Keeping Goldfish Outdoors

Goldfish were originally bred for and are best suited for outdoor ponds. Their large bio-mass and active demeanor means that they need a lot of water space per fish. More so than most tropical fish. Their feeding habits also make them more suited for outdoor living. Goldfish tend to feed through out the day, scavenging for little tidbits of food here and there. Outdoors bugs and plant bits are always going into or growing in the pond, offering the goldfish the ability to scavenge and eat small amounts of food often. Some people swear that the natural sunlight does wonders for their color too, but it would be hard to distinguish if this is more from the natural foods or if it really is from the sunlight.

When planning for goldfish keep in mind the amount of water per fish needed and wether or not you want them outdoors year round. If you live in a cold climate you will need to know at what depth water freezes solid. Here in Rochester NY, it is usually recommended to dig ponds at least 3 1/2 feet deep, with 4 being a safer bet. Because outdoor ponds do not usually get as frequent water changes as indoor tanks and because goldfish tend to grow larger outside, 50 gallons of water per goldfish is usually recommended.

All types of goldfish can be kept in outdoor ponds. The less fancy varieties usually are easier to keep outdoors, however the fancy varieties can be kept outside too. It is usually best not to mix the fancier types with the single tailed goldfish (comets, shubunkins ect.). Celestial eyed goldfish and bubble eyed goldfish are best kept only with each other as they often have a hard time competing for food with the other types that can see better and the bubble eyed goldfish can easily have their bubbles injured.

When outdoors goldfish do not need to be fed often. Usually once a day or every other day is sufficient. If you want to feed them more often (because its fun!) just feed smaller meals. The goldfish will look hungry, they always think they are hungry, but they usually find enough bugs and plant matter to eat in an outdoor pond.

It is important to have good filtration and to keep it maintained, just like in an aquarium. Goldfish are dirty, inside and out, and an outdoor pond is also going to have many more creatures visiting it and adding to the amount of waste. Most commercially available pond filters are adequate for an appropriately stocked pond. You can also make your own filter using a pond pump, a plastic barrel, some tubing and some imagination.

Live plants are usually an important part of a pond, both for aesthetic as well as functional reasons. To prevent a large amount of algae growth you will need a decent amount of thriving plants to out compete the algae. Anacharis (elodea) is an all time favorite as it is easy to grow, grows fast and the goldfish enjoy it as a snack too. Lilies are also helpful (and beautiful!) as their large pads help to block sunlight to the water. Floating plants like water lettuce and water hyacinths are attractive and will also help with algae. Goldfish enjoy nibbling on their roots too. Live plants also provide a place for goldfish to spawn and for their fry to hide.

Keeping goldfish outdoors is a lot of fun and can be a real joy when done correctly. To be successful just remember not to over stock your pond, 50 gallons per goldfish is a good starting place, and to keep your filtration maintained. You will be pleasantly surprised at how beautiful and how big your goldfish get when outdoors.