Hi all, I am new owner of 3 shubunkins 1.5 to 2 inches long that are currently eating tetra color flakes. (and hopefully 4 of Traceys Wakin) Temp house is aquarium until pond is done. Pond size aprox 11X20X2.5 with savio skimmer and waterfall wier (waterfall at top of 24 ft stream with 6 ft rise) 5000 gph pump, 2 inch pipe. Okay stats out of the way come questions. OH and I did a search on here of "food" and read all I could.
1. Are 7 fish enough to start with in this size of pond?
2. should I put some kind of net or screen on skimmer to keep fishies out of it? if so what, and if I do how will it skim leaves? Worried about it sucking them in!
3. food I have had recommendation of Blackwell food and know that come cool water they need food with wheat germ, problem is it only comes in 5 lb bags ( how long will 5 lbs last for 7 small fish?) and it will only be about 1-2 months MAX until water temp is low so will have to change to wheat germ....now THAT I will probably use 5 pounds of...LOL.... and I have read that it doesn't keep well.........how long does it keep? Do I need to do gradually switch to pellets?
4. in consideration of #3 would anyone on here sell me just a little bit of the pellets? The ones for warm weather?
5. Considering these are still small fish should I bring them inside for their first winter? I am in Washington state and it gets cold here in winter, some sustained freezing and last year lots of snow! I WILL make sure there is adequate oxygen with bubbler and/or heater for keeping hole in ice if it occurs.
Thanks Peg