Expert: Jonathan Cauble - 10/11/2009

Question
I live in carrollton TX new pond owner my pond is 2 1/2 foot deep and is 165 gal when do I quit feeding them? Do I need to run the filter or just the bubbler? How do the fish survive all winter? Do I need to put a water heater in it? I love my goldfish I'm just scared I don't want to lose my friends! :)

Answer
You should change their diet to a wheat-germ based food once the water temperature reaches 55 degrees Fahrenheit.  You stop feeding them once the water temperature falls below 40 degrees F.  Below 40 deg F their metabolism slows down and they don't need to eat.

It is a good idea to put a floating deicer in the pond to allow oxygen exchange in case the pond freezes over.  Your pond is deep enough that the entire water volume wouldn't freeze.  You should run the filter 24 hours a day unless is starts to freeze up.  If it does freeze, just run the water pump by itself.  Submersible and in-line pond heaters can be expensive but if you have the extra money, they can make the winter much easier on your fish.