Ornamental Fish Production and Management (1+1)

12.1.4 Size of ponds

A pond may be almost any size and shape although it should always have an area deeper than 18” (90 cms), to provide protection for the fish during the colder months and some shallow shelves for emergent vegetation and perhaps fish spawning. Generally speaking garden ponds are always longer and wider than they are deep (to provide a reasonable water surface area), and 6 ft. (approx. 2 m) long, by 4 ft. (approx. 1.5 m) wide, by up to 1.5 ft. (approx. 0.9 m) deep is suggested as a minimum size. Very small ponds will be prone to overstocking and fluctuating water conditions.