Species: carp, tench, grass carp, trout

In short

• Carp are the backbone of a warm pond: from fingerling to 1.5–2 kg (3–4½ lb) in three summers. In the cooler UK and Irish summer allow a fourth.
• Tench are an addition to carp (about a third of the fish): they tolerate low oxygen and mud, and grow slowly.
• Grass carp only if there are water plants, 1–2 per 100 m², and only where they are allowed. They don't breed in a pond and never go into open water.
• Trout only in cold running water, below 18 °C (64 °F) even in summer.
• In 100 m² of fed pond roughly 6–8 two-summer carp, 3–5 tench and 1 grass carp.
• Buy fingerlings only from a registered or authorised fish farm with a health certificate. Goldfish, pumpkinseed and disease arrive with "free" fish.

What's inside

Chapters

1. Four fish for a small pond
2. Carp
3. Tench
4. Grass carp
5. Trout
6. Farm-pond fish in North America
7. Supporting fish and fish you don't want
8. Decision: which fish for your water
9. Fish and other animals on the homestead
10. Polyculture: who with whom and how many
11. Buying fingerlings
12. The first weeks after stocking
13. Common mistakes
14. Printable checklist

Worksheets

• Stocking calculator
• Species cards and comparing offers
• Stocking record
• Species calendar