Fish Pond Stocking Recommendations

Stocking a pond whether for serenity, landscaping or sport is a good idea if you want to maintain upkeep and control vegetation as well as add to the beauty. And there are many types of fish to choose from when stocking a pond. It is not necessary to choose one type of fish, because most stocking fish can cohabitate. However, the first step in deciding what to stock in your pond is deciding if you want beauty, functionality or both.

  1. Koi

    • Generally, when people think of stocking a pond, they think of koi. Garden center employees generally agree that koi is one of the easiest fish to manage in a pond. People tend to enjoy the fact that koi become acclimated to their new surroundings quickly, and koi become pets in a matter of days. They are friendly fish that rise to the surface when food, such as crackers, bread or fish food, is dropped into the water. Another interesting habit of koi is that they will sometimes get into a routine where they wait at the edge of your pond for you to come see them.

      The koi is a patterned fish. Their colors are usually a combination of yellows, reds or oranges with black mixed into the scales. The growth rate of koi is accelerated in a pond, and the fish will reach about half of its final size in two years. Within the first two years, the koi will grow larger than 12 inches.

    Grass Carp

    • Grass carp are fish with a purpose, and that is controlling the growth of reeds, algae and other vegetation in your pond. The state of Indiana Department of Fish Management says grass carp are a good alternative to chemicals to control the growth of vegetation in your lake or pond because grass carp eat more than three times their own body weight in vegetation a day and do not cause lasting damage to your pond environment.

      A grass carp is a mid-sized fish at an average size of 3 pounds, and the fish has a lifespan of five to seven years. The triploid grass carp will not overpopulate your pond, because they do not reproduce or hinder other fish from reproducing. Grass carp are also a good choice for a swimming pond because they do not have teeth and do not bite. They eat the vegetation by filtering moss and algae through filters in the back of their throats.

    Hybrid Bluegill

    • Hybrid bluegills, which are a cross-mix between a female sunfish and a male bluegill, are a popular fish for stocking ponds for sport. The hybrid bluegill has a large mouth, which it gets from the sunfish female, and a semi-aggressive nature, which it gets from the bluegill male. The aggressiveness makes the fish grow expediently and larger. The combination of traits is great for novice anglers and fisherfolk looking for a new adventure.

      Experts' articles on fishing websites agree the hybrid bluegill will reproduce once or twice a year, which might overpopulate your pond, except that in a pond environment, the hybrid bluegill reproduces at a 90:10 male to female ratio. Most of the hybrid bluegills will reach between 2 and 3 pounds.