Pond Fish

Pond Fish bring life and color to the pond. We have listed the Pond Fish that are best suited for the Fish Pond. This page includes information on Koi, Goldfish, Algae Eaters, and bottom feeders like catfish and some other creatures which are fun to have in the Pond.

Koi

Lots of koi information is available online and depictions of koi care can be conflicting. This is a brief article explaining koi fish for ponds and koi for sale at PondMarket.

Koi are, without a doubt, the crowning glory of a pond. It takes excellent pond filtration and water quality to successfully raise koi fish. These spectacular pond fish are available in a vast array of colors and patterns. Koi are bred here in the U.S., and although nice looking, are nothing like purebred koi imported from Japan, Malaysia, and other countries. Soil conditions rich in certain minerals, which is where koi derive their colors and patterns from, cannot be duplicated here in the U.S.

Koi can live very long lives in healthy koi ponds (30 or 40 years is not unheard of, records have been set around 80 years of age). Koi (also called Nishikigoi, Nishi Koi, Brocaded Carp) need adequate space (approx. 500 gallons per fully grown koi fish)and some depth because they will grow to about 3-4 feet in length depending variety. Although the growth of koi is dependent on pond size, they will grow large even in small ponds. Koi are typically not recommended for preformed ponds or ponds smaller than 500 gallons. For more information on koi, visit our knowledge base.

Koi are very intelligent, can have unique personalities, and will become very tame. Koi that do not feel threatened will eat out of your hand and enjoy a diverse diet. It’s not unheard of for koi to eat watermelon, spinach, and other fruits and vegetables in addition to sticks and pellets. Fish are like humans and other pets in that a diet rich in vitamins and proteins ensures good color and health. Better foods have a higher digestion rate, therefore, causing less fish waste which leads to healthier pond water, fewer algae in the pond, and less pond maintenance.

PondMarket offers koi from Japan, Malaysia, and from domestic U.S. farms like Kloubec Koi, Blue Ridge Koi, Blackwater Koi, and Ozark Fisheries.

Goldfish

No fish pond is complete without some goldfish. Their bright orange color and lively movements add life and fun to the water garden. We offer the pond comet variety because they have nice tails and bright orange color. Some of them are even red. Pond comets can have white tails, transparent tails, and red or orange tails. Some of the pond comets have long fins and tails and are referred to as veil tail pond comets. Many varieties of goldfish are available (discussed further down this page) including Sarasa comets, shubunkins, red fantails, calico fantails, red cap orandas, and others. Goldfish limit their growth depending on the body of water they live in, which makes them the ideal pond fish for smaller Ponds.

High Fin Banded Shark

(a hardy Algae Eater)

Traditionally, the only algae eating fish around was the plecostomus, which is tropical and has to be taken inside once water gets below 55 degrees. Recently, Hi-fin banded sharks have become available for ponds. Hi-fin banded sharks are hardy and eat nothing but algae. Although referred to and named “shark”, hi-fin banded sharks are very gentle and docile fish. They play well with koi and goldfish, grow to 18″ long or so, and do a great job eating algae.

Butterfly Koi

Butterfly koi have long and flowing fins. They are absolutely gorgeous and can have fins in excess of 12 inches in length. Developed by Blue Ridge Koi in the late 1980s, these fish are hardy, can be chosen by species, and are an awesome addition to almost any pond. PondMarket stocks butterfly koi for sale from Blue Ridge Fisheries, Kloubec Koi Farm, Blackwater Koi, and Ozark Fisheries.

Plecostomus

(Algae Eater)

Extremely fast growing Algae Eater feeds on String, Hair and other filamentous algae in the Pond. These are tropical fish and must be removed from Ponds that might freeze over or in which the Water Temperature goes below 55 degrees. Great for smaller Ponds (where fishing them out is not a problem), or Ponds in sub-tropical areas.

Imported Koi Fish

PondMarket is one of the only stores and may be the only store in St. Louis, to offer koi from Japan and Malaysia. Many folks often wonder what the difference is between one koi and another with regards to color pattern. Imported Japanese koi and imported Malaysian koi are often purebred and have color patterns and vivid colors that can only be achieved from the country of origin. We offer Koi from some of the most prominent farms in these two countries.

Imported Japanese koi, regardless of the breed or species, require superior pond filtration, excellent pond water quality, circulation, and do well when a pond aeration system is installed.

Blushing Apricot Pond Goldfish

This is a newer variety of Goldfish. Light apricot in color with a transparent gill vents projects a “blushing” emotion, hence the name: blushing apricots. They are winter hardy and availability is limited. PondMarket is the St. Louis exclusive source for the Blushing Apricot Goldfish.

Albino Catfish for Ponds

(Bottom Feeder)

Albino Catfish are popular pond fish because they grow very large, are something different to look at, and can clean up the uneaten food that sinks to the bottom and help keep the pond bottom clean. Unlike other catfish, their color makes them easily visible. They are winter hardy and fast growing. Albino catfish are a great addition to a well-stocked Pond.

Shubunkin Pond Fish

Shubunkin comets are often mistakenly referred to as “shubookin”, “shuboinkin”, and “shubonkin”. They are also commonly mistaken as koi fish. Folks that are not overly familiar with koi often think they are koi because they are available in a wide range of colors and fin structures. Shubunkins are awesome for ponds because they are very hardy like their goldfish cousins. Shubunkins are one of several varieties of goldfish for sale at PondMarket. Shubunkins can be found in different shades of orange, blue, red, and white. Like the pond comet, shubunkins can be found with long and short fins and are as such referred to as veil tail shubunkins.

Sarasa Pond Comets

Sarasa comets are considered a “fancy goldfish” because of their colors of red, orange, and white as well as their majestic flowing fins. Sarasa comets are a pond staple and one of several varieties of goldfish for sale at PondMarket. Sarasa comets are a goldfish and therefore grow according to the pond size and typically do not exceed 8-10″ in length. Sarasa comets are available in a wide variety of color, patterns, and fin structures. Some Sarasa comets have very long fins and tails and are referred to as veil tail Sarasa comets. We typically have a mix of all kinds of these goldfish for sale.

Trapdoor Hardy Snails for Ponds

Trapdoor Snails are winter hardy, they will not overpopulate, and they help keep the pond clean. They feed exclusively on filamentous Pond Algae (Hair Algae, String Algae, Bubble Algae, etc) meaning that they will not eat pond plants. They are suitable for all size ponds and even do well in container gardens. Trap door snails range in size from the size of a quarter to the size of a half dollar.\

Bullfrog Tadpoles

Not only are they fun to watch as they grow into Frogs, they also feed on Algae and are winter hardy. Depending on various environmental circumstances, Metamorphosis takes between 3 months to 3 years. A great learning experience
for children of all ages!

Posted in Informational Articles and tagged fantail goldfish for sale, fish for garden ponds, fish for sale, goldfish for sale, hardy pond fish, imported koi for sale, japanese koi for sale, koi care, koi for sale, koi information, red cap oranda fish for sale, red goldfish, shubunkin

Koi