WALLY ASHCROFT'S Wonder of Pets

NOVEMBER has arrived and for those of you with a garden pond there are some jobs to be done before the temperature drops too much.

From December, pond fish slow down almost to the point of hibernation. Although fish feed at temperatures as low as five degrees centigrade, it is advisable to stop feeding when the pond is constantly below 10 degrees. At five to 10 degrees food might remain undigested in the gut. This can cause lung disease. As a general guide, the air temperature remains below 10 degrees from December until the following March.

The fish should be well fed before the 'hibernation' period begins, in order to build up their energy stores as they will have to live off this food throughout the winter months. Food which is offered when the fish are not feeding will only rot at the bottom of the pond and contaminate the water. Fish which are kept in a medium to large pond will not need feeding at all during the winter, whereas fish kept in a small pond may well need feeding occasionally. The reason for this is quite simple. A small amount of water will change temperature much quicker than a large amount. With our changeable weather the temperature in a small pond will rise and fall more quickly and the fish may need feeding one day and then not for some time after. The best way to tell is to watch the fish. If they become active on a warm day then they should be offered a little food. Floating fish sticks are probably the best so that you are able to judge the amount they will eat. Take great care not to offer too much. The inability of a small pond to maintain an even temperature probably explains why more fish are lost during winter in a small pond than a large one.

During the winter the pond should be cleaned and cleared of any dead plants and leaves. They are potentially dangerous because, when the pond ices over, the rotting vegetation produces toxic gases which can't escape and are potentially lethal to the fish. Never crack the ice as the shock waves can harm the fish. A pond heater will leave a hole in the ice large enough for the gases to escape. A piece of polystyrene or a ball floating on the surface can have a similar result, if the frost is not too severe. If the ice is too thick a pan of boiling water placed on the surface will melt a hole through. The pan handle will prevent the pan falling through the ice.

Overgrown plants should be cut back, but take care to leave the rhizomes in position just below water level. This will keep the frost off them. If you are considering a complete water change, it should be done before the temperature drops too low. The best time is just when the plants have started to die back. The tap water used to refill the pond should be treated with a neutraliser to remove the heavy metals and chlorines. The acidity of the water should be checked and corrected. It is important that all these things are carried out thoroughly, because during the cold winter months the fish are at their most vulnerable. They are also at their weakest.

By WALLY ASHCROFT, owner of The Pets Emporium, 2-6 College Street, St Helens and Sutton Corn Stores, 69 Junction Lane, Sutton.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.