No, I get that, I just meant that I wasn't sure how your local climate compares to that in SW Ontario, or what temperature the OP's stock-tank heater maintains in his pond during winter.
Fish for my cold water pond? (SW ONT, Canada)
- Thread starter simko
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A stock heater only emits enough heat to melt the ice around it, not enough to raise the pond temp. I would think that as long as the pond doesn't freeze solid to the bottom they should be able to survive.
You could always try a few of each. White Clouds @ $2.50 each, and the Rosy Reds are going to be about a tenth that price. Either way, not exactly Koi prices. 
In much colder conditions, I have had Fatheads/Rosies survive under a thick, solid ice coat...I'm talking about 3 feet of ice...with only a thin layer of liquid water at the bottom. I wasn't able to get them all out in the fall despite my best efforts, didn't think they had a chance, but they were swimming around happily as the ice melted in the spring. No food, no open water surface for gas exchange.
This, of course, wouldn't be ideal; more like bare survival and not something to emulate purposely. Still, it shows how tough these little critters are.
In much colder conditions, I have had Fatheads/Rosies survive under a thick, solid ice coat...I'm talking about 3 feet of ice...with only a thin layer of liquid water at the bottom. I wasn't able to get them all out in the fall despite my best efforts, didn't think they had a chance, but they were swimming around happily as the ice melted in the spring. No food, no open water surface for gas exchange.
This, of course, wouldn't be ideal; more like bare survival and not something to emulate purposely. Still, it shows how tough these little critters are.
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Yes, same species. They range from pale pink to a golden-orange almost like a goldfish. Usually sold as feeders for dirt cheap, but starting to be regulated in some areas so maybe not as available as they once were.
Now that i think about it, when i was a kid I bought a few rosy reds and had them in my 33gal. They lived for a while and then turned dark in color...maybe reverting to wild type coloring? maybe the diet? Anyways, i called two LFS and neither have them, another shop only has comets and they are now sold as "pond fish" with a .99c price tag. I didn't want to resort to it, but i might call petsmart and see what they have in their filthy fish room
