Goldfish in ponds require a different diet than those kept in an aquarium, including flake food, pondsticks and pellets.
Koi carp (goldfish’s ancestor) have an aquatic diet consisting of algae, aquatic insects, aquatic insects such as flies and snails, other fish species as well as amphibians and even amphibians; similar to what sturgeon would feed upon. As these fish can reach large sizes they require constant food source to thrive.
Contents
Plants
Goldfish fisheries provide shelter to both plants and animals alike, while providing sustenance for both. Aquatic green plants like water sprites, water hyacinth and duckweed provide sustenance while also helping control algae growth in a pond environment.
Live fish foods like brine shrimp, micro worms and vinegar eels provide essential protein that help goldfish develop into large specimens. You can purchase such items either at your local pet store or home canning and freeze drying them; for optimal growth however it is advisable to supplement this diet with high quality pellet fish feed.
Goldfish in ponds also thrive on a diet rich in meat-based foods like small crustaceans, invertebrates, amphibian larvae like tadpoles and anything with high-fat content as it can clog their kidneys. When feeding during wintertime they become lethargic and cannot process food effectively so feeding should be reduced significantly – in summertime their metabolism speeds up and they require additional proteins.
Algae
Goldfish are omnivores, which means they will consume any algae growth in an aquarium or pond. Algae blooms quickly if conditions aren’t properly managed – whether this involves excessive light exposure, waste products that build up, nutrient deficiencies or an absence of fish that feed on it.
To prevent green algae bloom in a goldfish tank, the best approach is to feed less of their food while increasing aquatic plants that provide natural oxygen source. You could also consider purchasing Repashy gel food which features both inverts and plant material to maintain clean aquarium environment.
If your larger pond contains goldfish, adding an algae eater such as the rubber-lipped pleco or bristlenose pleco can help curb their population’s spread and growth of weeds. These species of pleco are more effective at sucking up algae than regular goldfish do and will keep its spread under control.
Invertebrates
Goldfish are omnivorous creatures that feed on both plant and animal matter, such as aquatic plants such as pond sedge, water lily, duckweed and algae. Insects which rest or lay their eggs on the surface of water as well as crustaceans, crustacean larvae, amphibian tadpole larvae are also consumed by them.
Goldfish in natural ponds are bottom feeders, using their maxillary barbels to explore the depths and surface. As pets, goldfish should be fed a similar diet; however, supplementations with essential lipids (linolenic and linoleic acids) for energy metabolism may also be provided as needed.
Feed your goldfish a diet consisting of pellets, flake food and live or frozen vegetables for optimal health. When feeding goldfish as young specimens it is wise to dole out small portions at different intervals every day.
Fish
Goldfish are bottom feeders and prefer natural pond environments where their maxillary barbels can explore the bottom surface, feeding on aquatic plants like lily leaves, algae, snails, clams and decaying animal matter. Goldfish may also be fed commercial food items containing protein that they need in order to thrive and grow.
An outdoor pond provides goldfish with plenty of options for food sources, from store-bought pellets and flake food, live foods such as brine shrimp and bloodworms (though these should only make up part of their diet), fish meal and algae wafers to increasingly popular gel foods that must be mixed with water to form gel-like textures.
Koi and other pond fish require high-protein foods during warmer months to facilitate breeding and healthy development; in autumn and winter however, their metabolism slows down and they require an easy-to-digest carbohydrate-based diet. Therefore, owners of ponds should gradually decrease the frequency and amount of food fed to their fish as temperatures decrease until winter sets in when hibernation will take place.