How Fish End Up In Ponds?
It is such an interesting mystery to think about how a once fishless pond before ended up having fish. Besides the fact that fishes have limited transportation means, it is a wonder for many people to be dispersed into a new environment.
How fish end up in ponds? There are three factors as to why fishes ended up in ponds: the fish were already there, brought themselves to the pond, and humans or other creatures put them there.
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In this article, you will learn about some theories on how fishes ended up in the pond. Managing the pond will also be discussed in the later part of this article.
How Did Fish Get Into Ponds?
Fish’ ways of transportation going to a new pond is interesting because it seems like they have a Star Trek or any sci-fi movie style transportation. But as for the theories as to how fishes ended up to ponds, here are the reasons:
Fishes Exist In The Pond Already
Although it is too whimsical to think about their pre-existence in the pond, still there are two possible reasons why they’re there already. The first instance is where the pond was made out of the dam, or any natural events that could form a pond. Some of the natural events are excessive floods that overrun the shore and fill in some empty valleys.
The second instance is where fishes are still surviving in regular droughts deep into the pond’s mud. Once the pond reappears, they would also cease to exist.
Fishes Transport Themselves To The Pond
Most ponds are formed due to the upsurge of water, which often results in an overspilling to an empty low-lying land. If the creek or a newly formed pond connects to another body of water, such as the river or the sea, it will give the fishes a highway going to the pond.
Fishes have a specific characteristic where they can easily adapt to their new environment. When they move into the new territory, they will reproduce and populate the pond.
However, in the catfish case, they have another way of transferring themselves to another pond. Catfish can travel as if they are just walking. If they are released from their native habitat, they can conquer a large number of water systems. If the pond runs out of the water, they can easily crawl into muds until they get back on the water.
Someone Else Brings Them To The Pond
Most fishes have their means to transport themselves from different waterways, yet they can also have another chance when someone else does it for them. The most common people are doing is to seed them or release them in the water intentionally. While some fish keepers are fond of taking ineligible aquarium fishes, they are taken out into a new ecological niche.
Effective Pond Management
Many pond keepers are taking a holistic approach when it comes to pond management. It can only mean that they’re driving the pond clean with beneficial microbes and manipulating it by handling earth-friendly materials. Here are some things that you need to take note when it comes to pond management:
Physical Maintenance
The pond gives beauty to any homes or natural resources because unique fishes have dwelled them. If you want to make a healthier environment for the fish, then remove unnecessary debris that prevents the nutrients from growing. It might take a long time to remove all of this debris. However, you will be getting a lot of benefits from it.
Beneficial Bacteria
Bacteria can also appear good if they are designed to give off or consume reactive nutrients. Beneficial bacteria are usually composed of micronutrients and enzymes, which maintain the natural process of your pond. At the same time, it helps enhance and transfer nutrients to the fish and decrease the number of chemical fertilizers.
Even tree leaves are part of beneficial microbes, especially when they accumulate on the pond. The leaves’ nutrients will eventually transfer to the fish for them to grow healthily. Apart from this, they can be converted into daphnia, protozoan, and rotifers, which helps sufficient fish production.
Possible Pond Dilemma
To maintain a pond, you must first think of the potential problems that may incur in your pond. While determining the issues, you also have to know the feasibility of your goals to overcome it.
When managing a pond, you have to remove all the filamentous algae because they’re part of the pond’s underlying problem. Also, monitor and manage the nutrients by removing debris in the pond, because it might cause a big problem if not maintained properly.
Manage The Nutrients
Nutrients can either be friends or foe in swimming pond management because it tells the outcome of the fish production. Regardless of how it is in the pond, you must be clear in your objectives to maintain the healthy nutrients so that the fishes can grow healthier.
If nutrients are not properly managed, it will accumulate at the bottom of the pond, and many problems will arise. Such issues include poor environmental conditions, lesser fish production, and limited forage.
Aeration
It is the process where the air is circulated and dissolved into liquid, thus efficiently working in ponds with depths of more than 8 feet. When the aeration occurs and produces oxidation, it will increase decomposition while reducing the production of black materials and hydrogen sulfide gas. Aeration also helps a good movement in the pond by prohibiting the thermocline so the fishes can stay in deeper waters.
Conclusion
To conclude, although this scenario seemed to be a mystery for most people, yet everything has its means to transfer from one place to another. If the fishes transferred to a new niche, then maintaining it would develop their growth and production.
As for the fundamental pond management, you have to keep holistic principles in managing them so you won’t have any problems with algae production and other negative dilemmas that may incur in the pond.
