pond fish

Whats a good hardy fish that you can keep in a pond all year round execpt goldfish/koi. Im moving to arizona so winter shouldnt be too cold.

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Comment by Robert Jango on October 31, 2012 at 2:22am: Paradise fish live in water that gets into the low 50s, but they might be easy pickings for frogs and birds since they sit at the surface apparently unaware of predators. I had a pair in Boston that did well but disappeared overnight. I think they were eaten by frogs but I'm not sure. I suppose if you have enough of them they'll become established. These fish turn a brilliant blue outside in the sun. I'm gonna give then another chance next summer

Mollies live as far north as the Carolinas and some have been known to overwinter in New Jersey! I think the USDA zone you need for them is in the 7s or 8s. I've got some in my pond in Boston, but I doubt they overwinter because my zone is 6B. There are several beautiful varieties of Mollies too. Dealers tell me they miss the 6-7 inch fish that were so common years ago. Other livebearers can withstand similar cold temps but maybe not quite as well as Mollies.

Native fish will do well in ponds but they'll so well camouflaged that you never get to see them and they're also capable of wiping out any fish that share the pond with them.

I don't know why you don't like goldfish. There are so many varieties and in a pond they take on beautiful colors.

Comment by Derick cotten on October 31, 2012 at 2:30am: Thanks ! Great info, its not that i dont like goldfish, i was just curious on what other types of attractive fish would thrive in a pond.

Comment by Robert Jango on October 31, 2012 at 2:41am: I hear ya Derick. I'm not a big fan of goldfish either. That's why I've been experimenting with other kinds of fish in my pond. (I wish I was in Arizona)

In an outdoor pond though a school of goldfish can be striking. They can take on brilliant red hues and wonderful patterns. Its important to net or trap them every year though to weed out the dull ones. If allowed to breed unchecked they will invariably return to their wild dull bronze color.

Comment by Derick cotten on October 31, 2012 at 2:44am: Ah yes back to a carp lol

Comment by Luke Townsend-Smout on November 4, 2012 at 7:24pm: white cloud mountain minnows can be keep in a outdoor pond and will breed. theres shiner you can get red shiners and rainbow shiners they get 7" and are more acttive than common goldfish.