If you have a well-conditioned outdoor pond and you want to populate it with fish that beautify and give life to the pond, we must know what types of fish are suitable to carry out our idea. The size of the pond will be decisive for us to know which species and how many specimens we should introduce.
Don't forget that the species we suggest are cold water species since the pond will probably be outside, in your garden.
Keep reading this article, and our site will tell you the best options for stocking with 9 fish for an outdoor pond.
Minimum measurements of an outdoor pond
Outdoor tanks must have minimum measurements and cubic capacity to be efficient. The most important measure is the depth, because being outside it must withstand winter cold and summer heat without the fish dying from any of these causes.
The ideal depth is at least 80 cm. This will allow the fish to withstand frost and extreme heat. The ideal cubic capacity is as follows: 1 fish of 10 cm., for every 50 liters of water. Therefore, as the fish grow, the pond will have to be depopulated, or more water added.
It will also be very important to incorporate aquatic plants to provide shade and create micro-food. The best are: water lilies and water lettuce.
The most resistant and long-lived pond fish
If you want to successfully complete any outdoor pond, you'll need to choose its inhabitants wisely. There are two species that are a guarantee of success, and also can live more than 25 years These species are cyprinids: koi fish and carassius fish.
- Koi fish. This breed are extraordinarily hybrid carp. The range of colors is extraordinarily large. Prices also fluctuate a lot.
- Carassius fish. Carassius are also cyprinids. Like the koi, they are highly hybridized and display a wide range of shapes and liveries. They are the typical gold fish.
In the image we can see koi carp of different colors:
Quite hardy fish
A row below the koi and the carassius there are two more races of cyprinids: the golden barbel and the chub.
- El golden barbel, barbus semifasciolatus, is a small cyprinid (5-7 cm.) quite resistant and can live on 7 years. They cannot withstand temperatures as low as koi and carassius.
- The chub, or cachuelo, Leuciscus idus, is a large cyprinid that can exceed 70 cm. This fish comes from Finnish fresh waters and the B altic area.
In the image we can see golden barbels:
Interesting fish for outdoor aquariums
There are some freshwater species that for various reasons are convenient to be present in outdoor ponds.
The pepper corydora, Corydora paleatus, is a much-needed catfish because it eats pond debris. This cleaning function is essential in any aquarium or pond.
Small fish to form schools
When an outdoor pond is stocked with fish that will grow very large, it is convenient to put small fish that form showy schools.
- The cyprinella lutrensis is a species from the United States. Its small size (9 cm.) allows it to populate outdoor ponds with small and colorful schools.
- Jenynsia fish are optimal for schooling. There are several varieties. Some particularities of the jenynsia fish is that the females (12 cm.), triple the size of the males (4 cm.). They are also viviparous.
- The Jordanella floridae fish, are very beautiful fish native to Florida. Males can measure 6 cm.
- The Japanese rice-fish, Oryzias latipes, is very small (3 cm.) and breeds easily in ponds. Phosphorescent specimens have been achieved through genetic engineering.
In the image we can see the Japanese rice-fish:
Maybe you might be interested…
- Coldwater fish
- Tips for caring for carassius fish
- Fish for community aquariums
