapes Watergardens services the city of Lebanon, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Cleona, Cornwall, Fredericksburg, Indiantown Gap, Jonestown, Kleinfeltersville, Mount Gretna, Myerstown, Newmanstown Palmyra, Quentin, Reistville, Richland, Schaefferstown of Pennsylvania, PA.
Located in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Dreamscapes Watergardens installs and renovates koi fish ponds and pondless waterfalls (disappearing waterfalls) all over the Central Pennsylvania area. For more information on koi ponds and waterfeature installations, please contact us directly!
Dreamscapes also carries a full line of pond supplies from water treatments and fish medications to pond pumps, heaters, fountains, plants and fish! Tadpoles and snails are also available at our Aquatic Retail Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania seasonally while supplies last from May-August. If you think you need it, we have it!
Retail Hours: April 5th-October 27th 2018:
Monday-Wednesday: By Appt
Thursday-Friday: 10am-5pm
Saturday: 9am-12pm
October 28th-April 2019: HOURS BY APPT
Contact Us
2155 State Route 343, Lebanon Pa | 717-272-6555 | [email protected]
Dreamscapes Watergardens services the city of Lebanon, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Cleona, Cornwall, Fredericksburg, Indiantown Gap, Jonestown, Kleinfeltersville, Mount Gretna, Myerstown, Newmanstown Palmyra, Quentin, Reistville, Richland, Schaefferstown of Pennsylvania, PA.
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