Goldfish

[Sue]

Hi
Wasn't sure where to put this query, but dutifully following Bob Flowerdew's advice I bought two tiny goldfish to live in one of my allotment waterbutts - the two Bobs as I have rather unimaginatively called them. They are in the one that catches all the water from the shed and is open so was getting larvae etc, all of which they have eaten and have now grown very large on the larvae and my supplementary feeding.
With winter coming will it be OK to leave them in the waterbutt or should I bring them indoors. I have two branches in the butt to aid anything that has fallen in, would these be enough to keep an ice free hole?
Oh rats, today was my allotment day and it's pouring with rain, not much chance of digging today.
Sue

[Lesley Jay]

Sue Koi Carp can live through a harsh winter. They go down to the bottom of the pond and stay there. I was always told that goldfish couldn't survive outdoors during winter and a water butt is different to a pond. All the water is above ground level so it will probably be a damned sight colder. As for an ice hole I would float a small plastic ball on the surface. But where Bob and Bob are concerned bring them indoors and try to use some of the water in the butt to put in their tank because they are happy in it.

[Tensing]

I'd never considered putting goldfish in a water butt.

[Waffler]

This might be a good opportunity to ask whether anyone else would be interested in having a 'pond' topic, or similar (water garden??) I've been thinking about it for a few days as I am lucky enough to have inhereited a large pond with our house, complete with goldfish (who live outside) and trout (also outside). It could be used for discussing fish, water plants (inc bog gardens) water features, related projects, frog/toad spawn and their progress etc. etc.
Anyone else interested, or is it just me on my lonesome? (or is there somewhere like this that already exists, and I just haven't found it?)

[kirsty b]

Ponds are a sore subject round here

OH is currently excavating a very big hole in our very small garden cos he wants to make his pond bigger. His koi are currently residing in a dolav and whats left of the garden, if I can still call it that is covered in piles of concrete blocks and bricks ready for the grand building day.

Haven't thought about fishes in a butt though, anything that helps keep down the mozzie population sounds like a pretty good idea

Kirsty

[Lesley Jay]

Waffler it isn't really grow your own so I don't know whether we should have a board dedicated to ponds and water gardens. I will put your suggestion to the powers that be. Does anyone else want a dedicated section for ponds and water gardens?

[Tensing]

Oh I think it is, having ponds, mean you have frogs and frogs are organic slug controllers, so definatly "grow your own".

[Alison]

All our water butts have covers on to prevent leaves etc, do that goldfish need light or would they be OK in their isolation tank? Actually couldn't take the lid off as it would only give the cats a fishing opportunity. Seriously though if this keeps your water good then I'm all for it, just need a bit of advice.

[Lesley Jay]

You can't have goldfish living in the dark Alison.

[Alison]

Didn't think so (seemed a bit cruel) but am often proved wrong!

[Sue]

Lesley
Thanks for the advice, I'll bring them home with some of their water, which will be fun on the bus, will have to invest in a covered tank or I will have two very happy cats and no Bobs.
I would be interested in more about water gardening. I've been fascinated by how much my mini pond (a dustbin lid) has been used by frogs, toads and birds and I was really pleased to find some baby toads round the allotment. I'd love to have a bigger pond some day but veg is taking priority at the moment.
Perhaps a Wildlife thread rather than just water gardening?

Sue

[dexterdoglancashire]

A wildlife thread sounds good to me! DDL

[JennieAtkinson]

Sue - really interested in this! Would never have thought of putting goldfish into an open water butt.

How deep is the waterbutt? Will you keep them in the house over winter, or somewhere cool?

[rustylady]

Wildlife is really important to how we garden (allotment). The more you can do to encourage the good guys the better.

I'd love to have a pond, but I live in rented accom so have to keep the landlord happy. He's pleased so far because I have actually made it look like a garden (instead of a wilderness), but I'm wary of making too many changes.

As long as it is functional as opposed to purely decorative, I think water gardening is a valid forum subject

[nick the grief]

Fish in butts

I mix feed in my water but in bulk so they'd die!!

I wouldn't leave them in there if I were you as it could freeze solid. I always empty my water butt in the winter & point the spouting away from it.

As you don't use so much you can get pathogens in the butt (very painfull ) & it can cause damping off etc.

What I do is take a bucket of water down the greenhouse that is fresh from the tap & leave it over night to equalise the temperature & use this to water seedlings etc, then I give the butts a good scrub out with armillatox & make sure they are clean ready for a new year.