If an aquarium is too expensive for you or if the water tank takes up too much space in the apartment, it is actually possible to keep goldfish in the water butt. Of course, there are special maintenance measures. Especially in winter you have to consider numerous aspects so that your fish survive the cold season. In this guide you can read what is important when goldfish spend the winter in the rain barrel.

Even in winter, goldfish need air to breathe

Prepare the rain barrel

Simply leaving the fish to fend for themselves as winter approaches would be too easy. In order for the animals to survive frosty temperatures, you must prepare your water butt in the following way:

  1. Remove leaves and algae from the rain barrel.
  2. Otherwise the plants rob the fish of important oxygen.
  3. Also consider the accumulation of sludge at the bottom of the bin.
  4. Before the first frost, put in an aeration stone.
  5. This keeps the water moving and thus prevents the water surface from completely freezing over.

Optimal conditions for wintering

Despite the cold, goldfish can overwinter in your rain barrel, though

  • Your bin is deeper than 80 cm.
  • Then there is a constant water temperature of 4°C in the lower part of the rain barrel.
  • Your goldfish are older than six months.
  • Only then are the fish bodies robust enough to withstand the harsh conditions.
  • You can ensure that the water surface does not freeze completely (e.g. with an aeration stone).

Further measures

  • To feed
  • control

To feed

In contrast to keeping them in large ponds, additional feeding is not necessary when overwintering in the rain barrel. It might even harm the goldfish. Because as soon as the water temperature rises above 8°C due to a warm period in winter, the metabolic function of your fish increases. Early activity would cause the animals to die. In addition, leftover food reduces the water quality.

control

Even if you have followed all the measures conscientiously, constant monitoring is important. However, you should move carefully so as not to startle the goldfish. You have to fish sick fish out of the rain barrel and nurse them up in a warm tub indoors. Recognize weakened animals

  • if the animal is often close to the water surface
  • often floats on the side

Category:

Garden design