What Types of Fish Should You Stock Your Pond With?

When setting up a garden pond, you really should take your time with everything, from the fish you choose to acquiring all of the essential koi pond supplies. Many beginners in this hobby often dream about the day when they get to stock their pond with the most eye-catching fish, but rushing toward this step of the process isn’t recommended. Instead of watching YouTube videos featuring lavish ponds filled with exotic koi, a better idea would be to think about introducing suitable species progressively. Plant life should always be first because it’s conducive to proper establishment and a full nitrogen cycle with the first bacterial colonies sticking to the biological filter and the substrate. Once plants take hold and you see how much space your fish will have to swim around, you can start researching the following species.

Koi

This species is the star of a garden pond, so you’ll want to introduce some koi once the pond is established. The pond will need a depth of about a meter for koi to feel comfortable. There are many varieties of koi that are highly recommended because koi are a gregarious, beautiful breed for a pond environment. It’s best to not add “lesser” types of fish with your amazing koi, as it’s like having a Ferrari and a beat-up clunker in the same garage!

Shubunkin

We don’t recommend adding common “feeder” goldfish because of the massive array of pathogens they commonly bring with them, and they don’t look very decorative with age. Instead, if you want to stay with inexpensive fish, try shubunkins. These fish look a bit like koi because they also descend from Asian carp that live in rice paddies. Try to get adults that have already grown larger than five inches. What makes this type of fish ideal to stock a pond is that they’re incredibly resilient and will contribute to immediate bloom of beneficial Nitrobacter colonies.

Crayfish

Known in some parts of the southern United States as crawdads, these crustaceans are scavengers and foragers that feed on algae, food debris, and even fungal material. Since larger goldfish tend to be messy, it’s a good idea to stock ponds with crayfish. Just make sure to keep river grass or plants that take root on the substrate.

Sturgeon

These bottom dwellers can grow larger than a meter, so they’re only recommended for ponds with a diameter of at least 10 meters or 32 feet and in a cooler part of the country, as they don’t do well in warm water. A single sturgeon will keep the substrate clean, and it won’t bother crayfish or any other species for that matter. Sterlet sturgeons will do their best to stunt their growth so they don’t run out of pond to swim in.

Plecostomus

If a sturgeon seems like it would be too large for your pond, think about adding a few plecos—which won’t grow larger than 10 inches—to clean the bottom. Plecos love feeding on algae, but they’ll be happier in warmer ponds. It’s best to remove them when the cold of winter arrives, as they’re tropical animals.

Siamese Algae Eaters

Schooling fish that can hold their own on a pond can be fun to keep. To this effect, forget about guppies and mollies because they breed too often. Algae eaters aren’t only larger but will also feed voraciously on algae as soon as it blooms. Plus, they tend to breed only when there’s an overabundance of algae. The same goes for all algae eaters in that they’re tropical, so bringing them indoors to an aquarium is best.

If you want to keep your pond fish happy and healthy for many years to come, it’s vital to have all of the essential supplies to maintain the pond properly. At Aquatic Warehouse, we have everything you need, from submersible pond pumps and vacuums to lighting and nutritious koi food. Order what you need on our website, stop by our store in Kearny Mesa, or give us a call at 858-467-9297.