Classic Summertime Fish Concerns
Posted on: Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Summertime Stress
Summer, not winter, is the most stressful time of year for your fish here along the Gulf Coast. Why? Warm water holds less dissolved oxygen than cool water. On average ponds will have an ambient temperature in the low 90's during the summer months. Keep a watchful eye on your fish by observing the pond in the early morning, when oxygen levels are at their lowest. If you notice your fish up at the surface gasping for air, you've reached a critical point and must do something! If you don't your fish could suffocate. To avoid this situation, you can thin out the fish population, add splashing water, provide an aerating pump, or better yet, another pond as your fish family grows.
Going on Vacation?
Good for you! Enjoy! And whatever you do, DO NOT request, contract, plead or beg anyone to feed your fish while you are gone. Why? Invariably that someone (we call them the Designated Fish Sitter DFS) will overfeed your fish and possibly kill them. At least once a summer a desperate DFS will be at Nelson's trying to replace the fish that espired from overfeeding. Instead of a DFS just put in a few submerged plants and a fish feeder block before leaving. If you do plan to use a DFS simply have them monitor the pond and replaced the fish feeder block if needed. Fish feeder blocks last 2-7 days depending on the fish population and cost $5.99.
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