So far so good. No problems with either fish or frogs, plants etc. The weather keeps changing so I haven't fed the fish much at all. My sisters in-laws are moving soon and are having to leave behind their lovely pond so I am hoping to pinch some of the occupants before they go, but I am not sure what and how many.
Alison

Last year I had four small goldfish and three small ghost koi in my fairly new pond, which didn't have a great deal of plant cover then. I lost them all to a heron.

This year I have just two goldfish and a lot of plant cover, and I'm pleased to say that the fish have come through the winter safely and look very well.

I'm not feeding them. They came from a small glass tank early last summer, and I tried offering them the flakes they were used to but they weren't interested. I think they were bewildered by the new natural menu available to them!

hi chris. pond temp 12 today, been upto 14 a few weeks ago. no losses as such but we moved a few out last weekend to a friends pond. the idea is goldies out koi in. sad to see them go but its a nice pond and they'll be fine. on the health aspect one or two with slight bacterial problems. dont think its bad but temp is hampering treatment - hopefully it will warm up? and one whos had a nip i think - through the net (see previous post) we had him out again and the fin was seriously knackered at the front edge, waving in the breeze and obviously irrtating the sore beneath. so we put him out and had to trim the fin. the wounds been cleaned and dressed, well keep up the salt baths and hope for the best - looks sore tho? fingers crossed. would at least like to heat the q/tank but not got the reddies at the mo. feeding little due to temps. what about you? jo o/

I've heated all winter to 15'c and been feeding twice a day with wheatgerm. The younger fish have grown well, more than doubling in size since last summer. Pond temp is now 17'c using a combination of electric heater and solar heater. Healthwise its been pretty good, a couple of weeks ago I did a three course F&MG (shotgun)treatment for parasites after a few fish started flicking and this seems to have done the trick. The younger fish have a scorching case of carp pox but I'm not worried about it as it'll clear up as the temp increases and they get older. I've just been jet washing my Q tank ready for a new fish or two, but I haven't seen the fish I want yet in my local dealers. If I do get a couple of new fish I think I'll have to move on a couple in the pond.
Chris.

caught the last dodgy one tonight and its just pox - phew ty o/

Just bought two 4" fish this afternoon. A nice kohaku and a gin rin showa, both bred by Ogata. But I've had a bit of a disaster, somewhere between being bowled at the dealers and the Q tank, the showa's left peck has been broken at the root. It could have happened in transit from dealers to home as some pr*t cut me up forcing me to brake hard, or when I introduced them to the Q tank as they freaked out hitting the sides of the tank, air stone and pump like bullets. I don't want to stress them more by catching for a closer look just yet so have treated the Q tank with acriflaverin as a precautionary anti-bacterial.
Anyway I'm thinking of moving on my ghost koi, would anybody be interested in a three year old, gold/bronze 15" ghost koi. Must go to a pond of at least 1000 gall. and 3 1/2' deep, preferably bigger (Kazzie).
Chris.

ideal in a new pond kaz? sorry lake lol but they may eat the ducks? o/ hope the newbies are ok chris?

Thank you for thinking of me Chris... would it be too late to take you up on your offer nearer summer... I'd like to get the air-bricks in first (I need to run electricity down the garden). My local aquatic centre didn't have any ghosts when I popped in for a browse recently. Where are you in Essex (was it Colchester)? I'm close to Hockley.

No problem Kazzie, I'm on leave until the end of June so you could leave it as long as that. She's in good health, still growing well and a very keen feeder, not quite hand tame but getting there. I'm glad she's going to a good home, big pond. I'm in Hornchurch but can deliver.
I've just anaesthetised and checked my new showa, the left peck is definitely broken on the first few rays 2-3 mm from the knuckle as long as infection doesn't set in it should heal but will probably be a bent/kinked pec, shame as it is a nice fish. I took some pic's but haven't loaded them from the camera yet, will post them later.
Chris.

Many thanks Chris, much appreciated!