Episode 89 - Pond design and fish welfare

[@georgecromar4094]

Great to see you back Andy 😀

[@nickminter7994]

Great 😊 nice to get an update, will be looking forward to the summer one.

[@greenmachinesweden]

Well spoken Andy. Fish have much more delicate feelings than we sttribute them. I rescued a surgion fish from a far too small aquarium where it was just swimming round and round the only rock in there. In my tank it did the same for 6 months. Just swimming around one rock. Clearly stressed and not well. But after a wile it recovered and started to act normally. Nice to see you back! I guess 23 fish.

[@Varonica268]

Finally, a post after so long. My estimate guess for the fish is, most likely some what around 27.

[@stevenlane2641]

Great to see you back and looking well. Your pond is looking good. Personally I’m not a fan of unplanted concrete aquariums, great for us watching fish, but not so much the fish. I’d be interested to know if there is a difference in the age a fish lives to in a more natural pond compared to a unplanted pond. My pond is a rectangle, mainly because it’s built from sleepers, but it has a planted island and several marginal plant baskets, making it look more natural. This means it’s not so easy to keep clean and difficult, at times, to net fish, it also is on 2 levels which adds to the problem. But, most importantly, the fish seem to like it. They’re always trying to find food it the over hanging leaves and cover is never far away if they feel unsafe. Everyone wants something different from their pond, so it’s always down to your own personal choice, I prefer a natural looking pond. I think you have 37 fish in your pond. Stay safe and well 👍🏻

[@KoiRun50]

Love this video Andy. I think you have 20 fish. My koi love the bottom of my pond to rest. I also have a couple of koi that like to rest behind the waterfall because it is sheltered there and has hardly any current.

[@LauMagroTheFrenchKOInection]

So enjoyed this video. Pond/water/fish keeping is such a mix bag of different practices. Just because sometimes because of the different fish we keep, or shape of the pond, different food, different filtration system. So many people talk about stress in fish, yet I feel, don't put any thoughts about netting a fish to show it or see it closer. Netting because something is drastically wrong is something, netting for the sake of it can cause so many damages and it can take a very long time for a fish to recover. Netting right in the middle of the feeding season is not good at all, netting in the middle of the winter can be catastrophic. I do however think that fish or birds need to have that element of natural stress in them (more than in mammals) in order to survive. I think you have 37 fish in total.

[@greenmachinesweden]

Well spoken Lau! Netting for fun is a disaster.

[@markevans8948]

Grt video Andy

[@carollycett1329]

Lovely to see you Andy again have you thought about adding a retro fitted bottom drain I've just installed one can't believe the difference its made to my pond its on my you tube channel . Just a guess think around 25 fish stay safe and well fingers crossed

[@SteveSandersonArt]

A lot of very good points, you have to wonder why almost every koi keeper on you tube, seems to suffer from koi parasites every summer. We know stressed fish are far more susceptible to disease and parasites, I believe over stocking is a major issue with the majority of koi keepers. Also probably weakened immune systems due to years of selective breeding. Anyway I know you had 4 mirrors, a tench and a crucian.... but how many rudd? hmm il guess 28 fish, but if there's loads of fry il be a mile off lol

[@Craig_Humphries]

If you happen to know, can you please tell me the name of the plant shown at 11:55? Thanks! Ps. I love the underwater footage.

[@forevergetraw]

33 fish