The Top 8 Pond Fish Varieties You Should Know About

Table of Contents

Fish make up the bulk of pond animals the world over. They are the biggest reason why many people choose to have ponds in the first place. But not any type of fish is meant for a pond. For example, you don’t want a shark in your backyard because of its size. However, there are many varieties of fish that grow and thrive wonderfully in a backyard pond.

If setting up a pond is one of your lifelong dreams, then Continue reading. These top eight pond fish varieties are sure to add spectacular color and enjoyment to your new backyard pond.

8 Pond Fish Varieties for Your Backyard

Koi

Koi fish are the descendants of the Carp and are currently the most popular pond fish in the world. They have striking features and colors that vary from gold, silver, white, black, and a mixture of everything. Having them in the pond gives a colorful array of fish that will make any backyard look stunning.

Koi require a very clean environment, and they can grow to 35 pounds in weight with a lifespan of between 20-25 years.

Goldfish

Goldfish is another popular type of fish that you will find in most indoor aquariums. They also make excellent pond fish, and due to their small sizes, you can be able to stock up on a substantial population of them.

They love calm and clean waters on top of surviving in a cool environment. Another trait that makes goldfish the ideal pond fish is that during winter, you can simply transfer them to an indoor aquarium until spring.

Minnows

Minnows are small and peaceful fish that can coexist easily with other fish species. They prefer cool and soft water with a neutral pH as they are very sensitive. They also prefer ponds that have a lot of rocks, which they use for shelter. Therefore, you must to set up as many rocks with crevices for them to construct their homes.

Minnows can reach four inches in length and have a lifespan of about four years. They can be transferred to an aquarium during winter, and they feed on pellets and flakes at least once a day.

Calico

Calicos have very interesting shapes and colors that range from black, red, yellow, gold to brown and others. They are a breed of goldfish with bigger fins and a protruding head. They are the most tolerant of all goldfish species and can live off anything that is fed to them, on top of subsisting on other small pond animals.

If you feed them, make sure their diet has generous amounts of vegetables, fruits, and flake food. They can grow to about 18 inches.

Black Moor

This fish is black and has a peculiar head shape. It is a bigger goldfish breed that has huge flowing fins and telescopic eyes that protrude from the head like a pair of binoculars.

Black Moors are messy fish and require ample space for them to thrive well. They consume a lot of food, especially pellets. But you should vary their diet with insects and vegetables once in a while. Independently, they can subsist on insect larvae, algae, and soft aquatic plants.

Guppies

Guppies have tails with bright colors that you can see from a distance despite their diminutive bodies. They can live with other types of fish without any problems and can survive in warm waters. They can reach 2.4 inches in length and can live for up to four years.

They are also hearty eaters and are known to eat their young ones if they do not get their food on time. For this reason, you have to be alert with their feeding times. Owing to their small sizes, you can have as many as you want in a single pond.

Golden Orfe

The Golden Orfe is used to living in fast-moving rivers. This means they require an environment that is clean with the right amount of oxygen for them to survive. You also need a powerful filtration system on top of setting up air pumps in the pond before introducing the fish.

It is clear from all these conditions that sustaining a golden orfe is not a low-cost undertaking. In fact, you will need to go out of your way to make the water habitable for them.

The fish can reach 18 inches and have to be kept in a group of at least five as they are highly social fishes. Solitary life kills them.

Mosquito Fish

If the threat of mosquitoes is what keeps you from setting up a pond in your backyard, then consider adding Mosquito fish. Their name derives from their love of eating mosquito larvae, which makes them a natural pesticide agent.

The mosquito fish also feeds on algae that grow in their natural habitat, on top of flakes that are fed to them. They grow to about three inches and can live for up to two years.

Conclusion

When stocking your pond with fish, be cautious of the population. Having too many of them will cause unnecessary overcrowding, and you will not be able to take care of them properly.

All you need to keep in mind is that they are animals like any other pet, and they require your regular attention. Therefore get cleaning tools from the best filter mat manufacturer to get everything under control.

If you have any suggestions to add, please do so in the comments below. Also below, you will find several links to take you to more interesting articles about ALL things DESIGN.

Images Courtesy of Canva.

The Top 8 Pond Fish Varieties You Should Know About

8 Pond Fish Varieties for Your Backyard