What are the most kill-proof fish for a pond?

[Maddy McCall]

I need something cheap and kill-proof. All suggestions are appreciated.

[DS1]

1. Unkillable, and tasty

/obvious

[NoSheep]

5. Wouldn't they melt after a while?

[crispini]

2. Goldfish.

Small or large pond?

[Maddy McCall]

10. Really small. I also need suggestions for a small, cheap filter.

[Submariner]

3. Carp or catfish

are the hardiest species for a backyard pond. They can take the changes in water quality or temperature better than other species. The Koi is a popular pond fish, and is a carp species.

[LostInAnomie]

4. I agree.

Carp and catfish are near impossible to kill off. Both make great filter fish too. Catfish will eat anything dead on the bottom, and carp will eat anything organic.

Just an interesting little tidbit. When we first started putting fish into our pond our neighbors little girl asked if she could put a few goldfish she won at the fair in there. We agreed figuring that they would die off or be eaten in no time. Three years later while fishing I felt a hellacious tug on my line which I fought for 15 minutes. When the beast tired out to my surprise I reeled in a 19 lb. goldfish.

[NoSheep]

7. Yep-the bigger their bowl, pond, etc., the bigger they get.

[Maddy McCall]

11. You are kidding!

LOL!

[frogbison]

6. Goldfish

In fact, if you win them at the county fair as we have, they cost nothing. And hardy? Here in Ohio they do very well. Winter over fine, and reproduce with some surprising variations in offspring. We've gotten some fan-tailed fish young from what appear to be plain goldfish, for example....

[LostInAnomie]

8. Are you building a pond or something?

[Maddy McCall]

12. I have a small half-barrel pond.

The water is murky...don't know what to do to clear it up...I have a pump in it to work the little fountain, but I need a filter. :shrug:

[AlinPA]

9. Bluegills, carp, catfish, largemouth bass. Very tough fish.

edited for spelling

[DemExpat]

13. I gave my healthy and hardy large goldfish to a neighbor to put out in his

outdoor pond.....within a week they were gone - a tasty snack for herons flying overhead looking for a meal.....

DemEx

[short bus president]

14. pretty much anything

with a frikkin' laser on its head.

[Dover]

15. I went to the bait shop and bought a few gold fish and a few minnows

and put them in my pond. That was 6 years ago and they did great.

If you have a garden/pond supply place nearby, I've found that tiny mesquito fish do wonders for keeping a pond from becoming a nursery for breeding those pests.