The bacteria are still alive but, like our fish, become semi-dormant. If your pond freezes over, melt the ice with a heater. There are several on the market designed for this. Be sure it has a heat guard. DO NOT crack or break the ice with a hammer.
Fish tend to lose their feeling of security during the winter.
If your pond isn't too deep, you can make a shelter for your fish. I cut the end out of a large, round plastic trash can then cut it in half lengthwise and place both sides on the floor of the pond with the curved end up, forming a tunnel. By taking the time to winterize our ponds we insure that when spring comes again and temperatures warm up we will have happy, healthy fish ready to wake up from winter, begin eating and, once again, become our sociable friends. Copyright 1998, The Pond Doc's Water Garden Center. All rights Reserved.