Yes, will keep a close eye.

I don't think she has spawned as we only have one other carp and I don't think they breed at all.

Not fed the fish for weeks now as it's been below 10 degrees for a good while and they're not really interested and I don't think they really need it at this time of year.

Thanks again for your advice and interest.

Hi, I have great news Fredrick.

Since the weather turned colder, she has been down in the water with no problems and static as well, so she seems to be fine.

It all happened a few weeks ago when we had that first very cold spell. She just disappeared down in the pond, I checked and there she was near the bottom and not needing to swim around.

My wife and I are very relieved and can't wait to see her back at the top next spring/summer time.

Sorry for the delay in responding.

No, nothing at all, still always on top.

However, last Saturday, a mate and me reset all the flag stones around the top of the pond, which took a few hours and during that time, we didn't see the fish at the top at all.

She stayed underwater, but I'm fairly sure she kept swimming the whole time. I think it's only when she's still she bobs up to the top.

Hi Finnipper,

I really appreciate your advice.

I think really the salt is a last "hope", and we're hoping that in some way it might help.

It may sound weird, but we are very attached to that fish, a bit of a celebrity in our family, so willing to try anything.

I think now though, we have to accept that there's very little we can do and hope is about all we have that she'll get through the winter.

As it's a raised, rectangular pond, I'm going to try some sort of blanket/cover when the very cold weather is here, in the hope that it may keep the frost and ice off the old girl.

Hi Waterbug,

Thanks for your kind advice and information.

However, I'm now totally confused!

Today I have spoken to staff at 2 local aquatic centres and they have both advised that the only thing that might help is adding salt to the pond.

As a result, I have purchased some Pond Guardian Tonic Salt and was intending to add the required dose this evening.

Is this going to harm the fish more than help?

Hi,

Just wanted to update on here as still concerned about my mirror carp. Even now the weather has cooled down significantly and obviously so has the pond temperature, the mirror carp is always still on the surface with her back out of the water. She seems very "buoyant". She can swim underwater, but when still, always seems to be at the top. She still eats really well and looks visibly healthy. Any ideas anyone?

Oh, Ok, I'll give the salt a miss and start by trying the dietary change.

Thanks for all your help finnipper.

I'm trying a couple of days without feeding the fish, apart from peas, to see if that makes any difference. In fact, I might pop in to my local fish centre at lunchtime to see if there might be a sinking food to use instead of floating sticks. I wondered if taking in a lot of air when feeding from the surface could be making the fish gassy?

She does get a little sun burnt and ends up with a whitening on her back and dorsal fin.

I will also get some salt to add to the water and do a water test.

Thanks again for your advice.

This behaviour has been the whole of this summer. I can't honestly remember if she was the same last year, but I don't think so.

Nothing has changed that I can think of.

The fish seems generally fine apart from being at the top all of the time. She eats like a pig and yes, swims away if touched.

She can swim under the water but it looks a bit of an effort initially to get below the surface and she does seems very "buoyant".

I haven't tested the water for a while to be honest, but we have another carp which is fine and about 30 other fish who are all totally happy.

The pond is approx 8.5' long x 4.5' wide and 3' deep all the way through.

Thanks.

Hi, Newbie here!

We've had our pond for approx 13 years now, with relatively few problems.

However, I'm a little concerned about our large mirror carp which we've had from day one.

Although she (we think it's a she) swims fine and has the appetite of a about 100 goldfish, she spends her entire life on the surface of the pond with her back and dorsal fin out of the water.

Is this likely to mean the fish has something wrong with it?

Due to the length of time we've had "Carpus Maximus", we are very attached to her and would be very sad to lose her.

Any suggestions?