Bringing pond fish in for winter.

[Mark Z.1]

Hello all,

Because of mishaps in past winters, I am bringing my goldfish and mosquito fish inside this winter where they will be safe. Eight small goldfish and about a dozen or more mosquito fish. I will keep them in separate tanks because the mosquito fish nip the goldfish fins. (They are not in the same pond; the goldfish are in a small pond and the mosquito fish are in a tub.)

I know that they are not supposed to be fed in the winter when outside, but since they will be inside, should I feed them throughout the winter?

Also, could I overwinter my lily plant inside since I will be draining the tub that it is in? Maybe in a bucket in the garage?

Thanks,
Mark

 

[Jennet29 87]

Fishlab says :

What to Feed Mosquito Fish in a Tank​

When living in an aquarium, mosquito fish will eat almost anything that is introduced into their habitat. They can survive on a diet of dry flake and pellet food, although it is recommended that their diet be supplemented with a natural food source, if possible. While it is possible to catch mosquito larvae or purchase them in certain places, they don’t necessarily need them in their diet in captivity.

Foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, and scuds are the most common choices in place of larvae. In a tank, mosquito fish will likely eat their fry, which is why it is recommended they are separated at birth if you want the fry to survive.

When they were first introduced to new bodies of water to combat mosquito populations, it was believed that most, if not all, of the mosquito fish’s diet, came from mosquito larvae. This is now known not to be true and, in fact, quite the opposite. Research has shown that they can suffer high mortality rates when only fed mosquito larvae and the fish that did survive showed poor growth and maturation.

 

[GaryE10 8]

They will eat all winter. I'm assuming they'll be at room temperature. The US is a big country and you aren't precise about where you are climate wise.

Wait til you see how filthy goldies can be. I used to overwinter them from a pond at a school, and grew to hate them. And they grew to be big and old, til a heron showed up one summer.

 

[emeraldking29 80]

Both type of fish indoors should be fed during winter unless the room temperature is below 50°F. Depending on the room temperature, the frequency of feeding will differ.

Keeping a water lily indoors is no problem.