After a full season in a small, totally-natural, captive pond with crystal clear, totally chemical-free, healthy water full of all sorts of native flora & fauna, my goldfish (all 11 of them from hatchlings to smelt-sized) are fast approaching their FIRST in-pond winter.
Last year a late-Fall hurricane destroyed the pond but we were able to rescue ALL the fish, and with the help of this Forum we managed to save all but one fish over the winter in two 35-gal indoor aquariums. They have had MINIMAL commercial food since we put them back in the reconstructed pond because they seem to prefer the abundant (and self-regenerating!) Duckweed which is part of the pond's flora.
IS DUCKWEED ALONE ( in an all-natural pond) SUFFICIENTLY NUTRITIOUS to prepare these fish for a winter layover? If NOT, what else should we be feeding them? They are in top-notch condition and have been showing aggresive breeding activity most of the summer. (We have about another 4-6 weeks before the water will reach dormancy coldness.)
Freeman & John
Nova Scotia, Canada