Well, not exactly a pond. I'm totally new to the fish scene, so please bear with me.

I would like to get a half-barrel sized 'pond' to start that I could use for a baby koi and put it outside on my patio. I live near the beach and the weather's been pretty cold lately (dropping to 45.F at night) So I'm worried that it would get *too* cold for a baby koi.

I'm sure it would be okay and all, just want to make sure before I go out and accidentally kill a sweet fish b/c of my stupidity.

well you could always place a heater into the pond to keep the temps high enough at night.

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Agreed, thats what heaters are for
I have one of those half barrels as well and have been thinking about putting some koi or comets in it.

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I tried to ascertain where Monster lived, but was unable to do so. Where Jarred (Mediahound) lives, it is not too important. Where I live, a half whisky barrel would freeze solid, at some time, during the winter. Koi and Goldfish (both are carp) are, basically, cold water fish, and they can live under ice in a pond, but they cannot survive if the container freezes solid, to the bottom. In south Florida, the problem might be that the water gets too warm. Cold water fish, like trout, carp, etc., have a higher oxygen requirement than tropical fish, and warm water cannot hold as much dissolved oxygen, as cold water.

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John

We had baby koi outside and the water froze the surface. We would go out every morning and afternoon and break a good junk of it open. Never used a heater and never had a problem.
The only concern I would have, is if the fish are sold indoors in a heated environment and then placed outside in this weather, it might shock them.
*45 is not that bad...I would be more concerned with under *40

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Must remember that a baby koi will become an adult koi! They grow up to 2 ft. in length, so you must plan accordingly. My backyard pond is about 800 gallons, and it is too small for koi. They need a depth of 3-4 ft. Maybe you should plan on a small goldfish instead. Some of the sarassa and shubunkins are gorgeous.

April 2008 Issue of TropicalFish Hobbyist has a great article in it about barrel pond what plnats to use for filtration and about you snow people, and what to do. I do belaeve it was a 2 part atricle. Was full of great info....

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I live in Atlanta and i have 3 Koi ponds outside... the first is for babies under 1 year, the second is for baies 1-3 years and then i have a main pond for my rare Koi... last winter we got snow and none of them died...3 winters ago the pond froze 5inches on the top... i have a picture somewhere.. but you can always use a heater if you think the babies will have a problem... also i Really recommend using a modified pool filter with a uv sterilizer and a powerflo. with an inlet at the bottom of the pond.. and at the top where the water flows down i would use a bio filter... i have 15 4+ inch koi in my appr. 2500 gallon pond...

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DAMN SON, I LOVE THEM LIL FISHIES!!!
“Sell a man a fish, he eats for a day, teach a man how to fish, you ruin a wonderful business opportunity.”
PM, I HAVE MANY RARE AND AMAZING CORALS!!!!

wow that sounds awesome!

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You know, we consistently read in pond articles not to break the ice (or do it gently) as it can injure/kill the fish via shock waves. I've never seen any scientific evidence for this, however. I assume all your fish lived?