Pond too warm?

[bobbiek]

Our pond is beginning to settle down, and I have only scooped out a couple of dead goldfish, so I think it is doing well.

However, over the last couple of days, I notice that some of the goldfish are swimming very fast during the very hot afternoons. I have moved a room screen next to the pond to help keep it from getting the late afternoon sun.

Is there anything else I can do at the moment to help the poor fish? I understand that as the water gets warm, it holds less oxygen, which is likely why they are so active.

I am running the filter/fountain constantly, to make sure all is well as far as that goes.

[Rosefriend]

I had a pond many moons ago and wasn't very successful as my fish died each year (in winter mostly) but I remember being told to keep the pump running all the time in warm weather and to watch that the plants don't get out of hand...

Good idea with the room screen as well..

Hope someone else can help Bobbie...

RF

[andy]

Maybe the fish are spawning bobbie, they will chase and splash in the shallow, warmer water and lay their eggs. It's like a Roman orgy in the pond at work this morning with probably over 1,000 fish spawning at the same time.

Generally, unless they're actually at the top gulping for air....which they will tend to do more early morning, the goldfish will actually love the warm sunny conditions.

[bobbiek]

Thanks all. We've had VERY warm weather 33c today, and it was in direct sunlight all afternoon. Since our pond is small, I was worried it would get too warm.

The divider brought it into the shade in the afternoon, and I bought a sun umbrella for over the pond during the worst of the heat.

Thanks for the reassurances. Maybe we will have baby goldfish. That would be a nice surprise.