Fish Pond

[fiftyplusfive]

We have a pond approximately 6 feet by 6 feet and 5 feet deep. We have elodea crispa and lilies in it.The water is very clear. We have 9 goldfish and have had for at least 5 years but they have never bred. Anyone know why?A friend has a pond and her fish breed very well

[Chipchopper]

That kind of depth would be very cold and with that sort of vegetation, very dark, I would think and maybe not conducive to breeding.
Is it 5ft deep all over ?
Is your friends pond the same size ?

[fiftyplusfive]

Its not overrun with foliage, we can see bottom. Edges of pool are probably 12 inches deep. Friends pond is longer and shallower

[grasscarp]

None of my goldfish have ever bred either and had them 8 plus years. Maybe they are same sex.

[jomifl]

Goldfish like to spawn in shallow areas amongst dense weed, this prevents the goldfish from eating their eggs. Make a spawning area as above which can subsequently be either closed off or removed after spawning to prevent cannibalism. Goldfish will spawn at 3"-5" in length.

[paddywak]

Try floating something like an old mop top in the pond so the fish have somewhere to lay their eggs,several of my friends have done so quite successfully.Mind you we've never had any problems in our pond in fact its just the opposite we have to catch some every couple of years to prevent over stocking.

[fiftyplusfive]

Do they breed in spring? Thank you all for answers

[hammerman]

Goldfish will breed in spring, mine at work spawn any time between April and June. You will usually hear them splashing around at the water's surface and then see thousands of 1mm amber coloured eggs (infertile ones will turn white)

try feeding some high protein foods when the water warms up in spring...maybe some live daphnia, frozen bloodworm etc....this might just get them in breeding condition. Don't over feed though....just as much as they'll eat in a few minutes, twice a day and do a few water changes on the pond.