Are you looking for the best fish options for your outdoor container pond or a small water feature? The good news is that you can keep many types of fish inside a smaller space but there are a few things you will need to know before starting.
Caring for fish in a container water garden or other small contained outdoor water feature is similar to maintaining fish an in-ground pond. The main difference being that a container water garden is more exposed to the air temperatures during the hot summer and cold winter months, but this is completely manageable with the tips provided in this article.
The Benefits Of Keeping Fish In Container Ponds…
1. Mosquito control. All of the fish mentioned below eat mosquito larvae on the waters surface.
2. Fish help to keep algae in check. This means less cleaning out containers, if ever.
3. They’re a lot of fun! The kids also love them.
Fish add to the overall health of an aquatic ecosystem.
What kind of/Size Container Will I Need?
First be sure the container you choose will be an adequate size for the fish. An 18-inch diameter or about a 25 gallon sized container can handle around 2-6 fish.
Half whiskey barrels, galvanized cattle troughs, sealed concrete and glazed ceramic containers are good choices. Seal any drainage holes with silicone caulking.
Types of Fish Suitable For Containers
To keep things simple, we will stick to freshwater types of fish.
Sorry to all you koi lovers out there, most container ponds are not big enough for koi fish, maybe with the exception of a large cattle trough. Some varieties can grow to become 36 inches long.
Despite being quite popular for ponds, koi need more water movement and aeration than most container water gardens can provide.
Goldfish seem to be the most popular option in container water gardens today. They won’t get too large for a contained environment and need no aeration.
Don’t worry, if you’re thinking of the “plain-old” variety you might have seen in fish bowls (known commonly as “comets”), goldfish come in a massive assortment of shapes, sizes, colors, and color patterns… even black!
The colorful (and exotic) looking types are called “fancy goldfish”. The most popular types are:
- Orandas
- Ranchus
- Shubunkins
- Lionheads
- Fantails
Japanese rice fish stay small and are very attractive.
Gambusia, also known as the mosquitofish will feed on mosquito and other insect larvae.
Rosy red minnows are another good choice for container water features. Minnows also come in a variety of contrasting colors.
Rounding out the top picks for container pond fish are Platys, Guppies, and Mollies.
Introducing New Fish Into A Container Pond
If you have a new water feature/container pond, let the chlorine evaporate out and for the water to stabilize before placing new fish in them. This should take about a week.
Allow your new fish to acclimate to your container’s water temperature by floating the fish in the bag provided by the pet store on the waters surface for 20 minutes during the morning or evening when the container is shaded.
Caring For New Fish
Give your new fish some protection from the extremes of summer and winter. Aquatic plants and some daytime shade help moderate heat from the sun. Parrot’s feather, floating water lettuce and water hyacinth are some easy aquatic plants to start with.
Birdbath heaters can prevent a container water garden from freezing over completely which cuts off oxygen to fish underneath. Another option is to keep your fish indoors in a small aquarium for the winter. Whether or not your fish will survive outdoors during the winter really depends on just how cold it gets where you live. Check with the pet store or online retailer before purchasing.
Feed the fish lightly with goldfish food, over time the fish will feed on small amounts of algae that will form in the water.
