I just made a garden pond. Can I put frogs/fish/turtles in it?

Question

I have a fish-friendly liner in it. Would I need a pump? Certain plants? Do I need to feed them? Do they just die every winter and what would I do with them (ew) in the winter?

Answer 1

i think you would need plants in there as well as feeding them when you can but i feel that there is no use for the pump if it is outside.

Answer 2

Rule of thumb is a minimum of 18 inches deep to support fish.  Shallower than that and they typically won't survive - the sun heats the water too much, and they're easy pickin's for predators.

Plants will provide shade and shelter and a balanced ecosystem in the water (as well as looking nice and making the pond look more natural).

Small fish can survive without a pump, but with a pump, you can run a filter -- which will help keep the water clear -- and a fountain or small waterfall which will oxygenate the water, which in turn will support more and larger fish (and help keep the water clear).

As for winter, you didn't mention where you live.  If it doesn't get cold enough to freeze over, fish will be fine.  If you're in a place that does freeze hard, you can still keep fish in an outdoor pond, but it takes a larger/deeper pond

Answer 3

Old people who used to live inthe house I am in now had fish in thier back yard pond. They would keep them in there for the summer, and then just move them into a inside fish tank for the winer. A pump would be a good idea. It puts oxygen in the water, and will also make it harder for algae or other junk to build up. You dont need plants, but they would probably make it nice for the fish for them to have a little protection and it would make your pond look nicer. Feeding im not sure about either, but most likely. I dont see where they would get thier food from if you didnt. A turtle wouldnt survive, they need warm temperature water, and without a huge heater the pond wouldnt support them. Frogs would be nice! You wouldnt have to feed them because they would eat the bugs that they find in the pond.

Answer 4

I live in zone 6, and I have several ponds, Frogs come on their own. You can buy Koi and they will live through the winter, but I shut my pump down in the winter. Just starting out, you should experiment with some cheap feeder Goldfish. They live through the winter without aeration, and are very inexpensive.

Some Turtles also live in Zone 6. Water must be at least 18 inches deep for fish, etc to survive.

Answer 5

yes you can put fish in it.  my dads friend put koi fish in his and they last through the winter because he has a pump running, which you would need as well.  just feed them regularly in the winter just like you would do throughout the rest of the year.