"Tumbleweed" wrote ...


That was going to be my advice as well. FWIW, noticed all the fish
seemingly active near the top of my pond today so put a bit of food in and
they ate it all, pretty unusual for November.

I tend to feed mine (sinking winter food) unless the weather is going to be
very cold for a while but it's not advice one should give to a novice or
inexperienced fishkeeper as undigested food rotting in the gut of a fish is
lethal come spring. For Goldfish which are never that big there is usually
enough live food in the pond if they are hungry.

Not so sure about a cleanout in spring, I tend do do mine every 3 or 4
years,and do it in early winter so I dont disturb frogs and such.

I too do mine in late autumn early winter to get rid of as much leaf litter
as possible but I also do a thorough job (the 4 filter tanks as well, filthy
job) come spring to get the pond ready for the coming "hot" season. :-)

--
Regards
Bob
In Runnymede, 17 miles West of London