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Do I just float my fish and
then dump them into the pond?
No. Before fish and snails can be released into your
pond, it is critical to acclimate them to their new
environment. Transport is stressful for all animals, so
make their transition to their new home as easy as possible
by doing a proper acclimation.
Important
things to remember:
Floating the bag only equalizes temperature and is
not sufficient in and of itself for acclimation.
Follow sterile procedure: Never put water from the fish bag
into your pond. Instead, remove the fish from the water
used during acclimation and place it into your pond.
Acclimation Procedure
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Begin the acclimating procedure
by floating the bag in the pond to equalize the
temperature. It is best if you can find a ledge in the
pond where the bag will rest comfortably without turning
over.
-
Open the bag and begin adding
water from your pond to the bag, one large cup at a
time. Be sure to close the top of the bag so that the
fish cannot swim or jump out until it is time to release
it.
-
Slowly transfer water from your
pond to the bag over the course of about 45 minutes.
This process helps to ensure that the water in the bag
matches that of your pond in pH, temperature, and
salinity (salt content). Fast changes in environment
can cause a great deal of stress in fish and this can
kill them or lead to them developing a disease.
-
Transfer the fish
from the bag to your pond.
Use a net to remove them from the bag and release them
into the pond.
-
If you are adding
snails, it is easiest to remove them by hand and
place them into your pond and always ensure that
they are placed in the pond with their opening
facing the bottom. If they are left upside down,
they cannot right themselves and they will die.
Dispose
of acclimation water. Never add this water to your pond. |
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