Screen Savers Depot

What is the best way to move aquarium fish to an outdoor pond?

I recently bought 4 goldfish from my local fish store and put them in my outdoor pond. They next day they were all dead. My best guess is that the water was a lot colder than that of the aquarium in the store. What can I do to make a better transition between the bag to the pond?

Public Comments

1. you need to pick a mild spring day with an equally mild week ahead. these were common/comet/shubunkin goldfish yes? fancy goldfish are far more delicate and not really hardy enough for pond life. you need to acclimate them to the pond in the same way you would do a tank. float them for an hour or two, or longer, slowly introducing pond water to the bag, and letting them get used the temperature. ponds for goldfish ideally should be filtered and large, is the pond large enough for goldfish? ponds can have ammonia spikes the same as tanks.
2. Just dumping them straight in will kill them because outdoor water is usually much colder; they die of shock, most of the time. When you bring them back from the petstore (if they are in bags) just place the bag in the pond and leave it floating in there for about fifteen-twenty minutes. That way the water in the bag gradually takes on the temperature of the pond water and the fish have time to adjust. Only then should you release them into the pond.
3. Try leaving them in the bag and place them in the pond water for at least 1/2 hr before releasing the fish, make sure the water condition is close to that in the bag from the pet shop. try doing it in warmer weather conditions. dont forget you still have to keep an eye on the pond water condition as like a aquarium indoors,
4. as already said about the temperature issue but just as importantly did you check the water quality of your pond first?is it filtered or just stagnant water?check that the ammonia and nitrate levels are zero before adding any more fish when the weather is warmer-your pet shop will test a sample for a small cost.