How to Move Goldfish from Aquarium to a Backyard Pond

Goldfish may not be exotic or unique, but they are still fabulous pets to have. While tropical fish require fussy care and expensive equipment, goldfish give colorful beauty with very little fuss. These bright fish can be enjoyed inside in a home aquarium as long as it is large enough to maintain good health. But they can also be given a home outside in a garden pond or water garden. Moving goldfish from your aquarium to a backyard pond can be done with wonderful results.

If your backyard pond is larger than your indoor aquarium - and most are - you have plenty of room to support a healthy population of goldfish. Rather than fuss with expensive ornamental carp or koi, head out to your local fish tank or aquarium pet store and purchase some feeder goldfish. These fish are usually sold from a swarm of similarly sized fish in a large tank. Do not worry if the fish seem dull in color. As they grow and enjoy the sunlight in your goldfish pond, they will brighten to their usual orange glow.

Besides purchasing new goldfish from the pet store to put in your backyard pond, you will also have to transport fish indoors and then out again if your winters get too cold. If your water garden is deep enough, your goldfish may overwinter successfully outside. However, bringing them inside to a large fish tank and then moving them back out once warmer weather arrives is a good option.

Moving goldfish from your aquarium to a backyard pond requires, first of all, good timing. The water temperature in the pond should be similar to the temperature in the aquarium they currently live in. Testing water parameters, such as pH, and comparing them will assist you in successfully moving your goldfish. Instead of dumping your aquarium goldfish in the pond and hoping they survive, spend a week or two transitioning them to their new home.

For those weeks, take increasing amounts of the backyard pond water and pour it into the goldfish aquarium. This will help acclimate the goldfish to the new water conditions and reduce stress. Once the water in the fish tank has been almost all the way replaced with the outdoor pond water, it is time to scoop up the goldfish in a net, put them in a bucket, and carry them out to their summertime home.