If an aquarium is too expensive for you or the water tank takes up too much space in the apartment, it is actually possible to keep goldfish in the rain barrel. Of course, special care measures are required. Especially in winter, you have to take numerous aspects into account so that your fish survive the cold season. Read this guide about what is important when overwintering goldfish in the rain barrel.
Can goldfish overwinter in a rain barrel?
Goldfish can overwinter in a rain barrel if the barrel is at least 80 cm deep, the fish are older than six months, leaves and algae are removed and a constant water temperature of 4°C and oxygen supply are guaranteed using an aerator stone.
Prepare the rain barrel
Simply leaving the fish to fend for themselves as winter approaches would be too easy. To ensure that the animals survive frosty temperatures, you must prepare your rain barrel in the following way:
- Remove leaves and algae from the rain barrel.
- Otherwise the plants rob the fish of important oxygen.
- Also take into account the accumulation of mud at the bottom of the barrel.
- Attach an aeration stone (€23.00 on Amazon) before the first frost.
- This keeps the water moving and thus prevents the water surface from completely freezing over.
Optimal conditions for wintering
Despite the cold, goldfish can overwinter in your rain barrel if
- Your barrel is deeper than 80 cm.
- Then there is a constant water temperature of 4°C in the lower part of the rain barrel.
- Your goldfish are older than six months.
- Only then are the fish bodies robust enough to withstand the harsh conditions.
- You can ensure that the water surface does not freeze completely (for example with an aerator stone).
Further measures
- Additional feeding
- Control
Additional feeding
When overwintering in the rain barrel, feeding is not necessary, unlike when kept in large ponds. It could even harm the goldfish. As soon as the water temperature rises above 8°C due to a warm period in winter, the metabolic function of your fish increases. Early activity would cause the animals to die. In addition, leftover food reduces the water quality.
Control
Even if you have followed all the measures conscientiously, constant monitoring is important. However, you should move carefully so as not to scare the goldfish. You have to fish sick fish out of the rain barrel and nurture them in a warm tub indoors. You can recognize weakened animals
- if the animal often stays near the surface of the water
- often floating on the side
