Frequently Asked Questions

Suggestions for kinds of fish to stock are based on factors such as the pond owner's preferences, depth, surface area of the pond, and water supply. Stocking quantity suggestions are per acre and can be adjusted according to the size of your pond or combination of species. Recommendations provided are the maximum number based on space, oxygen, and food requirements. Most of our fish can be combined in the same pond and there is no minimum purchase quantity. Deeper spring fed ponds will support cooler water fish in contrast with warmer shallower ponds where the surface temperature rises to more than 72 degrees.

Some of the fish we sell will naturally propagate in a pond environment. Others may breed with some assistance from you, by creating structures that simulate what occurs in nature. Trout and walleye are unlikely to spawn in a normal pond setting. More spawning details can be found in the fish descriptions.

The average growth rate for most of the fish we sell is 1/2" per month. This is based on an adequate amount of food and space. If fish are being fed pellet food or there is an abundance of forage species such as minnows, growth rates may increase to an inch every month.

There are 3 options for transporting your fish:

1. We provide the boxes with bags, our water and oxygen. Large Box (16"×16"×12") $6.00 · Medium Box (10"×10"×14") $5.00 · Small Box (10"×10"×8") $4.00
2. You pick up with your own containers (typically coolers, plastic bins or totes). We provide the chilled oxygenated water. Bag + oxygenated water with your container for $3.00
3. Delivery possible for $2.00 per mile one way, large orders only. Inquire about scheduling and availability.

We recommend floating the sealed bag in your pond for 10-15 minutes to allow the water temperature inside the bag to gradually match the pond temperature. After this acclimation period, gently release the fish into the pond. This process helps reduce stress and gives your fish the best chance to thrive in their new environment.

Stocking a few fish in an established pond can be sustainable with naturally occurring zooplankton, insects, and invertebrates. Some fish species unlikely to take pellets include black crappie and walleye, while koi, trout, catfish, and bluegills are popular feeders. Reasons for supplementing their diet include: new ponds with little pond life, the introduction of a quantity or combination of new fish, or the goal of increasing fish growth. Adding fathead minnows or fish food are two ways Fish Haven Farm can help boost the nutrition of your fish.

The surface area of your pond is an important piece of information for pond management decisions. Appropriate fish stocking rates, pond care treatments, and aeration options can all be impacted by an accurate measurement. You can calculate the approximate surface acreage using Google Maps — contact us and we'll walk you through how to do this easily.

Algae is a broad name for aquatic plants, generally defined as aquatic organisms composed of one or more cells that are photosynthetic but do not have true roots, leaves, stems, or gametes. Algae can be unsightly but not usually harmful, unless too dense — whereby it can rob the water of dissolved oxygen fish need to thrive. There are 3 common types of algae found in ponds: planktonic, filamentous, and attached erect.

Got algae? Give us a call and we can help talk you through some options to improve the quality of your pond. Every situation is different, and we're happy to discuss solutions that work best for your specific needs.

Pond weeds are more complex aquatic plants than algae, with defined roots and stems. Some grow submerged while others are floating or emergent. Grass carp are a fish used for the control of submerged pond weeds growing through the water column. More information can be found on our Fish page.

Illness and stress can be a factor in specific fish kills, though they seldom result in the death of the entire fish population. Low dissolved oxygen is often an important consideration and affects the largest fish first — smaller or more resilient species may survive. Contact us for more information about the differences between summer and winter fish kills.

Aeration can be installed in your pond to aid with oxygen issues. The benefits include:

• Provides more oxygen to the fish
• Assists in destratifying the pond water layers, giving fish more space
• Aids in the decomposition of organic matter (decaying leaves, plants, and fish waste)
• Vents noxious gases
• Agitates the surface for fewer stagnant areas, disrupting algae production
• Helps refract sunlight, interfering with plant growth

• Trees and flowers can leave a surface film on ponds as wind broadcasts plant pollen in the spring and fall.
• Oils produced by decaying plant life cause an oily sheen on the pond surface. This biofilm forms when organic matter dies faster than it can be degraded by natural bacteria — more often occurring in warmer months.
• Biofilms can appear suddenly, shift across the pond pushed by wind, and disappear after rainfall. They can be white/gray, brown, green, or yellow — generally unsightly but not harmful.

Duckweed and watermeal are both free-floating pond plants whose fast-growing reproductive capacity can quickly reach nuisance levels. The dense green cover is unsightly and a possible cause of dissolved oxygen problems. The resulting shading of the pond surface can severely limit photosynthesis of submerged plants and algae, causing fish stress and possibly a summer fish kill.

Duckweed and watermeal are typically found in quiet, nutrient-rich wetlands and ponds. They tend not to tolerate moving water, so windswept ponds or those with lots of flow do not usually experience overpopulation of either species.