Tips Tadpoles are good for holding down mosquito larva populations, and snails are natural algae eaters. Pond water may be cloudy or clear and still be very healthy, but you should clean dead leaves and debris from the bottom on a weekly basis. Try to avoid draining the water or cleaning the sides, since this will only force the pond to start over in its balancing act. Ponds in moderate climates can be wintered without removing the fish or plants. Most of the water plants are perennial and will come back in the spring.
Fish can live under several inches of ice for a few weeks.
Do not feed your fish in the winter. Children can drown in just a few inches of water, and precautions will be needed to protect them from the danger. You may want to call your township or city offices to check possible regulations concerning safety measures you can take. Terri Koontz has a bachelor's degree in Speech Education. She divides her time between working as an author at Bob Jones University Press and caring for her husband, three children, a dog, a cat, a parakeet, a rabbit, two chickens, three fish, and several frogs.