Any pond makes an impressive addition to a backyard, but let’s face it – the most interesting part of owning a pond is watching and interacting with the fish.
But it’s not as simple as dumping a few fish in the pond and hoping for the best. The size of the pond, combined with the local climate has a major impact on whether the fish will thrive for years to come, or quickly go belly up.
If you live in a climate that doesn’t experience winter, then you almost have limitless options to stock your pond with. This article mainly focuses on fish that can survive in an area that experiences some form of winter – from only a touch of frost in the morning, to the bone chilling north, where the water freezes almost completely solid.
Recommended Pond Fish
Goldfish – Minimum Pond Size 250 Gallons (1136 Litres)
The goldfish is a staple of both pond and aquariums, and is a hardy and undemanding fish that is perfect for beginners. What you may not realize about goldfish, is that they can grow to enormous sizes if they aren’t confined to a goldfish bowl. It’s not unusual for a goldfish in a pond to exceed 12 inches (30 cm) in length and some have been recorded at sizes up to 18 inches (46 cm).
Because of their large size, any pond containing goldfish should provide ample space and strong filtration to ensure that they remain healthy. A good rule of thumb is to provide 50 gallons (227 litres) per goldfish, and to ensure that they have enough swimming space in a pond, the minimum size of a pond should be 250 gallons (1136 litres).
They will also survive in a properly winterized pond, and they will survive in a pond that completely freezes over, as long as the it is at least 4 feet in depth (1.21 metres) and the design encourages enough oxygenation – either through design or aeration.
Koi – Minimum Pond Size 1000 Gallons (4546 litres)
There are few fish that look more stunning than an adult koi in a pond, and no fish is more prized for its unique patterns are colors. Like goldfish, these fish can grow extraordinarily large in a pond, and it’s not unusual for them to reach 2 feet (0.60 metres) in length, with many growing up to 3 feet (0.91 metres) long.
Needless to say, a fish this large can only be housed in the largest of ponds, and the minimum size for a handful of koi should be 1000 gallons (4546 litres). The most commonly accepted way to determine how much space is required for koi, is to provide each koi with 300 gallons (1363 litres) of water, plus the minimum pond size of 1000 gallons.
Koi will also easily overwinter in all but the harshest winter environments. With that being said, any pond containing koi should be properly winterized, and should meet the minimum depth requirement of 4 feet (1.21 metres) to ensure that it doesn’t freeze completely during the winter.
Rosy Red Minnows – Minimum Pond Size 20 Gallons (46 Litres)
The rosy red minnow is often overlooked as a pond fish, but makes an excellent addition to any small ponds and even many of the larger ponds. It not only boasts a bright and attractive coloration, but is easy to care for, and incredibly hardy.
One of the biggest benefits to stocking rosy red minnows, is that they are well adapted to cold conditions, and will over winter in a pond, as long as it is properly winterized.
They also breed easily in ponds, and they will constantly replenish their numbers. Even with predation in the pond, don’t be surprised if you constantly find your pond full of juvenile fish.
Mosquitofish – Minimum Pond Size 20 Gallons
The mosquitofish would never be called a flashy fish, but it does have its own unique charms. While it is mainly used to control mosquitos in smaller ponds, they make an interesting addition in their right. The males takes on a brilliant red hue when they are read to mate, and they are one of the only livebearer fish that can survive in cold water.
While they can tolerate cold conditions, unlike many of the other fish in this article, they will die if the pond freezes over. And that is pretty well the only thing that will kill them, and they can be found thriving in some of worst conditions – from blistering heat to stagnant low oxygen bodies of water.
Even with predation outside, they will usually quickly overpopulate a pond, so you should always keep an eye on their numbers. Luckily they are often in demand for mosquito control, so you should have no trouble giving them away if the need arises.
Sunfish – Sunfish are another overlooked pond fish, and in my personal opinion, make a better choice than goldfish or koi. Some species of sunfish colors rival the most colorful of cichlids and they are hardy and extremely well adapted to cold water conditions.
One aspect of sunfish that makes them perfect for ponds, is that they tend to congregate near the surface and in shallow water, so they are always in plain sight, and don’t tend to hide like some koi and goldfish do.
Some of the most popular species for ponds are bluegill, pumpkinseed (my personal favorite) and redear sunfish. You should do some research to determine which species of sunfish are native to your area, and those will often make the best choice for pond.
Many people that stock sunfish in large ponds, often include predators like largemouth bass to help keep their numbers in check. If sunfish are left to their own devices, they may quickly overrun a pond and become malnourished and stunted from lack of food.
It may be difficult to find a fish dealer to stock your pond with sunfish, but in most areas you can find large scale fish farms that will agree to sell small number of sunfish. If all else fails, you can always go fishing – assuming it is legal to transport game fish in your area.
Fish to Avoid
Catfish – While some people do report limited success with catfish in their ponds, most will ravage any plants, and will quickly turn the water cloudy from their constant sifting for food on the bottom.
If you do decide to stock catfish in your pond, the one species that some people have had success with are channel catfish. You should always stay away from bullhead catfish, or any other of large species of catfish (many of which may be invasive, and illegal to own anyways).
Carp – If there is one fish that you never want to put in a pond, it’s almost any species of carp. No fish will destroy your pond faster than carp, and they can destroy a carefully planted pond in a matter of days.
That’s not to say that carp don’t have their uses in controlling invasive plants in some ponds, or when being bred for aquaculture. But if you want an attractive and inviting pond, stay away from carp.
It says “stay away from crap” in the Carp section.
lol. Thanks for that.
What about Dojo or Weather Loaches?
Weather loaches are actually some of my favorite fish, and I tried stocking my pond with them many years ago, but they turned out to be terrible fish to stock the pond with. It was just impossible to see them in the pond, and even the dojo loaches spent so much of their time on the bottom and in hiding, it was like they weren’t in the pond.
They should do well in the pond though, and if you have a smaller pond, then they may work. It’s too bad since they are such great fish.
Are there hardy fish that would help keep the pond clean without filtration…
What’s your climate like there? Snails are usually the best option, but I’ll need to know where you live and what your winters are like first.
Carp Crap
You would not sound any more silly, if you had said that Affenpinshers, Beagles, and Collies each made wonderful pets and loving companions, but under no circumstance should anyone ever consider getting a dog as a pet.
Do you realize that koi are not only a species of carp, but the word “KOI” actually means “CARP” in Japan and is their word for the species of carp that lives wild on the island? This is why what are called koi elsewhere are called “nishikigoi” in Japan, to distinguish between wild and fancy dressed carp? Goldfish are another species of carp. If kept kept together in a pond, koi and goldfish will interbreed to produce a third kind of carp, which is a hybrid of the two. The hybrid females can then breed with male koi to produce yet a fourth kind of carp. If you put koi and goldfish in a pond, withing a few years, you will have 4 different kinds of carp.
Greg
Did you not read the ‘almost any species of carp’, or did you just ignore it? Obviously, certain species are alright, as you could probably have inferred reading the portion about koi and gioldfish.
I was warning people away from common carp, bighead carp, grass carp, and several other species, which are highly destructive to a pond – far more so than a goldfish or koi. But next time in a general information article, I’ll be sure to include lots of Japanese words to ensure easy readability.
You didn’t mention darters or dace. Do you have any experience with them?
I’m investing what to put in my newly acquired small pond and are considering the rainbow dace.
I really enjoy keeping North American fish, and many of them are highly underrated for ponds and aquariums. I know the rainbow dace can make a great addition to a pond (as long as it doesn’t get too warm), but I don’t know anyone who has kept darters before. I’m sure the darters would be fine though. But to be honest, one of the best native fish are sunfish. If you haven’t tried those, they make for a great addition to a pond.
I may have just overlooked this, but I am looking for a fish that stays reasonably small. I have a 250 gallon outdoor pond and had a bad experience with a fish sold as a koi (and yes Mr Comment Guy above, I do know that koi is a carp) and ended up being a 2 foot carp. I live in GA. Any suggestion would be appreciated. Thanks!
Do you want them to be specifically ornamental? A lot of people have had great luck with native fish in smaller ponds like that and sunfish especially tolerate these conditions well. You could also do a native minnow tank, or buy some of the more common stores minnows like fatheads. Catfish are also great in ponds, though depending on the setup, they may be hard to see. Also, I don’t know if it stays warm enough there, but flagfish might be another option for you.
Hopefully one of these gives you a good idea.
I am planning on getting some fish for a fountain I have. It is pretty wide and deep. and plenty of room where there would be still water. I was wondering what would be the smallest and best fish to keep outdoors?
I personally love fathead minnows. They reproduce quickly, do well in all types of water, and still have great personality. Otherwise, mosquitofish are quite hard and small.
Where are you located? Depending on your climate, I may be able to think of a few more.
Can I keep fancy goldfish year round in Southern California?
I’m not from California, but the goldfish should be fine with the temperatures there. However, they are easy prey for predators, so make sure the pond is too deep for predator birds to stand in, and have a ledge around it so predator animals can’t scoop the goldfish out. They’re much less suited for life in the wild than common goldfish. But as long as it doesn’t freeze, the fancy goldfish should be fine being outside.
Hello, we have a .2-acre pond on a marsh-front piece of property in NE Florida, so I’m pretty sure it’s brackish water. We have what I’m pretty sure is chara algae that we’d like to control by stocking the pond with fish that will feed on the algae. What would you recommend?
That’s a difficult questions. Do you know how brackish the water is in the pond? Assuming its not too salty, there are a few fish you can try. Tilapia might work, as would several species of sunfish, white perch, and possibly even bass. Mollies might also work, if you don’t mind smaller fish that you really wouldn’t see much of.
I would test the water first to see how brackish it is though. Aside from white perch and mollies, the rest of the fish can only handle very mild brackish water.
I am in N TX, I have a pond form that is a lil bigger than 55 gal. I want to use it in aquaponics. Which fish would you consider $or farming fish for consumption? If any.
Tilapia is usually the fish of choice for aquaponics. It’s easy to feed and it’s good to eat (if you’d like to do that). Native fish like sunfish can also be good, though a 55 gallon would probably be a bit small for them as they’re quite aggressive towards one another. And while you can’t eat goldfish, they are great for aquaponics since they are tough, produce a lot of waste, and you can feed them with plant scraps which makes them cheap to raise.
Hi there, I am starting with 350 gallon pond in my backyard, NY weather. What type of fish best for my pond? thanks
Will your fish overwinter in the pond or are you planning to bring them inside?
koi and goldfish are types of carp, so you are recommending carp when you say not to use them.
I stated in the article ‘almost’ any species of carp. The small species like goldfish will do well in a pond, but any of the large species (common carp, big head carp, etc.) will destroy a pond.
I’ve got a small outdoor barrel pond and am thinking about adding some small fish for mosquito larvae control; but, I really am not interested in starting an overflow indoor tank for new fish as they breed!🤔 I really don’t see many references so far anyway, about what to do if you DON’T want to have dozens of new fish. Any comments about this? I guess, just keep one or 2 feeder goldfish?
There are a few options if you don’t want to deal with massive amount of fish fry in your barrel. The first you already mentioned—you can stock the barrel with goldfish. It will take a few years until the goldfish mature enough to breed, so you won’t have to work about it for quite some time. The other option is to buy just males for the tank which are easy to find with fish like mosquitofish. And the final option is to just buy one of each fish, so for example, you would have one goldfish, one mosquitofish, one rosy red minnow etc. Just be careful though as livebearer females are almost always pregnant when you buy them.
I hope this helps.
I like that idea of the variety pack! I never thought of that!
I have to say, in scanning different articles about fish in water features, I’ve never seen a mention of population control. Plenty of articles about WHY you shouldn’t have too many fish, and HOW to determine how many fish is too many, but rarely what to do to prevent it, or even, what to do IF you find yourself with too many fish for your water feature.🤔
If you know of channels, or articles discussing that, I’d appreciate pointing to them. I do find your suggestions helpful, and before this, I had imagined, getting 2 feeder goldfish and trying to ensure they were males as my likely option.