How to Relocate Pond Fish Indoors for Winter

As winter begins, the temperature of the water in outdoor ponds begins to drop. Small fish find it difficult to survive the freezing temperatures and therefore need relocation during the winter. You can use a pond skimmer to pick up the fish and subsequently dip it into a container that is spacious enough to prevent crowding. The chemistry of the tank water is a crucial factor that determines the health of the fish and needs frequent monitoring and replacement.

Things You'll Need

  • Container
  • Cover
  • Pond filter
  • Pond skimmer
  • Bucket
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Instructions

    • 1

      Get a large container ready to keep the pond fish. Select a large trough, aquarium, small wading pool or any other container. Make sure the container is large enough to hold a large number of fish. Check if you can fit a cover to it to prevent the fish from jumping out. Don't pick a container made of galvanized material because this can be toxic to the fish.

    • 2

      Place the tank in an area where the temperature will not exceed 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This will help slow down fish metabolism. Pour filtered water into the tank. If you are using tap water, de-chlorinate it or set it aside for a week before use. Check that the pH of water in the pond and the tank are almost the same. Alternatively, fill the tank with water from the pond to make it easier for the fish to acclimatize. Use a pond filter to filter and aerate the tank water.

    • 3

      Use a pond skimmer to collect the fish one at a time, by dipping the skimmer a little below the surface of the water so the fish move into the skimmer. Lift the skimmer from the pond and dip it into a bucket containing pond water. To reduce the shock of relocation, remove the fish before the temperature of the pond water drops below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

    • 4

      Lower the bucket containing the fish into the indoor tank and position it just below the water surface. Tip the bucket slowly so the fish can move into the tank water without hitting each other.

    • 5

      Feed the fish at weekly intervals, but avoid overfeeding, to prevent ammonia accumulation. Regularly check levels of ammonia and nitrite in the tank water. Change the water in the tank if you observe an increase in these levels.

    • 6

      Fish that grow in indoor tanks away from direct sunlight tend to pale in color. Add spirulina into the fish diet to prevent this fading of fish color.