Did you know that 3rd April marks World Aquatic Animal Day?
We’re delighted to support this awareness day, which highlights the importance of all the amazing creatures who make their homes in the water.
Throughout our 35 years, we’ve taken the time to learn about ponds, pond life and how to keep the water quality in perfect harmony. Our modern pond accessories are designed to help support the indigenous pondlife, as well as create a beautiful focal point in your garden.
So, in celebration of World Aquatic Animal Day, we’ve put together our favourite facts about aquatic animals…
- There are more than 500 million ponds and lakes across the globe
Ponds play an important role in the Earth’s ecosystem – with an estimated 500 million ponds and lakes in the world.
While this stat might make you question the importance of your own garden pond, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Natural wetlands are under threat due to global warming, harmful chemicals and land being urbanised. Manmade ponds therefore have an increasingly important role to play in creating microhabitats for a variety of creatures.
- A drop of pond water contains a microcosm of life
Ponds are not only an enjoyable way of offering a safe haven for fish and frogs, but for the microscopic organisms that larger creatures feed on too. These include various bacteria, algae, fungi and arthropods.
Maintaining good filtration is key to ensuring your pond remains an underwater paradise for its residents by keeping the water beautifully clear, oxygenated and healthy. You can get pond filters to suit different size ponds and ones with different methods of filtration to keep the water quality in perfect harmony.
- Frogs can leap more than 20 times their body length
When thinking about the size of your pond, don’t just consider your garden aesthetics – remember that your aquatic residents like to get active, as this statistic shows. What’s more, did you know that fish that are active during the day see colour at least as well as humans do?
While we’re not suggesting you compete for the record for the largest pond (the Great Pond in Maine has a surface area of more than 3,000 hectares, no less!), it’s certainly worth considering the space you can allocate to your aquatic life. Remember to use a pump to suit the size of your pond to ensure the water is sufficiently aerated. On that note…
- Ponds need air
Yep, we’re talking about the O in H2O! Oxygen enables the conversion of nitrates and carbon-based substances into harmless and free-floating compounds, keeping nasty and sulphur-rich compounds away from your pond-dwelling friends.
One way to keep the water oxygenated is by adding pond plants. They’ll not only boost the natural beauty of the area, but will also appeal to visiting wildlife and keep the water clear and algae-free. The Royal Horticultural Society has a helpful list of pond plants here.
What’s more, pond pumps will keep the water clean, oxygenated and healthy. Ours come with various fountain attachments, meaning they look great and the flowing water adds extra tranquillity to your garden space. Win-win!
- Many animals need pond habitats to reproduce
We’ve talked about the importance of ponds in bringing your outdoor space to life, but we also mean it in a literal sense.
Thousands of species rely on ponds for laying their eggs, including aquatic and semi-aquatic insects, semi-aquatic reptiles and amphibians. Eggs often need to be fully bathed with clean water to develop correctly and hatch, so again, it’s important to maintain a healthy environment for your fish and any visiting wildlife.
- Overfeeding doesn’t just harm the fish…
Overfeeding is extremely harmful to fish and other aquatic pets. It’s not only unhealthy for them to consume too much, but any leftover food can clog your filter with muck or algae – adversely impacting your pond’s chemistry and expressing toxins that are harmful to fish and pond life.
To keep your fish healthy and happy, automatic fish feeders are a must. You can serve accurate portions over several hours, whether you’re at home or away.
- A fish’s diet does can be seasonal
Another reason why fish feeders are helpful is to help adapt to different feeding habits. Most fish are omnivores and will eat a variety of food. However, did you know their feeding habits can change in warmer waters? In the summertime, fish metabolism is high, so you should consider feeding them protein-rich foods.
As well as supporting your fish’s growth and vitality, automatic feeders will mean your entire aquatic ecosystem will be better balanced by adding a new food source.
Ready to make a splash?
Whether you’re looking to create a new pond or give your existing pond some TLC this spring, our accessories will help you create a healthy living environment for all your pond-dwelling friends.
Sources:
- https://pondexpert.co.uk/fast-facts-about-pond-fish/?utm_content=cmp-true
- https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/frogs-a-chorus-of-colors/frog-fun-facts
- https://www.pondkeeper.co.uk/blog/fish-food-when-to-feed-your-fish-and-what-food-to-use
- https://pondinformer.com/pond-habitat-facts/