30 replies to this topic

[Daisy32]

Hi, new member here.....have a question, I live in Michigan, have a small backyard pond...3,500 gallons 2 feet deep. I don't want Goldfish or Koi, what other fish can I use, that will survive the winters?

[Matt DeLaVega]

Daisy, the first thing I would suggest addressing is the shallow depth. Few fish will survive Michigan winters with only two feet of depth without some supplemental heating. You may already be on top of this, but if not, I would strongly suggest a couple of stock tank heaters. If that is addressed, you should have no problem keeping almost anything you want as long as it is not from the deep south. Two feet deep in Michigan could in some winters freeze solid. Frost line here in southern Ohio is 32 inches. I would not be comfortable here with overwintering fish in a pond any shallower than 3 feet. You may do okay one winter, then lose everything the next, and that would also apply to Koi.

 

Welcome to the forum. I am sure you will find it a wealth of knowledge.

[mattknepley]

I think Matt D is raising a valid point. Even here in upstate South Carolina my stock ponds will freeze solid enough that I can stand on them with out the least fear of falling through. Have pics of it here somewhere on the forum, but can not find 'em. I don't think there's anywhere above or below the bridge (Mighty Mac) that wouldn't be at risk of freezing two feet through sooner or later. But, if you can keep the ice to just a couple inches I think the possibilities open wide up.

Welcome aboard!

FWIW, my wife is a Michigander and we did some travelling through the state last summer. Here's a link to some collecting we did in the general Gaylord area. The Michigan stuff is toward the end of the first page.

http://forum.nanfa.o...amily-fishfest/

[Daisy32]

Daisy, the first thing I would suggest addressing is the shallow depth. Few fish will survive Michigan winters with only two feet of depth without some supplemental heating. You may already be on top of this, but if not, I would strongly suggest a couple of stock tank heaters. If that is addressed, you should have no problem keeping almost anything you want as long as it is not from the deep south. Two feet deep in Michigan could in some winters freeze solid. Frost line here in southern Ohio is 32 inches. I would not be comfortable here with overwintering fish in a pond any shallower than 3 feet. You may do okay one winter, then lose everything the next, and that would also apply to Koi.

 

Welcome to the forum. I am sure you will find it a wealth of knowledge.

Hi thank's for your responds...I've had goldfish in there for 15 years....had a heater in there for around 9 or 10, now we just let the filter run year round so their's always a whole in the ice. I was thinking about small perch or anything else you can suggest. I was using the heater in the winter to keep an open hole in the ice~

[Daisy32]

I think Matt D is raising a valid point. Even here in upstate South Carolina my stock ponds will freeze solid enough that I can stand on them with out the least fear of falling through. Have pics of it here somewhere on the forum, but can not find 'em. I don't think there's anywhere above or below the bridge (Mighty Mac) that wouldn't be at risk of freezing two feet through sooner or later. But, if you can keep the ice to just a couple inches I think the possibilities open wide up.

Welcome aboard!

FWIW, my wife is a Michigander and we did some travelling through the state last summer. Here's a link to some collecting we did in the general Gaylord area. The Michigan stuff is toward the end of the first page.

http://forum.nanfa.o...amily-fishfest/

Thank you! My pond has never totally frozen...have video of my goldfish swimming under the ice...Just want something different~

[Daisy32]

Daisy, the first thing I would suggest addressing is the shallow depth. Few fish will survive Michigan winters with only two feet of depth without some supplemental heating. You may already be on top of this, but if not, I would strongly suggest a couple of stock tank heaters. If that is addressed, you should have no problem keeping almost anything you want as long as it is not from the deep south. Two feet deep in Michigan could in some winters freeze solid. Frost line here in southern Ohio is 32 inches. I would not be comfortable here with overwintering fish in a pond any shallower than 3 feet. You may do okay one winter, then lose everything the next, and that would also apply to Koi.

 

Welcome to the forum. I am sure you will find it a wealth of knowledge.

how do I post a pic of my pond?

[Matt DeLaVega]

Golly, I should know, but it has been so long. Go to more reply options down by post. A bigger box will open and down below you will see an attach option.

 

Well, if you have had no problems with it freezing solid then you may have it solved already. I would still consider a stock tank heater as back up, but you have experience with your pond, I don't, so do what you are comfortable with. In that case, start looking at native fish of interest to you, mention them here and you will get some feedback. I would think if you are keeping goldfish alive you should be able to keep a variety of natives.

[gerald]

Northern longear sunfish or pumpkinseed are colorful and would probably do well.   Bowfin if you want a "character" fish.

[Matt DeLaVega]

Gerald has good suggestions, along with bowfin, which is one of my personal favorites, any species of gar would be fun to see. They like to sun themselves just below the surface, so you would get some good viewing. Topminnows, particularly northern studfish due to their large size would be easily seen from above. Gambusia, most hate them, but they will always be visible, breed like crazy, and make good food for other fish. They seem to be a bit intolerant of cold winters. Seems like the population in my pond is well into the tens of thousands in the fall, most fail to over winter, and they start again from the remaining several hundred. Mudminnows. Hardy as can be, may not see them, ever, but I would consider them. Also grass pickerel. Fish just don't get much cooler than grass pickerel.

[JasonL]

May be heresy on this forum but I would consider leaving some goldfish in your pond for visual interest along with adding some natives such as local shiners and sunfish. That mix has worked well in my outdoor pond with no issues.

[Matt DeLaVega]

Not all of the fish I mentioned are fully compatible. Some will be eaten if you have bowfin, gar or grass pickerel. Another good top view fish would be brook silversides. They would probably do well in a pond that size, but are real tricky to transport.

[Daisy32]

Northern longear sunfish or pumpkinseed are colorful and would probably do well.   Bowfin if you want a "character" fish.

Thank You!

[Daisy32]

May be heresy on this forum but I would consider leaving some goldfish in your pond for visual interest along with adding some natives such as local shiners and sunfish. That mix has worked well in my outdoor pond with no issues.

I will check this out, thank you!

[Daisy32]

Gerald has good suggestions, along with bowfin, which is one of my personal favorites, any species of gar would be fun to see. They like to sun themselves just below the surface, so you would get some good viewing. Topminnows, particularly northern studfish due to their large size would be easily seen from above. Gambusia, most hate them, but they will always be visible, breed like crazy, and make good food for other fish. They seem to be a bit intolerant of cold winters. Seems like the population in my pond is well into the tens of thousands in the fall, most fail to over winter, and they start again from the remaining several hundred. Mudminnows. Hardy as can be, may not see them, ever, but I would consider them. Also grass pickerel. Fish just don't get much cooler than grass pickerel.

Interesting....I will check this out, Thank you

[Daisy32]

This is my backyard pond,,,,

 

[Matt DeLaVega]

Can anyone see these attachments? I apparently do not have permission. Seems odd. Michael Wolfe, any suggestions if it is not my machine?

[Daisy32]

Can anyone see these attachments? I apparently do not have permission. Seems odd. Michael Wolfe, any suggestions if it is not my machine?

what can I do for you to see them

[Irate Mormon]

Jim Graham??

  Thoughts.

[Matt DeLaVega]

what can I do for you to see them

Probably this new computer, I just haven't downloaded some viewer correctly if nobody else is having trouble.

[Michael Wolfe]

Can anyone see these attachments? I apparently do not have permission. Seems odd. Michael Wolfe, any suggestions if it is not my machine?

Not working in my phone. Will check computer later.