Can someone tell me what to do? or how to go about encouraging my fish to
come to the surface to feed? Right now they wait for the "floating" pellets
to sink to the bottom before they'll eat.

I know, this is hardly a concern, generally, but my grandkids don't quite
understand why they won't come to the surface to eat like they've seen on
the tapes they saw. Is there a trick to teach them to come up? or is it just
they are too young. I've 4 goldfish (2" long) and 4 shubunkins (3-4" long).
They've been in my pond for maybe 2 weeks now.

Thanks,
carol

On Fri, 8 Aug 2003 11:44:27 -0700, Deswinds wrote:

Can someone tell me what to do? or how to go about encouraging my fish to
come to the surface to feed? Right now they wait for the "floating" pellets
to sink to the bottom before they'll eat.

I know, this is hardly a concern, generally, but my grandkids don't quite
understand why they won't come to the surface to eat like they've seen on
the tapes they saw. Is there a trick to teach them to come up? or is it just
they are too young. I've 4 goldfish (2" long) and 4 shubunkins (3-4" long).
They've been in my pond for maybe 2 weeks now.

I suspect you are overfeeding them. You should feed them 3 or 4 times a
day and only give them what they will eat in a couple of minutes. Don't
feed them for a couple of days, they won't starve. They only have a
small digestive system and only need a little at a time.

Also dangling your fingers in the pond will help them to get used to
you. Eventually they will come up whenever you go to the pond. Don't
give in and feed them every time, limit your feeding to 3 or 4 times
daily. You will also notice that they will eat more on a warm day than
on a cool day but still limit it to what they eat in a couple of
minutes, anything left after that time is too much.

There could also be another cause, they could be frightened by a
predator but if they are hungry they will eventually trust you.

Best of luck and let us know how you get on.

--
Regards - Rodney Pont
The from address exists but is mostly dumped,
please send any emails to the address below
e-mail ngps07 (at) infohit (dot) fsnet (dot) co (dot) uk

Hi Carol, After doing the fingers dangling ... just wait. It
has been only 2 weeks. Fish are timid creatures. They
will soon get used to you and your voice. I would tell
the grandkids to stand back away from the pond... and
talk very softly.... the fish will soon become acclimated and
come up to the top.

Good Luck!

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"Deswinds" wrote in message
...
Can someone tell me what to do? or how to go about encouraging my fish to
come to the surface to feed? Right now they wait for the "floating"
pellets
to sink to the bottom before they'll eat.

I know, this is hardly a concern, generally, but my grandkids don't quite
understand why they won't come to the surface to eat like they've seen on
the tapes they saw. Is there a trick to teach them to come up? or is it
just
they are too young. I've 4 goldfish (2" long) and 4 shubunkins (3-4"
long).
They've been in my pond for maybe 2 weeks now.

Thanks,
carol

On Fri, 8 Aug 2003 11:44:27 -0700, "Deswinds"
wrote:

Can someone tell me what to do? or how to go about encouraging my fish to
come to the surface to feed? Right now they wait for the "floating" pellets
to sink to the bottom before they'll eat.

I know, this is hardly a concern, generally, but my grandkids don't quite
understand why they won't come to the surface to eat like they've seen on
the tapes they saw. Is there a trick to teach them to come up? or is it just
they are too young. I've 4 goldfish (2" long) and 4 shubunkins (3-4" long).
They've been in my pond for maybe 2 weeks now.

Thanks,
carol

It took my fish 8 months to come to the surface to eat. (Goldfish)

Just feed them once a day as much as they can consume in 5 or 6 minutes and
feed at the same spot. In a few weeks they will be there before you!!
Patty
"Deswinds" wrote in message
...
Can someone tell me what to do? or how to go about encouraging my fish to
come to the surface to feed? Right now they wait for the "floating"
pellets
to sink to the bottom before they'll eat.

I know, this is hardly a concern, generally, but my grandkids don't quite
understand why they won't come to the surface to eat like they've seen on
the tapes they saw. Is there a trick to teach them to come up? or is it
just
they are too young. I've 4 goldfish (2" long) and 4 shubunkins (3-4"
long).
They've been in my pond for maybe 2 weeks now.

Thanks,
carol

Just feed them once a day as much as they can consume in 5 or 6 minutes and
feed at the same spot. In a few weeks they will be there before you!!
Patty
"Deswinds" wrote in message
...
Can someone tell me what to do? or how to go about encouraging my fish to
come to the surface to feed? Right now they wait for the "floating"
pellets
to sink to the bottom before they'll eat.

I know, this is hardly a concern, generally, but my grandkids don't quite
understand why they won't come to the surface to eat like they've seen on
the tapes they saw. Is there a trick to teach them to come up? or is it
just
they are too young. I've 4 goldfish (2" long) and 4 shubunkins (3-4"
long).
They've been in my pond for maybe 2 weeks now.

Thanks,
carol

Just feed them once a day as much as they can consume in 5 or 6 minutes and
feed at the same spot. In a few weeks they will be there before you!!
Patty
"Deswinds" wrote in message
...
Can someone tell me what to do? or how to go about encouraging my fish to
come to the surface to feed? Right now they wait for the "floating"
pellets
to sink to the bottom before they'll eat.

I know, this is hardly a concern, generally, but my grandkids don't quite
understand why they won't come to the surface to eat like they've seen on
the tapes they saw. Is there a trick to teach them to come up? or is it
just
they are too young. I've 4 goldfish (2" long) and 4 shubunkins (3-4"
long).
They've been in my pond for maybe 2 weeks now.

Thanks,
carol

Just feed them once a day as much as they can consume in 5 or 6 minutes and
feed at the same spot. In a few weeks they will be there before you!!
Patty
"Deswinds" wrote in message
...
Can someone tell me what to do? or how to go about encouraging my fish to
come to the surface to feed? Right now they wait for the "floating"
pellets
to sink to the bottom before they'll eat.

I know, this is hardly a concern, generally, but my grandkids don't quite
understand why they won't come to the surface to eat like they've seen on
the tapes they saw. Is there a trick to teach them to come up? or is it
just
they are too young. I've 4 goldfish (2" long) and 4 shubunkins (3-4"
long).
They've been in my pond for maybe 2 weeks now.

Thanks,
carol

Just feed them once a day as much as they can consume in 5 or 6 minutes and
feed at the same spot. In a few weeks they will be there before you!!
Patty
"Deswinds" wrote in message
...
Can someone tell me what to do? or how to go about encouraging my fish to
come to the surface to feed? Right now they wait for the "floating"
pellets
to sink to the bottom before they'll eat.

I know, this is hardly a concern, generally, but my grandkids don't quite
understand why they won't come to the surface to eat like they've seen on
the tapes they saw. Is there a trick to teach them to come up? or is it
just
they are too young. I've 4 goldfish (2" long) and 4 shubunkins (3-4"
long).
They've been in my pond for maybe 2 weeks now.

Thanks,
carol

Mine took a while to come to the surface, but now they come *running*
whenever I am near the pond.
The strangest part is, they flock to the edge of the pond nearest the lawn
mower when I mow the grass.
Must be the vibrations, I have never fed them in conjunction with mowing the
lawn.

Bill

"Deswinds" wrote in message
...
Can someone tell me what to do? or how to go about encouraging my fish to
come to the surface to feed? Right now they wait for the "floating"
pellets
to sink to the bottom before they'll eat.

I know, this is hardly a concern, generally, but my grandkids don't quite
understand why they won't come to the surface to eat like they've seen on
the tapes they saw. Is there a trick to teach them to come up? or is it
just
they are too young. I've 4 goldfish (2" long) and 4 shubunkins (3-4"
long).
They've been in my pond for maybe 2 weeks now.

Thanks,
carol

I had this problem this year also. We've had the pond for 10 years and
always before the fish were at the feeding spot before we were. Last year we
had a fish kill and have all new fish this year. No one of them who knows
the drill to lead the way.
So I bought a Hula Hoop and floated it on the water tied in place. I feed
them within the hoop only. Since Koi are bottom feeders naturally and
goldfish somewhat they didn't know about floating food. So I took some
goldfish flake food and sprinkled it in the hoop. Some would sink at once
and some would float. They ate what was below first, but came higher and
higher each day. Then I combined the flake with some floating pellets. It's
been four months and they are just begining to be comfortable about eating
on top.

don cunningham

"Deswinds" wrote in message
...
Can someone tell me what to do? or how to go about encouraging my fish to
come to the surface to feed? Right now they wait for the "floating"
pellets
to sink to the bottom before they'll eat.

I know, this is hardly a concern, generally, but my grandkids don't quite
understand why they won't come to the surface to eat like they've seen on
the tapes they saw. Is there a trick to teach them to come up? or is it
just
they are too young. I've 4 goldfish (2" long) and 4 shubunkins (3-4"
long).
They've been in my pond for maybe 2 weeks now.

Thanks,
carol

I had this problem this year also. We've had the pond for 10 years and
always before the fish were at the feeding spot before we were. Last year we
had a fish kill and have all new fish this year. No one of them who knows
the drill to lead the way.
So I bought a Hula Hoop and floated it on the water tied in place. I feed
them within the hoop only. Since Koi are bottom feeders naturally and
goldfish somewhat they didn't know about floating food. So I took some
goldfish flake food and sprinkled it in the hoop. Some would sink at once
and some would float. They ate what was below first, but came higher and
higher each day. Then I combined the flake with some floating pellets. It's
been four months and they are just begining to be comfortable about eating
on top.

don cunningham

"Deswinds" wrote in message
...
Can someone tell me what to do? or how to go about encouraging my fish to
come to the surface to feed? Right now they wait for the "floating"
pellets
to sink to the bottom before they'll eat.

I know, this is hardly a concern, generally, but my grandkids don't quite
understand why they won't come to the surface to eat like they've seen on
the tapes they saw. Is there a trick to teach them to come up? or is it
just
they are too young. I've 4 goldfish (2" long) and 4 shubunkins (3-4"
long).
They've been in my pond for maybe 2 weeks now.

Thanks,
carol

I had this problem this year also. We've had the pond for 10 years and
always before the fish were at the feeding spot before we were. Last year we
had a fish kill and have all new fish this year. No one of them who knows
the drill to lead the way.
So I bought a Hula Hoop and floated it on the water tied in place. I feed
them within the hoop only. Since Koi are bottom feeders naturally and
goldfish somewhat they didn't know about floating food. So I took some
goldfish flake food and sprinkled it in the hoop. Some would sink at once
and some would float. They ate what was below first, but came higher and
higher each day. Then I combined the flake with some floating pellets. It's
been four months and they are just begining to be comfortable about eating
on top.

don cunningham

"Deswinds" wrote in message
...
Can someone tell me what to do? or how to go about encouraging my fish to
come to the surface to feed? Right now they wait for the "floating"
pellets
to sink to the bottom before they'll eat.

I know, this is hardly a concern, generally, but my grandkids don't quite
understand why they won't come to the surface to eat like they've seen on
the tapes they saw. Is there a trick to teach them to come up? or is it
just
they are too young. I've 4 goldfish (2" long) and 4 shubunkins (3-4"
long).
They've been in my pond for maybe 2 weeks now.

Thanks,
carol

I had this problem this year also. We've had the pond for 10 years and
always before the fish were at the feeding spot before we were. Last year we
had a fish kill and have all new fish this year. No one of them who knows
the drill to lead the way.
So I bought a Hula Hoop and floated it on the water tied in place. I feed
them within the hoop only. Since Koi are bottom feeders naturally and
goldfish somewhat they didn't know about floating food. So I took some
goldfish flake food and sprinkled it in the hoop. Some would sink at once
and some would float. They ate what was below first, but came higher and
higher each day. Then I combined the flake with some floating pellets. It's
been four months and they are just begining to be comfortable about eating
on top.

don cunningham

"Deswinds" wrote in message
...
Can someone tell me what to do? or how to go about encouraging my fish to
come to the surface to feed? Right now they wait for the "floating"
pellets
to sink to the bottom before they'll eat.

I know, this is hardly a concern, generally, but my grandkids don't quite
understand why they won't come to the surface to eat like they've seen on
the tapes they saw. Is there a trick to teach them to come up? or is it
just
they are too young. I've 4 goldfish (2" long) and 4 shubunkins (3-4"
long).
They've been in my pond for maybe 2 weeks now.

Thanks,
carol

I had this problem this year also. We've had the pond for 10 years and
always before the fish were at the feeding spot before we were. Last year we
had a fish kill and have all new fish this year. No one of them who knows
the drill to lead the way.
So I bought a Hula Hoop and floated it on the water tied in place. I feed
them within the hoop only. Since Koi are bottom feeders naturally and
goldfish somewhat they didn't know about floating food. So I took some
goldfish flake food and sprinkled it in the hoop. Some would sink at once
and some would float. They ate what was below first, but came higher and
higher each day. Then I combined the flake with some floating pellets. It's
been four months and they are just begining to be comfortable about eating
on top.

don cunningham

"Deswinds" wrote in message
...
Can someone tell me what to do? or how to go about encouraging my fish to
come to the surface to feed? Right now they wait for the "floating"
pellets
to sink to the bottom before they'll eat.

I know, this is hardly a concern, generally, but my grandkids don't quite
understand why they won't come to the surface to eat like they've seen on
the tapes they saw. Is there a trick to teach them to come up? or is it
just
they are too young. I've 4 goldfish (2" long) and 4 shubunkins (3-4"
long).
They've been in my pond for maybe 2 weeks now.

Thanks,
carol