Could someone tell me if Goldfish are supposed to be fed. I've been feeding
them for about 2 weeks and the water on my 3 week old pond has started
turning greenesh. I've read other similiar post that recommended not feeding
them for awhile and to make sure there's plenty of filter plants.
I went out yesterday a bought 4 more water plants and 3 tadpoles. But my
concern is that the fish won't get enough to eat. I have 12 comets and 1
fancy goldfish. Can someone put my mind at ease.
TIA

New ponds will turn green so it may not be related to the fish being fed.
Usually we suggest filling the new pond and putting in lots of plants. Then
wait.
The reason is that it gives the pond time to grow food for the fish. Green
substrate algae growing on the sides of things. Insects to lay eggs and larva
to hatch. Little flying critters to get stuck in the surface tension of the
water.
Those are the things that fish eat in the wild.
If you have 20 gallons per fish, or more, they can do well without being fed.
I had fish triple in size when they were in an 800 gallon pond. They were never
fed. One was in there for three years before I finally caught him, nice sized.
(This pond is now fishless.)


k30a

Robert Ramirez wrote:
Could someone tell me if Goldfish are supposed to be fed. I've been
feeding them for about 2 weeks and the water on my 3 week old pond
has started turning greenesh. I've read other similiar post that
recommended not feeding them for awhile and to make sure there's
plenty of filter plants. I went out yesterday a bought 4 more water
plants and 3 tadpoles. But my concern is that the fish won't get
enough to eat. I have 12 comets and 1 fancy goldfish. Can someone put
my mind at ease. TIA

On the one hand, providing the pond isn't overstocked, the fish will usually
find ample food, live meat & veg, without extra from you.

On the other hand, it's fun to train them to come and be hand-fed.

Just don't over-feed or leave excess food to rot.

But green water on a new pond is a given, especially if its been filled with
tap-water. What you could do is wait until the plants are growing well (to
compete with algae for nutrient), then kill the algae with GreenAway or
similar, pump out the sludge (or it rots down to make more nutrient) and top
up with rainwater.