Helping Your Fish Beat the Heat

[fish_doc]

One of the most common causes of fish mortalities in the summer is insufficient dissolvable oxygen in the water. As water temperatures rise in August heat, dissolvable oxygen decreases, which makes it difficult for fish to breathe.

In the early stages of low oxygen levels, fish become very lethargic and spend long periods of time lying on the bottom of the pond. They usually show little interest in feeding. As the oxygen level in the water becomes further depleted, fish will usually gather around the water inlet and at the surface. It's not until the later stages that you'd see fish "gasp at the surface."Here's how you can keep your aquatic life breathing easy:

• Keep the ideal number of fish for your pond's square footage. Large numbers of fish place a heavy demand on the water for oxygen. Similarly, large fish have a high oxygen-demand due to their size.
• Keep water moving with water features like waterfalls and fountains to oxygenate the pond. Fish need a minimum of 6 mg/liter dissolved oxygen for healthy growth, tissue repair and reproduction.
• Keep an eye out for any signs of stressed fish and act immediately to find the cause. Quickly remedying the situation will help you minimize any harmful effects, like suffocation or parasitic attacks.
• Keep the pond well-balanced and beautiful with aquatic plant life.