So cal ponders....

[mascot]

are any of you still feeding your fish these days?  I's been getting rather chilly, so I was wondering if you stopped feeding for the winter already.

thanks....

[miguynmkoi]

If I'm lazy or it's too cold for me to be outside my fish don't get fed.  So....I'm lazy and it's cold out there....

[Mikey]

I quit feeding my fish about two weeks ago when the weather started getting chilly.  I notice them eating some algae but otherwise not very active.  I have......err...had a pool thermometer that I could use to determine the water temperature.  Upon reading this thread, and out of curiosity, I went outside to drop the thermometer into the pond and instead dropped it onto the pavement....... :'( 

It's all your fault Mike....  You made me do it 

[mascot]

It's all your fault Mike....  You made me do it 

...and I take full responsibility of my actions.

of course, being clumsy as an ox is beyond my control!   

oh, and I just checked...without breaking anything...and my water is about 52º at the surface.

[Argos5]

In an abundance of caution, no. Our overnight temps often go into the 30's and, even though it gets warm during the daytime, I don't think it's worth the risk. Plus, the fish don't seem to need it. I'll probably wait until March at the earliest.

[miguynmkoi]

I know it's cold when I lose feeling in my fingers when I just skim the top to see if anyone's up for a few pellets. 

No matter what I say my DH WILL feed the monsters on the weekends  (basically the only time he can see them in the daylight now  )  It's been like this since I have had fish.

[MikeW]

There's an idea for a stocking stuffer for the fetching Mrs Mikey.

I don't feed my goldfish, so I have used my thermometer readings to try and figure out the temperature range when the string algae goes crazy. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. I always forget that that is what I promised I would do the year before.

Cheers,

Mike

[Mikey]

There's an idea for a stocking stuffer for the fetching Mrs Mikey.

  I never told her...  Rule#1 in marriage: Never cop out to breaking something, otherwise you get blamed for damage that you didn't cause.   

So Mike, what is the optimum temperature range for a nice crop of string algae?