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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Feb 5, 2007 18:31:56 GMT
So, would you wait until the water is permanently above 5 before you start feeding again? Ours was 8 last week
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2007 18:39:04 GMT
I feed my fish if the water is above 5C as long as they seem to be asking to be fed. But I will only feed them once in a day and I don't give them as much as I would in the summer either. Any uneaten food should be removed BTW to avoid polluting the water In the spring I will wait for the water to be permanently above 10C before changing back to foods designed to be fed when the water in warmer.
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Post by madonplants on Feb 5, 2007 18:42:11 GMT
Sorry forgot to add link, see above.
Keith
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2007 18:50:12 GMT
This is copied from Keith's link Feeding Fish in Winter. When the average water temperature reaches 55F (10C) you should stop feeding your fish with their usual food and switch to a low protein or, ideally, a vegetable based food supply. This is because it is difficult for fish to digest proteins at lower temperatures. The most commonly used winter feeds are wheatgerm based in either a stick or pellet form. Some pond foods have all temperature digestibility and can be fed the whole year round. When the temperature reaches 45F (7C) you should stop feeding your fish completely as even low temperature feeds cannot be digested at temperatures lower than this. Highly specialized foods such as Oase’s “Ground Formula” specifically for bottom feeders such as Sterlets and Tench, are digestible to temperatures as low as 38f (3C). Caution: Feeding your usual food to fish at temperatures below 55F (10C) can result in intestinal or stomach ulceration as the food sits undigested.
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Feb 5, 2007 18:50:45 GMT
Hi Keith, That link is so confusing as it more or less says that I can feed Earl but not the rest of the fish . Surely, if I put sinking pellets into the pond for Earl, the rest of the fish could eat it Am I best to just not feed any of them until the temp rises? It's so much easier looking after my cat
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2007 19:00:13 GMT
Susie - have a look at this link and this one too. HTH
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Feb 5, 2007 19:10:13 GMT
Thanks Rita, I have both of those feeds but, accordingly to other articles, sterlet, goldfish, carp have different dietary requirements. The sterlot sticks are a high protein food which could be disastrous to a community pond! I can find no information anywhere to say if or what I should be feeding Earl AND if I SHOULD be feeding Earl then how do I stop the other fish from eating his high protein food It's all VERY confusing S x
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Post by madonplants on Feb 5, 2007 19:22:01 GMT
To be on the safe side, 'well fed' fish will survive the winter without being fed. Some say check temp and if above 5 degrees feed, but what is the temp in the middle of the night? I remember looking at the forcast the other day. It said 10-13 during the day, but -5 at night!! The fish that are fed during winter, unless in heated ponds, can be more prone to disease come spring. That is not experience, but what I have read in mags. Why risk it!
Keith
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2007 20:24:49 GMT
I can understand your dilemma Susie, but I'm not sure what to suggest, other than perhaps sending an email to Tetra using this link. I think Earl will be fine through the winter if he isn't fed - I know of a few people who do not feed their fish from the beginning of November through to the spring, and their fish do just fine. Air temp will fluctuate greatly - but water temperature will not rise or lower as quickly as air temp. Even if the overnight low is forecast to be -5c a pond temp. won't drop that low - water temps. rise and fall gradually.
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Post by madonplants on Feb 5, 2007 21:15:18 GMT
I can understand your dilemma Susie, but I'm not sure what to suggest, other than perhaps sending an email to Tetra using this link. I think Earl will be fine through the winter if he isn't fed - I know of a few people who do not feed their fish from the beginning of November through to the spring, and their fish do just fine. Air temp will fluctuate greatly - but water temperature will not rise or lower as quickly as air temp. Even if the overnight low is forecast to be -5c a pond temp. won't drop that low - water temps. rise and fall gradually. Especially at the bottom of the pond, which is where they will be most of the winter! Susie, does your pond have any snails or insect larva in it, because Earl would feed on them if need be, and much better than some artifical feeds? If not like said, don't feed until spring, it is not that far off. The trouble with sterlets is they like it cooler than most fish, which is why they need good aeration in hot summers, but maybe need some feed during the winter in mild spells, whereas the other fish don't. If you are really worried, could you contact a local aquatic dealer for some advice. Keith
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Feb 5, 2007 21:19:05 GMT
Thanks for all your advice!
As the pond's fairly new, there isn't much in the way of 'natural' food just yet. However, as Earl is such a friendly chap, I thought that if he does come up for food I could probably hand feed him and just hope that the other fish don't get too jealous! Otherwise, they'll just have to wait until Spring!
S x
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Post by madonplants on Feb 6, 2007 9:48:45 GMT
Thanks for all your advice! As the pond's fairly new, there isn't much in the way of 'natural' food just yet. However, as Earl is such a friendly chap, I thought that if he does come up for food I could probably hand feed him and just hope that the other fish don't get too jealous! Otherwise, they'll just have to wait until Spring! S x Can you blindfold the other fish while you are feeding Earl? I must admit I did wonder whether he was hand tame or not. Keith
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Feb 7, 2007 18:29:02 GMT
Now why didn't I think of that Keith I don't supposed you know of anywhere that sells masks for fish S x
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Feb 19, 2007 21:18:39 GMT
I found the most amazing aquatics centre today, only 8 miles from home ;D. The guy that owns it is very knowledgable and was an emormous help. He explained that Sterlots thrived in much lower temperatures than carp or goldfish and thus needed to be fed throughout the colder seasons although on a low protein feed. We bought some SINKING wheatgerm food for Earl which we promptly popped in the pond! God bless his fins, he ate the lot in no time at all I now feel like a very BAD sterlot keeper but, shall do my utmost to keep the little fellow happy from now on! S x
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Post by madonplants on Feb 19, 2007 21:43:15 GMT
I found the most amazing aquatics centre today, only 8 miles from home ;D. The guy that owns it is very knowledgable and was an emormous help. He explained that Sterlots thrived in much lower temperatures than carp or goldfish and thus needed to be fed throughout the colder seasons although on a low protein feed. We bought some SINKING wheatgerm food for Earl which we promptly popped in the pond! God bless his fins, he ate the lot in no time at all I now feel like a very BAD sterlot keeper but, shall do my utmost to keep the little fellow happy from now on! S x No your not, because you found out what to do. Your only 'fault' is 'maybe' you should have done this beforehand. Don't feel bad, you did the next best thing. Keith
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Feb 19, 2007 21:46:20 GMT
Thanks Keith..............knowledge is a wonderful thing S x
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2007 8:03:47 GMT
How's Earl Susie?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2007 7:14:07 GMT
Bump
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Apr 18, 2007 11:48:10 GMT
Oops, sorry Rita ;D Earl's still fine and swimming around very happily. I'm a little worried about all of the algae on the surface though I'll get a pic of Earl as soon as I can.................he can be very camera shy you know S x
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Post by madonplants on Apr 18, 2007 17:24:55 GMT
Sterlets don't like blanket weed do they, so make sure Earl doesn't get caught?
Keith
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Apr 18, 2007 18:03:19 GMT
I don't have any blanket weed Keith, thank goodness . Just a green film over the top of the water........going to buy some more plants at the weekend which, hopefully, will help! S x
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2007 20:19:41 GMT
Hi Susie - I'm really pleased to hear that Earl has come through the winter OK Did you manage to find some suitable food for him? Are you hand feeding him now? Do you have a pump/filter in your pond running to a fountain or waterfall? What sort of plants are you planning to buy Susie?
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Apr 19, 2007 11:09:55 GMT
Hi! I managed to get hold of some sinking wheatgerm pellets for Earl which he seems to like I have a UV filter/pump which is on 24 hrs a day! I was thinking of buying some more oxygenators and maybe a couple of floaters as much of the pond surface is uncovered at the moment and the lily hasn't broke the surface yet! Any suggestions would be gratefully received Rita S x
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Post by madonplants on Apr 19, 2007 13:36:15 GMT
Susie, thinking about the algae, have you changed the UV bulb recently? They should be changed every 6 months or they won't work well. Sorry if you know this already. If this is the problem then floaters may not be needed!! Water hyacinth is a good floater, though. Keith
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Apr 19, 2007 15:15:47 GMT
Ooh, no I didn't know that Keith.............thanks S x
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2007 15:35:26 GMT
One floater I would recommend is Frogbit Susie, Hydrocharis Morsus Ranae - white flowers held above the surface. Green kidney shaped leaves up to 5cm. Dies in Autumn but seeds itself for following spring. I've tried Water Hyacinth but it didn't flower for me - I found it difficult of over winter too, as it is frost tender it needs to be brought in once the weather starts getting chilly. As for oxygenating plants - well there are loads to choose from, I have Elodea Crispa Lagarosiphon Major and Hornwort Ceratophyllum Demersum, but my favourite is Water Crowfoot Ranunculus Aquatilis All of which are available from Paul Bromfield Aquatics - bare rooted though www.bromfieldaquatics.co.uk/store/erol.htmlI took this photo last year of my Frogbit: and my Water Crowfoot:
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Post by madonplants on Apr 19, 2007 15:58:36 GMT
Be careful with oxygenating plants, you don't want Earl getting tangled up, do you? This is why you see sterlets in koi ponds, they don't have plants! Rita, you wouldn't want the water hyacinth to be hardy, it is a weed where it comes from!!! You could try something like Hippuris Vulgarus, which, even though an oxygenator, is grown as a marginal! Keith
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Apr 19, 2007 19:31:54 GMT
I'm really annoyed that were allowed to buy Earl in the first place as we told them exactly the set up we had<angrysmiley>
So, I'll go for marginal and floaters then, safer for Earl!!
S x
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2007 19:51:56 GMT
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Post by madonplants on Apr 19, 2007 20:23:44 GMT
I knew they can grow big, as the house we nearly bought in Caddington, before our last place, had one in the huge koi pond there and it was about 2.5-3ft long. I have also seen some biggish ones for sale at World of Water, with signs over the vats saying can grow upto 4ft. Do you know the type of sterlet you have? Maybe the shop just saw your money coming their way. Just give Earl the best conditions you can. What other fish do you have, Susie? Keith
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