KOI Pond in WA/Vancouver

10 years ago

Down here in SoCal i never had to worry about the Koi in the winter. They'd go semi dormant during the coldest weeks of Nov-Jan but stay pretty much active and feeding throughout the winter.

Now that I'm moving so far up north and already planning in my head what the new pond may look like, wonder if I will even be able to keep koi outdoors year round?

Current pond is like 4ft deep and would do around same depth up there assuming allowed and feasible.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
10 years ago
Koi are also year round residents here in the Puget Sound area. But I'd keep at least part of the pond a bit deeper. 4' is not much of a deterrent to the herons and raccoons and the greater depth allows for more protection in the occasional severe cold snap.
Mike McGarvey
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Kingfishers can get the fish no matter what depth. Most Koi ponds I know have a net over them to keep critters out.

I have stocked my ponds with feeder goldfish and enjoy the herons and kingfishers all summer before all the ponds, but one, go dry. The goldfish reproduce in the big pond that doesn't go dry. I use those fish to stock the other ponds. I don't have a mosquito problem like some areas.

Mike
Related Professionals
Toms River Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Webster Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Youngstown Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Leamington Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Hot Springs Landscape Contractors · Hilton Head Island Landscape Contractors · Fall River Landscape Contractors · Jonesboro Architects & Building Designers · Salisbury Architects & Building Designers · Greensboro Architects & Building Designers · Corpus Christi Architects & Building Designers · Bemidji Architects & Building Designers · Bakersfield Architects & Building Designers · Coeur d'Alene Architects & Building Designers · Salem Architects & Building Designers
Embothrium
10 years ago
At a large koi and pond retailer near here they had to net the outdoor koi tanks because herons were poking holes in the fish that were too large for them to haul out and swallow whole. Raccoons might grab and gnaw even the bigger ones, I suppose - I don't know. I do know that it is claimed goldfish can freeze with the pond water in winter, thaw out in spring and then start swimming again, like nothing happened.
aftermidnight Zone7b B.C. Canada
10 years ago
We've had a small koi pool for over 20 years, it's 4 ft deep. One winter we had a bit of ice on it but the koi came through just fine they huddled around the pump on the coldest days. Ours is outdoors but enclosed by lattice walls with a fiberglass roof over it. We still haven't got the doors on this latticed enclosure. We did lose a couple of fish one year we think by either a mink or otter so for the rest of the year we netted it. Touch wood, the heron haven't spotted it so far. We have to replace one or two on occasion when they get too big for our pool but so far so good.

Annette
Mike McGarvey
10 years ago
I have seen goldfish frozen solid in ice several times. They came out of it just fine.

mike
tcstoehr
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Year round outdoor koi in 4' deep water in the maritime Northwest is perfectly fine. Taper off the feeding as the water approaches 50F and discontinue altogether until the water warms up over 50 in the spring. During the coldest and darkest months you may see them huddled together at the bottom of the pond barely moving. Totally normal. When my pond iced over, I just opened up a hole for air exchange, probably not necessary but I didn't think it could hurt.