Causes of Pond Fish Sitting on the Bottom of the Pond and Refusing to Eat

Pond fish are usually of the carp family, which are both sensitive and hardy. Small changes in their environment can kill them prematurely, but these fish are well known for surviving for brief periods under thick ice. If a pond fish is not eating, something may be wrong with that fish.

  1. Illness

    • Illness in fish can be very difficult to diagnose, especially when you must try to capture a fish in a large pond of water. If possible, capture the fish and bring it indoors to a smaller aquarium to observe it. Use a reputable fish illness diagnosing website to try to determine what is wrong with the fish. If it is possible to save the fish via medical treatment, treat not only the fish in the hospital aquarium but the pond as well. The majority of fish diseases are communicable throughout community ponds, aquariums and even via tools that a pond owner uses in multiple aquatic environments.

    Injury

    • Capturing the fish and observing it is a necessity to determine if the fish is injured. Abnormal patterns in scales, discolored areas on the body, broken or torn fins and fungus infections in the mouth are all the result of injuries to the fish. If it is possible to medicate the fish, keep the fish in its hospital aquarium and medicate it as the packaging directs.

    Weather

    • During very cold or very hot weather, pond fish may simply stop eating for no apparent reason. Carp are cold water fish and, though they are very hardy, temperatures that raise water temperature above 80 degrees Fahrenheit can be a danger to their health. As winter comes on, many outdoor pond fish settle in and may appear not to move or eat for very long periods of time. Most pond fish food labels indicate a temperature at which the fish owner should stop feeding to prevent internal injury if the fish become frozen or very cold. If the pond continues to ice over, a floating heater is best to prevent loss of life from lack of oxygen in the water.

    Impending Death

    • Everything dies. Pond fish in ideal conditions live for a very long time, but eventually the fish will pass away from old age. It is difficult for the pond owner to determine the exact age of a fish when purchasing it, unless the breeder or warehouse that spawned that specific fish provides the information. Most pond fish sink to the bottom and refuse food as the end of their lives grows near.