Our overwintering experiment did not go well...
I left 3 grown fish out in pond, one is dead, one is on it's side and the third one... well...
I have found 5-6 little fry too, but there were around 20 or more from the beginning.

I will take these fish inside, salt and give them proper filtration, and hope they will make it...

Pond uncovering pics...

Sorry to hear about your fish.

I hope the remaining ones recover.

Oh how very sad about the fishes. Here's hoping the ones you bring inside do ok. Keep us posted!

Bummer you lost fishies. Warm them slowly.

I cover my pond in winter as well. There might be better ways to do it.

How deep is the pond? If it is too shallow and you are in a cold climate just covering it would not be enough. Here in the US many cover their ponds, but more with a greenhouse type structure or at least greenhouse plastic. That allows the sun to help keep the pond "warm".

How many gallons and how many fish? Did you leave your filters going all winter? Was there a way for the water to exchange gasses with air?

The pond is 3X3 meter, not fully 1 meter deep. I had 3 grown fish and lots of fry, at least 20. We used a de-icer with an airpump, no filter. Plenty of ventilation.

We are thinking, it might have been to warm. The winter was mild, maybe the fish have been "awake" and needed food... we couldn't see that because the pond was so thoroughly covered... I should have opened up and checked the temp...

I assume there isn't a bottom drain? Did you clean out the bottom of the pond thoroughly before covering?

With using a dark cover any algae that may be on the pond walls is going to die. The fish can and usually will snack on that in winter even in cold water temps.

The airpump stone was it on or just below the surface?

I actually use one of those radio thermometers..where the probe is in the pond and radios to a receiver in the house. The other thermometer has a probe on a long wire in the pond and I can read the temp through a small hole in the corner of my greenhouse cover.

Anette am so you lost some of your fish

Me an my Goldies hope the survivors make it through

i'm sorry Annette!

i hope the young'ins will be okay

I'm so sorry about your lost fish. It must have been heartbreaking.
I hope your remaining fish recover quickly for you.
Precious fish, and the little fry as well.

Debbie

Thank you all.
Yes I lost Angus' daughter Comet, and Goldie and Gullmer doesn't look too good...
The little black fry look better though, I found 6 of them. They seem healthy.
Here are some pics...
Three of the little ones.

Close up.

The sickies, Gullmer and Goldie...

sorry to hear that, i hope the other 2 recover. Cute fry too!

Hang on Gullmer and Goldie! hopefully, you got them just in time! I hope they pull through for you.

Are they eating?

I tried to feed them today, since it was far too cold yesterday. Water was 4 Celsius, now it is 15.
I gave them sinking pellets, but they are not at all interested. Not even the little ones. Seems like they are shocked by the sudden light and the changes.
I even tried to handfeed Gullmer and Goldie, but they get angry! They swim like crazy for a while and spits it out. Mostly they are sitting on the bottom, but when they swim they have lost all orientation. They swim on their sides or even upside down.
Wonder if I should rise the temp more, slowly of course.

Sorry to hear about your loss. I hope the remaining fish recover.

Completely covering your pond caused two related problems - dying and decaying algae producing noxious gases, and lack of algae for the fish to eat during warm spells. The fish also need light to live, just like we do.

Solarcovers.com makes clear insulated pool covers that provide protection and warmth without blocking out the sun that your fish and algae need to survive the winter.

Annette you sickie ones are so pretty! I hope they come through.

Keep an eye on your water parameters. I'd bring the temp up SLOWLY to around 70f. Not sure what temp 15c is..sorry!

Spitting food out CAN be a sign of gill flukes, but keep them warm and clean for now and see how they do.

Thanks all. Yes they were very pretty when they were healthy, they are the 2 to the left in my siggy.
Still don't wanna eat if I try to handfeed, Gullmer is getting stronger, he jumps out of my hand...

I hope the warmup and the good water will work for you.

What a sad thing.

It has to be scary - not knowing what you will find in the spring. That is, perhaps, yet another reason why I am not strong enough to be a pond keeper.

Thanks.
Still can't handfeed them.
Even Goldie got furious and jumped out of my hand...

But the little ones are eating. I want them to grow
since I'll be selling them to my LFS in a month, and they
are still very tiny, and dark!


Some pics!
Gullmer is going to make it fine. He is active and swims around.


Don't know about Goldie yet, but Gullmer is pushing him!


Some fry guys, tiny grey with evil eyes!


Closeup!

Well, Goldie didn't make it, his body was getting black, he was very ill...


But Gullmer and the little fry are doing fine.

Oh no... I'm so sorry, Anette. He was such a pretty fish, too.
Rest In Peace, Goldie.
What a tough start to a new month. I hope the rest of the month goes better for you, Sweety.

Debbie

So sorry to hear about Goldie. Such a beautiful fish with long flowing fins. I love Gullmer's light coloring, too, and it's wonderful that he's doing well! Sounds like the fry are a lively lot, too.

Thanks all...

I'm sorry about Goldie whatta beauty

i'm glad that the fries and Gullmer is doing okay, so cute

so sorry to hear he didnt make it i hope all the others will b ok

I am so sorry to hear about Goldie I am glad Gulmer is making a full recovery.

Pics again.

Gullmer are now alone with the fry. They are eating and doing fine!

But Gullmer will soon join Angus and the other bigger guys, the fry are a bit afraid of him...

All ten fry! Little silver carps...

Aww, more cute fry you have there. Gullmer's looking better, he's going to make it! I am so sorry about the others. What a shock to find the pond like that

Is there a chance that a few more fry could still be in the pond?.... If not that is still a strong fry survival for overwintering those lil buggers.

Yes there are more fry in the pond. We haven't been able to catch it, but we will take out some water and clean the pond in May.

I think for pond it should be covered with glass (like mini greenhouse) where the light can still make it inside... if there's no enough sunlight then it could use some electrical light...