| There are in excess of 20,000 species of fish in | | | | Golden tench |
| nature, and most of these are marine-based. A small | | | | This fish, which in the wild inhabits the still waters of |
| number are freshwater fish, and only a tiny number | | | | rivers, large ponds and even sand pits, can grow to a |
| of these are suitable for keeping in ponds. | | | | massive 71cm (28in), although 30-41cm (12 - 16in) is |
| Nevertheless, of the few species available to us, | | | | more usual for a healthy adult in a large domestic |
| there is a huge range of hybrids, shapes, colours, | | | | pond. Tench are excellent scavengers and feed off |
| habits and sizes. And the good news is that every | | | | the muddy bottoms of the pond. Although they are |
| few years a new type of fish, or strain of fish, | | | | very hardy fish, during particularly cold weather they |
| becomes available to the pond-keeper. | | | | will bury themselves in the mud for some protection. |
| The common goldfish | | | | The original, if you like 'wild' form, was the green |
| It is said that the common goldfish is the best known | | | | tench but for garden pond situations the cultivated |
| fish in the world and we can all instantly recognize it. | | | | golden tench is better, as it is more decorative and |
| It is fairly long-lived fish - 15 years is not unusual - | | | | more easily seen. |
| and millions are bred annually by fish farms, which also | | | | Tench are undemanding, being able to survive in |
| makes them quite cheap to buy. | | | | relatively acidic water (low pH), with fairly low |
| Originally from China and parts of Siberia, the goldfish | | | | oxygen levels. The natural food of the tench |
| is a hardy breed, able to withstand a range of | | | | comprises various insects, worms and young shoots |
| temperatures from above 30°C down to | | | | of water vegetation. |
| practically freezing. As a child I well remember the | | | | BREEDING:a mature female can lay up to 900,000 |
| cold British winter of 1963. We had about eight | | | | adhesive eggs among aquatic plants and weed in late |
| goldfish in a large metal water tank in the | | | | spring and early summer. Hatching can take between |
| greenhouse. The water froze solid, even under glass, | | | | six to eight days. |
| all bar about three inches at the bottom. They were | | | | Golden rudd |
| probably iced up for three or four days in total but, | | | | The body of this fish is actually silver, but with a |
| by speedily defrosting the ice, we managed to save | | | | golden hue. Its scales are large and rough-looking, and |
| most of the fish. | | | | make identification fairly easy. In a pond situation the |
| Goldfish can grow up to about 30cm (12in) from head | | | | rudd can grow to 41cm (16in) in length, feeding on |
| to tail, if the conditions are right and the pool large | | | | worms, insects and certain aquatic vegetation. It is |
| enough. Fancy varieties are usually considerably | | | | found wild in slow-running rivers in most parts of |
| smaller. The 'normal' goldfish is short-finned, usually | | | | Europe north of the Pyrenees. |
| orange but also in other single colour variations | | | | The rudd inhabits the surface and midwater section |
| (although curiously not in the olive green that is the | | | | of the pond, and associates well with other fish, |
| natural colour of its ancestors). Centuries of selective | | | | particularly orfe. |
| breeding have produced over 100 'official' varieties of | | | | BREEDING:a large female rudd can lay as many as |
| goldfish. | | | | 200,000 adhesive eggs during spring and early |
| Golden orfe | | | | summer. Hatching takes between 8 to 15 days, |
| These, also known as the 'ide' fish, are perfect for | | | | depending on the temperature. |
| larger ponds - with a minimum surface area of 4m2 | | | | Grass carp |
| (43 sq ft ). In the wild the orfe is silver, but the | | | | This species can grow to over lm (3ft) in length so a |
| golden form has been bred for use in garden ponds, | | | | large pond is required. Although it is a fine fish, with |
| along with blue and marbled variants. They are native | | | | certain excellent qualities, I hesitate to recommend it, |
| to various parts of Northern Europe, particularly the | | | | a) because it consumes large amounts of most |
| River Danube. They are fast movers, staying near | | | | water plants, with relish, and b) because the larger |
| the surface of the water - a very obliging form of | | | | fish can also leap, so it is not unusual for them to |
| behaviour as far as humans are concerned. | | | | jump out of the pond and perish. In its favour, most |
| Orfe are usually sold as specimens of 8-10cm (3-4in) | | | | grass carp kept in ornamental pools are albinos, which |
| long, but in time they will reach 45cm (18in) if | | | | are particularly attractive against dark-sided ponds, |
| conditions are right. They need to swim in water that | | | | and they will actually consume quantities of unwanted |
| is oxygen-rich and for this reason they seem to | | | | vegetation, including duckweed and algae. |
| enjoy the splashes from fountains and waterfalls. | | | | BREEDING:this fish needs a temperature of around |
| They can suffer when the oxygen runs low, for | | | | 27-29°C to spawn, so is unlikely to breed in the |
| instance during dull, thundery weather. | | | | confined ponds of temperate zone gardens (which, |
| BREEDING: in late spring the female scatters her eggs | | | | bearing in mind their eventual size, is quite possibly a |
| among fine-leaved water plants. Hatching takes place | | | | relief to know). |
| in around 20 days. | | | | |