Choosing Pond Fish

At rainbow's end, there's a pot of goldfish

There are a million choices from carp to goldfish, and finding your limitations will help narrow your choices.Two things determine which fish will thrive in your garden pond: temperature and water volume. Some fish, like pearlscale, lionhead and black moor, don't tolerate cold. Cold-water sturgeon are quickly gaining popularity in England for their beauty and hardiness.

Next comes your willingness to primp and preen. Koi are fussy and destructive. They need experienced attention and almost daily maintenance. They dig at plants and harass other fish. If you like to putter in the pond, koi are for you. Otherwise stick with goldfish and betta. You won't need to do much more than smile and wave.

Size matters

How big is your backyard pond? Dramatic fish like koi need a pond at least 4 feet deep and more than 500 gallons, so they can get out of the sun and lurk around. Koi grow to fill their surroundings. If you have a huge, deep pond, your koi will grow accordingly, to the amazement of your friends.

How does your garden grow?

Goldfish are ideal companions for the new pond owner. They're hardy, and respectful of plants. As you add lovely lilies and pretty parrot's feather, goldfish will cheerfully decorate them with brilliant colors as they dance and play among the leaves. Lilies, lotus and iris thrive around goldfish, and the fish will hide-and-seek under lily pads without disturbing the roots. Koi, the king-daddy of big garden ponds, root like schnauzers. They dig and tear, making a mess of potted plants, even knocking them over. Big water pools don't need as much cleaning, and thus don't require as many plants. If you want both koi and plants, cover your pots with netting or layers of large pebbles that the koi can't nose through.

Koi and goldfish get along fine together, so feel free to mix and experiment, finding the right balance for you. Although some small fish, like betta, are aggressive, they won't bully larger koi or sturgeon.

If you're new to garden ponds, ask around to find compatriots. Pond dwellers love to share their advice, and when it comes to pond fish success, experience is a pot of gold.