Forum home› Wildlife gardening
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Teeny tiny baby fish

debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
in Wildlife gardening
Hi all, 2 weeks ago I noticed goldfish mating and eggs on some of the pond weed  so I transferred the weed to my new water feature. I noticed yesterday that there are at least three baby fish in the new water feature. There are also quite a lot of insect larvae almost the same size as the fish. Should I be feeding the baby fish? ? Any other advice? Thanks.

Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    The baby fish will start with algae and progress to eating the insect larvae.  If the new water feature is shallow and in full sun, it will likely get too hot, so I would put them with the others.
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    Thanks, it’s fairly deep and there’s some shade and there’s a solar fountain which keeps it well aerated so will risk it but keep an eye don’t want poached fish! I think the parents usually eat their young in the other water feature they are often mating but there are never babies. 
  • TheveggardenerTheveggardener Posts: 1,057
    debs64, my brother used to keep fish and always took the babies out and put in a separate pond, he said the parents will always eat them.
  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543
    I just leave the babies in my pond alone.They have plenty of cover and several of my bigger fish started out as babies in the pond and now having babies of their own!
    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    Yes Nanna I know that’s the case with tropical fish so assume goldfish are the same and it’s only a very small area of water to hide in. Thanks for the advice will let you know how they get on. 
  • TheveggardenerTheveggardener Posts: 1,057
    debs64 My brother used to breed Carp and he alway moved the babies into another smaller pond. He also had goldfish in another pond and a smaller pond for their babies. 
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    No idea how anyone could catch all the baby goldfish in a pond - they are miniscule and move like lightening. I always have buckets of them and I just let nature take it's course. I'm with @madpenguin on this - some of my babies have babies now! The cycle of nature...…...
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
Sign In or Register to comment.