pond fish

[johntaylor99]

I have a pond approx 6'x5'x2' deep it has 12 assorted gold fish and koi's. The water is clean with water cascading into it plus an air pump with two outlets. I put a handful of fish pellets in every morning but they don't ever come up to feed and most of the food is still there the next morning. What am I doing wrong?

[mdenning]

it may be that the fish are eating naturally from the pont without the pelletts - try feeding them only two or three times a week

[paddywak]

as mdenning says they are probably getting enough natural food, if your pond is established and balanced there is actually no need to feed the fish and all your fish food does is encourage growth and enhance the colour of the fish. When I first set up my pond some 15 years ago I was told the secret of feeding was little but often and if there was any food left floating after 5 minutes you had given them too much food

[Ratty2E]

You don't say if it is an established pond or how long you have had the fish but I would scoop out all uneaten food after 5 mins or so then leave it a couple of days then try again. If they are not eating it at all and it is a well established healthy pond then as has been suggested they are probably get enough from the natural algea and beasties in the water. I have 6 large Koi and they are like a pack of starving piranha every morning.

[kumar73_-]

you are feeding the pond not the fish