Flowerhorns and outdoor ponds?
- Thread starter dlp40
- Start date
Cold weather itself does not create ick, it has to come from somewhere. I do recognize cold weather will weaken the fish's immune system and ick thrives in colder water. In your case I suspect it was transported via amphibian. Most people are unaware of this vector.
From experience, Keeping Flowerhorns in an outdoor pond has:
Advantages:
Better color, size & growth.
Fish seems happier.
Better breeding
Disadvantages:
Predators
Pathogens
It's a gamble, so you must be prepared to lose the fish if something goes awry.
My personal experiments have shown that flowerhorns grew almost twice as large as the control group during a 5 month period. The pond raised pair produced fry, whereas the control pair did not.
My experience is with a very large pond (100'x75') where ick would not pose a significant problem in one growing season. When removed from the pond all flowerhorns were treated for bacteria, worms, & protozoa as a matter of standard procedure.
If you have snails in your pond keep in mind that snails are intermeadiate hosts for gill flukes.
I strongly disagree with the folks who claim that being in a pond is MORE stressful to the fish. That's erroneous speculation.
From experience, Keeping Flowerhorns in an outdoor pond has:
Advantages:
Better color, size & growth.
Fish seems happier.
Better breeding
Disadvantages:
Predators
Pathogens
It's a gamble, so you must be prepared to lose the fish if something goes awry.
My personal experiments have shown that flowerhorns grew almost twice as large as the control group during a 5 month period. The pond raised pair produced fry, whereas the control pair did not.
My experience is with a very large pond (100'x75') where ick would not pose a significant problem in one growing season. When removed from the pond all flowerhorns were treated for bacteria, worms, & protozoa as a matter of standard procedure.
If you have snails in your pond keep in mind that snails are intermeadiate hosts for gill flukes.
I strongly disagree with the folks who claim that being in a pond is MORE stressful to the fish. That's erroneous speculation.
Flowerhorn are hybrid fish man made I do not think they were meant to survive in the natural habitats 
just my thoughts but good luck.
just my thoughts but good luck.