How to Move Pond Fish Indoors for Winter

During the winter months, your pond needs to be cleaned out to remove any buildup of mud or decaying plant fragments from the water from over the summer. Tree leaves can throw off the ecological balance of a water garden, according to the Water Garden website. To avoid complications with your fish while you winterize your fish pond, you can prepare your fish with a few simple steps to move them indoors for safe-keeping during the winter months.

Things You'll Need

  • Pond skimmer
  • Tank
  • Large bucket
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the fish from the pond before the pond temperature drops to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This will help lessen any distress or shock on the fish as the fish adjust to indoor temperatures. Fill a bucket with water from the pond enough to accommodate the fish and then set the bucket aside.

    • 2

      Collect the fish, gently, one at a time with a pond skimmer and then, slowly, lift the pond skimmer from the pond water, placing it into the bucket filled with pond water. Dip the pond skimmer slightly under the pond water's surface to allow the fish to swim into the pond skimmer on its own.

    • 3

      Fill an aquarium, trough or another non-toxic tank or container with pond water. Lower the fish into the tank by gently lowering the bucket to just underneath the surface of the water. Then gently tip the bucket to help the fish swim out the bucket on their own. This will help the fish not to collide when swimming out. The water should be filtered and aerated. If possible, you can use a pond filter to do this. The large aquarium or container needs to be high enough on both sides to keep the fish from jumping out or have a cover to help keep the fish from escaping.

    • 4

      Feed the fish on a regular basis. Don't over-feed the fish because the fish are now in more of a crowded environment than they were when in the pond. To keep the fish's color from fading because of a lack of sunlight, include spirulina in the fish's diet.

    • 5

      Cater to the pond. After you have removed the fish, the outdoor pond should be left almost full. Place a couple of plastic milk jugs or other containers to float in the pond. This will help keep the pond water from freezing. Drain and remove the plumbing or tubing connected to the pond and you are done.