"Mike C" wrote in message

1)I've read that if ice forms in the winter you shouldn't pound on it
so you don't disturb the domant Koi. Certainly hitting with a new would
disturb them even more.
2) Fish die all the time in nature and nobody gets them out.
3) If the pond was covered in snow/ice, you wouldn't even know there
was a dead fish to remove.


Your pond is not "nature" , it is an enclosed, artificial environment. It
does not have the necessary water volume to absorb the amount of pollutants
that would collect should the surface be allowed to freeze over. It also
does not have enough volume to allow a permanent sheath of ice to form. Do a
search of this group for suggestions on ice formation, but you definitely
should be using a water agitator or heat source to prevent the pond from
completely freezing. A small hole to allow gas exchange is enough.

Or consider bringing your fish indoors, in a large enough tank to support
them, if your winters are harsh. When I lived in the Boston area I tanked my
goldfish and pond minnows in a 50G tank for the winter months. May not work
with Koi due to size.

Fish do die in nature . And something does "get them out" , other organisms,
fish, snails, etc. Your pond does not have a supply of these organisms
sufficient to decompose the body safely.

So you need to go get that fish outta there pronto. Its not doing your other
fish any good.

D