Water Garden

Oranda Goldfish

Water gardens typically contain both goldfish and a variety of aquatic plants. The photos above are of some of our outdoor pond raised Oranda goldfish. Oranda goldfish come in a variety of colors. They are slow moving and graceful swimming fish. They can be trained to take food from your finger tips. While able to exist and survive for periods of time at low temperatures as -  during the winter - they only thrive and increase in size at median temperatures.
 
In the autumn, as the days grow colder and the water approaches the 50 degree range, the amount of food consumed is noticeably reduced. When the water temperature drops still lower, the fish may stop feeding altogether and go into hibernation on the bottom of the pond. It is safe to say that under the ice the fish require no food until spring. During the winter the fish do not move about much and their respiration rate is very low. The less they are disturbed the better, as activity consumes calories - calories that they will need in order to survive. Because of the reduced metabolism, they can pass the winter living off of the nutritive elements that they store in their bodies throughout the warmer weather, it is likely that the major part of their winter reserve is built up in late September and October. At that time of year, food does not seem to be utilized so much to promote growth as to fatten them and carry them through the winter.
 
In October, goldfish often seem to be in the best condition, and their bodies have a firm, full robust appearance. So long as goldfish are fat and healthy, they do not seem to be uncomfortable when ice starts to cover the pond. Neither the cold of the winter nor the thickness of the ice appears to affect them, if the fish themselves are not frozen. The ice should be broken at interval to release the carbon dioxide and other gases that accumulate and become trapped beneath the ice. Living off their own bodies during the winter, goldfish can lose up to twelve per cent of their weight.
 
Spring nears and the ice melts away, they start to move actively and come out of the deep parts of the pond into the shallows to feed. As the water reaches about 53 degrees, the goldfish start to swim around and with renewed feeding they increase in size, this growth continuing until the following autumn. Ice can reduce the light, and snow on ice can cut it off completely, therefore, only a minimum of  plants should be allowed to remain in the pond over the winter. Otherwise, as the plants die and decay they reduce the available oxygen. Hardy lilies can remain in the ponds.

 

Water Lettus

Floating Water Lettus

Long flowing purple roots make this plant an great spawning plant for your goldfish. This floating plant grows in rosettes and baby plants sprout from the sides. A whole colony may develop by summers end. Mature plants reach about 6 inches across. This floating plant makes a beautiful textural contrast to other aquatics. Develops best color in shade, but likes heat and humidity.

 

Lotus

 

Mrs. Perry D Slocum

A beautiful water garden addition the lotus. This aquatic plant has large showy water lily-like flowers. These flowers are radiant above the waters. A very fragrant lotus with large double blossoms that open deep pink, change to pink and yellow the second day and creamy yellow on the third day. Stands 4' to 5' tall. For medium or large ponds.

 

Koi

Koi Varieties

Varieties are distinguished by coloration, patterning, and scalation. Today there are more than 100 different color types whites, creams, yellows, oranges, reds, lavenders, blues, greens and blacks. While possible variations are limitless, breeders have identified and named specific categories. The word Koi comes from Japanese, simply meaning carp. Both goldfish and carp belong to the same family. Koi grow much larger than goldfish. Koi like goldfish can be pond raised and easily be tamed and trained to eat out of your hand. Koi ponds are different from a water garden because Koi limit the amount of plant life available to be grown. Koi eat most pond plants but their dispositions are mellow and their mouths are toothless and soft. A large Koi can be safely be housed with smaller Koi and common goldfish. 

The Oranda and other slower moving fancy goldfish would have problems competing for food. Koi can grow quite large two feet in three years. Koi require large ponds. It is not uncommon for a healthy Koi to live thirty years. Koi can live for decades. One famous scarlet Koi, named "Hanako" (c. 1751 – July 7, 1977) was owned by several individuals, the last of which was Dr. Komei Koshihara. Hanako was reportedly 226 years old upon her death. Her age was determined by removing one of her scales and examining it extensively in 1966. She is to date the longest-lived Koi fish ever recorded.

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