Henry asked:
I have a small pond in my yard with Kio fish inside. I went to work this morning and when I came back (~12 hours later) there was a sheet of ice over the pond. I was just able to poke some holes through the ice but how long can Koi fish stay underwater without air before dying?
I have a small pond in my yard with Kio fish inside. I went to work this morning and when I came back (~12 hours later) there was a sheet of ice over the pond. I was just able to poke some holes through the ice but how long can Koi fish stay underwater without air before dying?
Don’t worry about the ice, the fish get their oxygen from the water.
If the ice persists for longer than a couple of days then try clearing a small hole by pouring hot water onto the ice so that any noxious gases from the bottom of the pond can escape. I would never try hitting the ice with a hammer, the shock waves could damage your fish.
I’m not sure how long the can stay under water but i’m sure its for a long time. In the winter they hibernate at the bottom of the pond and don’t come up until the ice melts!
They breath the air that’s in the water and can stay under the ice as long as there is oxygen in the water. Im sorry that I cannot determine an exact time but I would figure they could do it for several days.
Koi and goldish can survive for weeks under ice as long as the pond is big and deep enough.
They go into a state of semi-hibernation due to the cold water. They dont eat anything and dont need much oxygen.
As it sounds like iced over ponds is not a common occurance in your area the ice shouldn’t last very long.
Your fish will be fine. I have had my goldfish pond ice over for several days and didn’t loose any fish.
Ian
they can survive in water even it is cover in ice since they will not move much in this stage even for the whole winter just don’t feed coz water quality could deteriorate.
kOi keeper goldfish keeper.