Every fish pond owner will, at one point, have to remove fish from their pond. Though potentially tedious, this is a necessary step in thorough pond cleaning, maintenance, and general repairs. It may also be a means to simply reduce the fish density in your pond. With proper planning and with the right tools, stress for both the fish and the pond owner can be kept at a minimum.
It may be tempting to simply leave the fish in your pond while checking off tasks in your annual cleaning list. This can ultimately be more dangerous for your fish, however, as it can take just one disturbance to cause accidents. They may be forced to hide in places where they can get stuck or wounded, attempt to jump out of your pond, or become stressed enough to compromise their immunity.
To ensure that the entire fish removal process proceeds smoothly, you will need to plan ahead and invest in the right tools. The steps you take and the tools you use will depend on a few things: your purpose for removing the fish, the size of your pond, how many fish you will have to remove, and the size of your fish. Keep in mind that, once you have removed your fish, they must be provided with proper conditions to ensure that they survive.
If you are simply removing fish to reduce the population in your pond, then it is not necessary to drain it. Removing a single individual for inspection will likewise not require draining, but must be done with caution so that you don’t accidentally fall into your pond!
If you intend to remove all of the fish to thoroughly clean your pond or make repairs, then you will have to take this step. Drain your pond until about a foot of water is left so that fish can be caught more easily. While draining, remove potted plants and aquatic baskets that might get in the way.
Take note that you may need some of this pond water to fill a portion of your fish tank (or whatever enclosure you are transferring your fish to). If the water is relatively clean, you can use it to fertilize some of your garden plants! You can also use the water to fill up transport containers or a temporary holding area for your fish.
To safely catch your fish, you will need to make use of the proper types of fishing nets. A long-handled fishing net with a tightly wound fine mesh should work best for most ornamental pond fish.
Make sure that the mesh size is small enough to prevent fish fins or scales from getting caught in the holes (about ¼ inch or less for koi). Nets with a larger grid or a knotted mesh may injure your fish.
In terms of depth, the net should also be shallow enough so that your fish don’t get entangled in it. The size of the net itself would depend on the size of your fish or on how many you will need to catch at one given time.
You may also opt to use a sock net (below), which is the net of choice for koi breeders, to remove individual fish. This is a special type of net that will allow koi to slide in the same direction when being transferred to another tank. This effectively prevents injury by ensuring that fins don’t get caught in the opposite direction.
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To safely net fish, slowly and carefully submerge the fishing net at an angle that would prevent it from displacing too much water. Place the net underneath the fish that you would like to catch, and encourage the fish to move further inside it (should be easier by a wall or edge).
Lift the net gently, without abrupt movements, to prevent the fish from getting stressed. Quickly transfer the fish to an aerated tank or transfer container, preferably with a mesh cover to prevent it from jumping out.
Small fish that quickly dart around your pond can be trickier to remove than large fish. You may need a finer mesh net to prevent them from slipping through the holes or getting injured. Once the larger fish are removed, drain your pond until just 6 - 8 inches (15 - 20 cm) of water remains. This should make it easier to scour the water’s surface with a net. A fine seine net (below) can be used for this purpose as you can drag it across the entire pond and force fish into one area.
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You can opt to use a small tub or bucket as well. Slide these into the water at a 45-degree angle. Water should slowly flow into the container, ideally carrying some small fish. You may also move the container underneath a school of small fish and gently lift it up.
It may be easier to encourage fish to enter the container if you are able to corner them. To ensure that you don’t miss out on any individual fish before fully draining your pond, make sure that you remove all floating leaves and debris beforehand.
It may be tempting to try and hold your fish once you’ve removed them from the water or transferred them into a container. Unless you’re an expert at handling fish, it would be best to avoid holding them with your own hands. Only do so if you must examine them for parasites, injuries, or diseases.
Keep in mind that improper handling can be dangerous for your fish. If they manage to jump out of your grip and land on a hard surface, the resulting injuries can be fatal. Consult an expert or a fish veterinarian in case of any fish removal or handling mishaps.
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