i have large goldfish in an outside pond. For the past week they are dying one-by-one. What to do?

Answer 1

It sounds like a nitrate problem. Have you checked your water quality in the pond? Chances are your fish had little ones over the winter (even though you cannot find them yet). Check the levels.

Ponds are usually over run with rain water and lowers the PH levels in the water. A rapidly dropping PH will do more harm to a fish than nitrates. Have you topped off your pond?

Have you done the spring maintenance on the filter?

Test your water, this will be the key to what is wrong in the pond.

Feel free to email me and i'll try to help further.

Answer 2

Chances are your nitrates are elevated. Now that the spring is here, all the leaves which are in the pond are starting to rot, casting off nitrates which the biofilter isn't absorbing. As well as any new additions since fall.

As was mentioned a water change is needed. Also, check your PH from rain water and ice.

As for disease, highly unlikely since they have just come out of hybernation. Pox maybe but they will clear up as the water warms.

Also, if your pond was on freeze over, had anyone pounded on the pond? Did you stop feeding your fish at the proper time in the fall?

Test your water.

Answer 3

Have you tested your pond water? You have a few good answers here. High nitrates from winter sitting is usually the cause of fish die off in the spring.

Also, when did you start to feed them again? I would test the water and do a cleaning. My ponds are always filled with leaves come spring and I know I had cleaned them out the fall before.

Answer 4

As spring arrives many changes can be going on in your pond. Increased sun light but cool nights causes fast temperature changes and sudden algae growth. Quickly changing temperature can cause a condition called a "roll over" that can kill fish. Rains or snow run off can change pH and hardness very quickly. Bacterial blooms are common as are various other micro organism blooms. Any of these things could be the cause and it's often tough to nail it down in time to save fish. If you have a water test kit, run the numbers on the pond for pH, hardness, ammonia, nitrates and temperature. Also note the color of the water. If you have a secchi disk take that reading or lower a white item in the water in a shaded spot and see how deep you can see it. Email me with this info along with the average day and night temperatures and an estimate of the amount of rain you have had in the last week and we'll try to nail down a cause and a cure to the problem.

MM

Answer 5

It depends on where you live, if it is cold then they need to be able to go below 18 inches below the ground and make sure your algae levels are right and that your pond is balanced. you can pick up a local test kit at a fish store for a few bucks. I also recommend that you have some live plants and that the water is constantly moving along with a possible filter system.

Answer 6

since its winter going into spring it may be the temp. u need a top for ur fishes pond and trust me ur fish will die over the winter time period. The water is too cold and to stop freezing snow, rain, hail ect. from getting into the pond i would suggest a top.

Answer 7

Have you checked to see what you ph level is ? Is there food enough in the pond for them to eat?
there is a lot of things that may be wrong.

Answer 8

Along with the other suggestions here, you may want to note if the fish have any signs of disease - white lumps or spots, red ulcers on the skin, or "fuzzy" areas. Also, are there any signs of attack by a predator (scratches, missing scales, or bites)?

You may email me as well.

Answer 9

Get new fish