Fish are very good at eating and multiplying. You might think this is good – and it is – but the difficulty is that as the numbers of fish go up, the numbers of other creatures in and around the pond go down. Does this matter, though? The answer is yes, because there is a knock-on effect.
Fewer water fleas might result in fewer amphibians, resulting in fewer snakes, resulting in fewer small birds, and so on. Too many fish will have a detrimental effect on all the creatures in the water garden, and far beyond.
It is true that there are plenty of birds and mammals that love to feed on small fish, but in itself this natural culling may not be sufficient to keep your fish numbers in balance.
If you want to adopt the natural approach, then only introduce limited numbers of fish that are considered to be native to your area, and be ready to be ruthless if the fish population gets out of control.
Reliable fish, good for ponds in a cold climate. Colours range from reddishgold to creamy yellow. Grows up to 40 cm (16 in) long and lives for 19–25 years.
Avoid fancy breeds of goldfish because they are more expensive, need more space, and are liable to perish during a cold winter.
Phoxinus phoxinus
Shoals of minnows look wonderful in ponds and streams, and are loved by small children.
Attractive, reliable, subtly coloured fish, good for large, muddy-bottomed wildlife ponds and lakes. Colours range from yellow-red to brown-gold.
Grows up to 25 cm (10 in) long and lives for 5–8 years. Roach will tolerate both clear and muddy water.
Children And Fish
Given a chance, most children will enjoy messing about in water – paddling, exploring, looking at insects, and of course catching fish. Encourage their watery activities by setting them up with a jar, a net and a notebook.
Get them to look at the sludge, make a record of the various creatures, and generally take note of what is going on. They will have a great time, and who knows where these first splashings and sploshings might lead. Never forget, however, that water can be dangerous (see pages 14–15).
Rudd
Fat-bodied fish, suitable for both small and large ponds. Colours range from golden yellow to orange-red. Grows up to 30 cm (12 in) long and lives for 6– 8 years.
Rudd will tolerate cloudy water, poor oxygen levels and big changes in temperature
Tinca tinca
Tench are a good idea for a large wildlife pond, but a bad idea if you want ornamental fish.
FISH PREDATORS
If you have established a really good wildlife pond, then you have to accept that it is an open door through which all manner of creatures will pass.
Within the water garden, small fish will feed on insects, big fish will feed on small fish, big birds will feed on big fish, foxes will feed on birds, and so on. But do not worry – if you have set up the pond with plenty of planting for food and cover, your fish should be able to hold their own.
Comments
Post a Comment