Here are some tips that I can offer as a result of my own experience. If what you are looking for is not in here, then you'll probably find it on the External Links section.

Building a pond

	*Design every* aspect of your pond before doing anything else*. Leave the spade in the shed until you have agreed the following: Location, size, shape, flow of water, levels for flower beds, type of edging, number & type of fish.*
	Know the cost - it increases with the size and modifications of the pond.
	See how my pond was built and learn from my mistakes.

	Kick start your pond with the right bacteria by "borrowing" a litre of water from a well-established pond.
	Let the plants get established. Allow the weeds to settle for 2 weeks before getting any fish. Remember the best weeds are the ones you can get from friends.

Be prepared

Use a quarantine tank. It will only cost you Ł30 for a decent sized tank and pump and it will be useful for new or sick fish. Also handy to store the fish eggs until they hatch. You must buy one with a lid as fish may try to jump out if they are stressed.

If a fish has been wounded with an open cut then place it in an isolation tank dosed with suitable chemical treatment to prevent fungal infections. I didn't do this when Gutso was injured by a cat; she died from a fungal infection via the wound.

Getting the most from your pond

Tame your fish. I'm convinced that almost any fish can be tamed if you follow this method. Remember, for months my fish would dive to the bottom of the pond whenever anyone approached. These days they queue up to take food from my hand.

	Stage 1 - let them know food is provided only at certain times. Feed them at the same time of the day and give them a clear signal that grub is on its way by tapping quickly on the edge of the pond - it's the vibration that they'll sense. Remember, fish do know the time of day - at 7:00pm they start to wait for me. Use floating food so that they have to come to the surface. If you can, feed them mid-day as they will probably want to eat more.
	Stage 2 - let them see you. Lie down next to the pond and drop the food in the same place. For weeks they may just wait for you to go before they come up but stick at it.
	Stage 3 - let them see your hand distributing food underwater. With their favourite food (blood worms) and when they are at their hungriest, dispense the food with your hand under water. Distribute the food sparingly and, on alternate days, only in a small area around your hand - the fish will learn that they must be brave if they are to get some food. It's essential you do not make any sudden moves.

	Eventually, one fish will be brave enough to take food near, or from your hand. It may even do this accidentally - without knowing your hand is close by; but as soon as one does it they'll *all* do it. You'll probably find that the biggest fish will be the quickest to respond. It took me 2 and a half months to completely tame them (1 year for the Blue Orfes!) but now they don't mind being handled at all.
	Start to train them in Spring - when they're at their hungriest.
	When feeding, place your hand next to weeds - this makes the fish feel more confident when they approach your hand.
	The Blue Orfes responded well only when I very slowly swayed my hand from side to side - they didn't trust a completely still hand!

Baby fish - a free way to get more fish ! If you want them, promote the right environment for mating and I'm not talking about dimmed lights & soft music.....

	My fish preferred to lay their eggs on floating blanket-weed for some reason so leave some on the surface of the water between June & September.
	Older fish will eat these eggs, so store them in the separate fish tank for a week until they hatch. I have found that my fish had a much better chance of survival if they were placed back into the main pond a few days after they hatched. Some will survive if they have plenty of weeds under which to hide but expect 95% to be eaten.
	You will find fish eggs stuck to weed. If they've been fertilised then they'll be opaque, if they haven't then they'll be transparent. After a few days you'll see two tiny black eyes and a tail develop. See the External Links section for an excellent web site for pictures of fish eggs. Fish eggs (& my finger!)
	The fish that survive are the ones that are the best at hiding - so you may not see them until they are big enough to come out into the open.
	I have seen a fish hatch from an egg and next summer I will try to photograph the event.

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