During this time our fish have no established immunity system to help ward off these bad elements. Ideally, if we could raise the water temperature from 50 to 65 over a two-week period and hold it at 65 or above, it would be great for our finny friends. Unfortunately, nature will not do it for us and it would be an expensive task to heat our outside ponds. For the last few years Georgia's winter weather has set new records in high temperatures. During this time water temperatures hover in the middle to high 50's.
Fish are hungry and wanting to be fed.
Pond water temperatures by January 2nd were reaching 62 . This break in the weather is very pleasant to us but subjects our fish to the danger zone. We enjoy our great Georgia weather but because of this our fish stay in the danger zone almost all winter. It would be better if the water temperature dropped below 50 and stayed there until spring. Parasites and bad bacteria thrive in the leaves and mulm in the bottom of the pond.