Goldfish are colourful and lively pond inhabitants. With their adaptable nature and sociable behaviour, they bring life to your garden pond. However, if you want to keep goldfish in your pond, you need to consider their needs carefully – especially when it comes to feeding them correctly. This is because goldfish have specific requirements when it comes to their food.
In this PROPOND pond guide, you will learn all about species-appropriate goldfish food, the different goldfish species for the garden pond and what you need to know when feeding them, so that your goldfish grow healthily and feel good. Which goldfish species are suitable for the garden pond? What do you need to remember when keeping goldfish in a pond? And which food meets their natural needs?
General information about goldfish
Goldfish are among the most popular pond fish in the world and are descendants of the Asian crucian carp. They have been selectively bred over the centuries so that many different goldfish species exist today. The most common varieties in goldfish ponds include the classic goldfish (Carassius auratus) , the Sarasa goldfish and the veiltail variety.
Goldfish in ponds require sufficient space and a water depth of at least one metre in order to move around in a species-appropriate manner. The rule of thumb for goldfish is 500 litres of water per 10 cm of fish. It is important that the pond has good water quality. A good filter system and regular pond maintenance are therefore essential. Goldfish also need to be kept in groups, as they are sociable animals.
How old does a goldfish live in a pond? Under optimal conditions, goldfish can reach a lifespan of up to 30 years. In most garden ponds, however, the average life expectancy is around 10 to 15 years. A balanced diet with high-quality pond food is crucial for a long and healthy life.
One topic that interests many pond owners is the size of the goldfish. In a well-maintained pond, goldfish can reach a length of up to 35 cm. Their growth depends heavily on the water quality, feeding and keeping conditions.
What do goldfish eat?
Goldfish are omnivores and have a very varied diet. They eat both plant and animal foods, which makes them adaptable and resilient. But what exactly do goldfish eat in the garden pond?
In a natural pond, goldfish eat algae, small snails, mosquito larvae and other microorganisms. This natural goldfish diet ensures that they absorb important nutrients. They also nibble on aquatic plants and utilize organic residues in the water.
‘Do goldfish eat their young?’ is a question that many goldfish pond owners ask themselves. It can indeed happen that they eat spawn or very small fry that fit into their mouths. However, this is not due to aggression, but to instinctive feeding behaviour. This behaviour can be particularly pronounced in overstocked ponds or when there is a lack of food. If you want to protect the young fish, you need to provide them with sufficient hiding places in the form of plants or stones.
The question ‘Do goldfish eat other fish?’ is also often asked. As a rule, goldfish are peaceful pond dwellers that do not hunt other fish.
In addition to their natural diet, goldfish also eat other food. But what do goldfish eat apart from fish food? For example, they can eat soft vegetables such as peas or lettuce, as well as small pieces of fruit in small quantities. Nevertheless their main food should consist of high-quality pond food specially developed for feeding goldfish in ponds. This ensures that the fish receive all the important nutrients and remain healthy.
To ensure a balanced goldfish diet, it is important to take their natural feeding habits into account and feed them regularly, but not excessively.
Can goldfish starve in a pond?
A common question among pond owners is: Can goldfish starve in a pond? The answer to this depends on several factors, in particular the size of the pond, the food supply and the time of year.
In a well-established garden pond with sufficient natural food sources such as algae, microorganisms and plant parts, goldfish can often survive for some time without additional food. But how long can goldfish survive in a pond without food? This depends very much on the environmental conditions. As a rule, goldfish will find sufficient food in a natural pond during the warm months without excessive stocking. In autumn and winter, however, the natural supply becomes scarcer.
This raises the question for many pond owners: Do you need to feed goldfish in your pond? It is generally advisable to feed goldfish regularly to ensure that they receive all the nutrients they need. Especially in smaller or heavily stocked ponds, the natural food supply is often insufficient. In these cases, it is important to feed the goldfish in the pond to avoid deficiency symptoms.
Goldfish offspring also require special attention. Young goldfish are dependent on a sufficient food supply as they grow faster and need more energy. For example, fine goldfish food granulates or fine goldfish flakes are suitable as baby goldfish food.
A common misconception is that you can feed goldfish with bread. In fact, bread is unsuitable as it is difficult to digest and can contaminate the water. Instead, use high-quality pond food specially developed for goldfish.
People who go on vacation often ask themselves whether goldfish need to be fed while on vacation. In a natural pond with sufficient food sources, healthy adult goldfish can easily survive a few days without additional food. For longer absences, however, an automatic feeder such as the JBL PROPOND AUTOFOOD or supervision by a trusted person is recommended.
Ultimately, it is important to consider the individual conditions in your own pond. Regular and balanced feeding ensures that the goldfish stay healthy and feel comfortable. Feeding goldfish in the pond is also a lot of fun for every pond owner!
What is the best food for goldfish?
Choosing the right goldfish food is crucial for the health and well-being of the fish. But which food is best for goldfish? Goldfish are omnivores, which is why their food should contain both plant and animal ingredients.
There is specially formulated pond food for goldfish in ponds, which is buoyant and decomposes slowly in the water. Goldfish food sticks, goldfish food pearls or goldfish food flakes are particularly popular as they remain on the water surface for a long time and can be easily ingested. JBL PROPOND GOLDFISH is such a high-quality goldfish food, which is composed of wheat, salmon, shrimp and spinach, among other things, and thus ensures strong and healthy goldfish. It is not only suitable as goldfish food, but also as veiltail food.
However, not all fish food for goldfish is equally good. Good goldfish food is characterised by a balanced mixture of proteins, fibre and vitamins. A high proportion of plant-based ingredients is particularly important, as goldfish like to nibble on aquatic plants. Good food for goldfish in a pond should also be water-stable so as not to impair the water quality.
Pond owners often want to make their own goldfish food. There are various recipes on the internet for making goldfish food. But industrially produced fish food is ideally suited to the natural needs of your goldfish and offers consistently high quality. Only when these criteria are fulfilled can we speak of premium goldfish food. Vegetables such as peas, lettuce or cucumber are nevertheless a good addition to goldfish food for the pond and provide valuable nutrients.
How often should you feed goldfish in a pond?
Proper feeding is crucial for the health and well-being of your goldfish. But how often should you feed goldfish? Basically, the frequency of feeding and the amount of goldfish food depends on the time of year and the conditions in the pond.
In the warmer months, when the goldfish are active, you might feed them once or twice a day. But how often do you feed goldfish in a pond without overfeeding them? A good rule is to only give them as much food as they can eat within a few minutes. Excess food pollutes the water and can worsen the water quality. You should therefore avoid overfeeding your goldfish at all costs.
A well-planted pond with sufficient microorganisms can reduce the need for feeding. But how often do you have to feed goldfish if they find natural food? Even then, it makes sense to regularly check whether they are eating enough food.
As temperatures drop, the food requirements of the fish also change. You can find out in the next section how often goldfish should be fed in the pond when it gets colder.
How do you feed goldfish in winter?
As temperatures drop, the metabolism of goldfish change too. But do you have to feed goldfish in winter? That depends on the water temperature. As soon as temperatures permanently drop below 10 °C, the fish's metabolism slows down considerably, which is why it is advisable to switch to a special winter food for goldfish. The sinking winter food for goldfish JBL PROPOND WINTER+CARE , which is tailored to the special conditions of this time of year, is suitable for this. When should you stop feeding goldfish? As a rule of thumb, goldfish should not be fed below 5 °C in winter, as the fish's digestion comes to a virtual standstill and undigested food can remain in their stomachs.
When should you start feeding goldfish again? In spring, when the temperatures start to rise again, you can slowly start giving small amounts of food. As soon as the water is stable above 10 °C, start feeding the fish regularly again, but in small quantities, with goldfish food such as the JBL PROPOND SPRING+GROWTH . Pond thermometers such as the JBL Pond Thermometer are suitable for optimal temperature control in your goldfish pond.
You can find out more about seasonal feeding of goldfish and other pond fish here: JBL SEASONS
Can goldfish also eat koi food?
Many pond owners wonder whether goldfish can also eat koi food. As koi and goldfish belong to the carp family, their nutritional requirements are similar. But is koi and goldfish food really equally suitable for both fish species?
Koi and goldfish food - the differences
Koi food is specially tailored to the needs of koi. It often contains a higher protein content to promote the rapid growth and colorfulness of koi. Goldfish, on the other hand, have a lower energy requirement and a slower growth rate. Koi and goldfish food may therefore be unsuitable for goldfish if it is too high in protein or difficult to digest.
If you want to use koi food for goldfish, you should make sure that the food is easily digestible and has the right size for goldfish. It is advisable to play it safe and use a special species food for goldfish, such as the JBL PROPOND GOLDFISH . If you keep different types of fish, it is advisable to use different species foods to meet the individual needs of your pond inhabitants. You can find an overview of the entire PROPOND species food range here: JBL SPECIES
