At what temp. do I stop feeding?

[Delco]

I live in NJ and have a small pond with some gold's, comets and a couple frogs. I have heard that at a certain temp I should stop feeding them. Is there such a temp? Also, what should I do to winterize the pond?

[thom336]

I dont think there is an exact temperature at which you should stop - but as the fish become less active, you should feed less and less, as they are using up less and less energy. I think you can get winter food now which you can feed throughout winter months...but Ive never tried any myself - and I stop feeding from near the start of december I think until into febuary. And the fish are always fine afterwards. Alot of people turn pumps of over winter - certainly have it off when/if the pond freezes over - but keep it on as much as you can. You can also get pond heaters - which keep an area of ice on the surface open, but again I leave my ponds to just freeze over. Never crack the ice on top.

Hope this helps.
Thom.

[BigFishDude]

It's usually best to stop feeding them when the water temp dips 50 degrees and under. The fish will eat at that temp. but they will be unable to digest it and it could be harmful. HTH!!!

BFD :)

[Delco]

Thanks Guys.

[BigFishDude]

No problem :)

[hdhearts]

I have a 800-900 gal pond stocked with about 25 feeder goldfish and one comet, I stop feeding them when the water temp is 50* and just let the pond winter over. I leave my pump on all year long and if the pond freezes over I still have an open space by the water feature. I haven't lost any fish and every spring they spawn like crazy.
Hope this helps.

[thecareys]

thats a good idea soon as i purchase a house im building a koi pond.

but its good to have a hole in the ice so the toxic gasses can escape