Is there a better jewel of your backyard paradise than your watergarden? Some would say it’s the koi fish found within them! Everyone who has a Koi fish raves of the joy they have not only while feeding them but of watching them swim through caves and waterfalls, naming them and what their family and friends think of them. But Koi fish aren't the only beautiful fish you can have swimming in your pond. Dreamscapes takes great pride in being able to sell these family pets right here at our retail location in Lebanon, Pennsylvania (PA)!
Low-maintenance pets
One of the things that is so wonderful about welcoming a fishy friend into your pond is that they are pretty low maintenance. You won’t see a Koi scratching at the door to go for a walk, or choosing your prized sofa for a litter box. Nope. Fish live, breath, and eat in the exact same place … your pond. They truly are one of the most low-maintenance pets you can have. AND some fish species are actually helpful to the ecosystem that they live in, nibbling on algae and contributing to the conversion of the nitrogen cycle.
Fish can also “over-winter” in your pond in a state called dormancy underneath all of the ice and snow produced by Mother Nature here in Central, Pennsylvania (PA). Caring for these guys during these months involves just a maintained hole in the ice, allowing any toxic gases from the production of fish waste to escape, as well as, supplemental aeration for koi fish larger than 10” in length. You also stop feeding these fun creatures once the water temperature dips below 55 degrees, which makes caring for them even easier. For more information on fish during the winter, read our blog:
Fish can also “over-winter” in your pond in a state called dormancy underneath all of the ice and snow produced by Mother Nature here in Central, Pennsylvania (PA). Caring for these guys during these months involves just a maintained hole in the ice, allowing any toxic gases from the production of fish waste to escape, as well as, supplemental aeration for koi fish larger than 10” in length. You also stop feeding these fun creatures once the water temperature dips below 55 degrees, which makes caring for them even easier. For more information on fish during the winter, read our blog:
Feeding
When it comes to feeding them, you may notice that there are several different recommendations filling the internet and book pages alike. An important point to note is that the more you feed them, the bigger and the faster they grow! While fish will continue to eat and eat, long past the point that they’re hungry, koi fish will actually nibble on algae in the event you have not fed them enough.
If your fish are part of a balanced ecosystem, as is the case with the Aquascape system, your best bet is to feed them as much as they will eat in two minutes, being careful not to leave too much food floating at the surface. It is also important to mention that the more you feed them, the more they will poop--leaving you more work to clean up after in terms of maintenance and water treatment applications. We recommend once a day or once every other day to cut down on poor water quality conditions.
If your fish are part of a balanced ecosystem, as is the case with the Aquascape system, your best bet is to feed them as much as they will eat in two minutes, being careful not to leave too much food floating at the surface. It is also important to mention that the more you feed them, the more they will poop--leaving you more work to clean up after in terms of maintenance and water treatment applications. We recommend once a day or once every other day to cut down on poor water quality conditions.
More than just Koi
One of the greatest things about owning a pond is the variety of Pond-living pets available. But before you go ahead filling your pond with all your favorite fish finds, it is important to first figure out how many fish your pond is designed to hold-- did you know you can have TOO many fish? Check out our other fish blog if you still need to know your magic "fish" number!
Goldfish and Shubunkin are two great fish species that live harmoniously with Koi, are cheaper than koi and are available at Dreamscapes Watergarden’s Aquatic Center. Goldfish are incredibly resilient and can be a great starter fish for a new pond owner. Best of all, they come in all, shapes, sizes, and colors! Dreamscapes carries strinkingly beautiful orange, white and black goldfish, making it easier to spot them through your pond water. While Koi fish continue growing and have been known to grow as large as 3’ in length, Goldfish will only grow as big as their environment, making them a perfect fit for a preformed pond, patio pond or container pond.
Another fish that is sure to find its way into your heart resembles the Koi, but is much smaller. With a flow-y tail a "SHUBUNKIN" differs from the Koi in the fact that it doesn’t have “barbells,” which are a sort of whiskers that are used to root through gravel.
Goldfish and Shubunkin are two great fish species that live harmoniously with Koi, are cheaper than koi and are available at Dreamscapes Watergarden’s Aquatic Center. Goldfish are incredibly resilient and can be a great starter fish for a new pond owner. Best of all, they come in all, shapes, sizes, and colors! Dreamscapes carries strinkingly beautiful orange, white and black goldfish, making it easier to spot them through your pond water. While Koi fish continue growing and have been known to grow as large as 3’ in length, Goldfish will only grow as big as their environment, making them a perfect fit for a preformed pond, patio pond or container pond.
Another fish that is sure to find its way into your heart resembles the Koi, but is much smaller. With a flow-y tail a "SHUBUNKIN" differs from the Koi in the fact that it doesn’t have “barbells,” which are a sort of whiskers that are used to root through gravel.
New Species:
  | The 2016 Retail Season at Dreamscapes brought some of the newest (and coolest) additions to ponds that we have ever carried: the Golden Orfe and the Hi-fin Pond Shark. Not only do both of these fish can reach 2-4 feet in length and bring some really awesome contrast to your pond, they also have very different personalities than that of koi and goldfish. Orfe's eating habits look like that of torpedos, zipping across the water to grab the food and zip away again. They are very quick with their swimming and have been known to travel in sets of 3 or more. For that reason, Dreamscapes sells Orfes in sets of 3! Pond Sharks, though complete with an awesome name, ONLY eat algae or sunken food, as they are very much scavengers in that respect (they won't eat your other fish--we promise). Sharks have a hi dorso fin that splices the surface when he does come up but they generally stay on the bottom of the pond. |
So.... when to buy them?
The Aquatic Center and Retail store at Dreamscapes Watergardens opens officially every season in April and will begin selling fish for the year later in that month. Please advise that adding fish to your Central Pennsylvania pond sooner than late April can be fatal for the fish, as Lebanon County temperatures are historically too low at that time for safe acclimation.
To get your pond up and running for the season, stop by Dreamscapes for a full line of Aquascape Inc. products.
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 | info@dreamscapeswatergardens.com
To get your pond up and running for the season, stop by Dreamscapes for a full line of Aquascape Inc. products.
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 | info@dreamscapeswatergardens.com
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