Home Gardening Tips

Fish are highly susceptible to various types of pathogens. It is difficult to name all the pathogens, as the list is long enough. There are viruses, bacteria, and fungi causing infection to the fish. If you have a pond in your garden and know well how to take care of it you are less likely to face troubles else it is a constant worry.

Certain factors if not ensured properly will always give you trouble. Overcrowding the pond with fish, overfeeding, and poor quality of pond water are just a few of these factors. Fish in the pond would be stressed and will cause you discomfort.

Overloading the pond with fish is not good at all. Dr.G.L.Thomas has suggested several important measures in his book “Goldfish Pool, Water lilies &Tropical Fishes“. He suggests that there must be a minimum surface area of 20 square inches for each inch of fish in the garden pond.

Dr. Thomas has also suggested various steps and measures for maintaining the garden pond and caring for fish specifically. He suggests further, “Circulate and aerate the water with a pump . . . either through a fountain jet or a waterfall. Use a biological filter or keep an abundance of underwater grasses in the pond; one bunch for each square foot of surface area is the common recommendation. Anacharis, Cabomba and hornwort are the most popular choices. (If you have koi, they will eat the grasses…so a biological filter can take the place of the grasses.) Both absorb excess nutrients. Clear, oxygenated water helps greatly in keeping fish healthy. Healthy fish tend to have greater resistance to these pathogens. Beware of accepting “free fish” from someone who has too many, unless you are willing to quarantine them for at least a month to be sure they are disease free.”

If you observe that, your fish have been affected with some disease or a parasite you should immediately consult an expert for the correct diagnosis. Knowing the problem through proper diagnosis will help you start the right treatment. The expert would be in a better position to advise you if you need to go for treating the whole pond. Alternatively, you may be advised to put the ailing fish in a separate treatment tank until they are fit again. “As always, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” says Dr. Thomas.