Frequently Asked Questions

We are often asked questions by customers whilst on site or by e-mail. If you wish to ask a question then please e-mail us and we'll get back to you and publish your question on our site in order to help fellow fish enthusiasts. Here are some Q&A's you may find helpful.

Q When I feed my fish I often see them rubbing themselves against the side of the pond. Is this normal behaviour and can I stop them doing this?

A The simple is yes this is normal particularly after feeding when fish can be seen to make exaggerated movements with their bodies and fins. They often excrete at the same time and again this is quite normal.
Our advice is to keep the pond clean so if a fish should become injured the chances of an infection are reduced and so the wound would heal naturally. Most pond walls and bottoms carry a layer of algae and or blanket weed and this affords the fish some protection.

Q Is it possible to keep all of my fish free of parasites all of the time?

A Sadly it is not. All fish carry some sort of parasite, which in general cause few or no problems. If they have become a problem then the fish will generally thrash about regularly during the day through irritation. However, don’t confuse this with occasional thrashing, as this is normal behaviour.

Q This year our pond had a lot of tadpoles in it. Are they a problem and can they harm the fish?

A In general the answer is no they cannot harm the fish directly though they can cause a drop in water quality (nitrite levels should be monitored) if there are a lot of them. Fish generally eat them and that tends to keep the numbers down naturally.

Q Why do my fish appear to be gasping for air on the surface of the pond and I am concerned they are not well or happy?

A There are two main reasons why fish do this.The most common is oxygen starvation which can be cured by getting more oxygen into the water. this can be achieved by such items as waterfalls or fountains or perhaps an air pump. You can also use an oxygen stabiliser which with a small dose will cure the problem quite quickly but will not provide a permanent solution. Introducing oxygen naturally is the best way.