Live Fish

Koi fish are bred primarily as ornamental fish and come in a variety of colors and sizes and can grow as big as 3’. There are 2 main types of koi, standard & butterfly, and they are classified based on their physical appearance.
Both varieties are hardy to the Indiana area, meaning they can tolerate the cold temperatures we experience here in the state. Koi are also known to be a peaceful fish and can easily share a home with many different types of fish and critters–including goldfish, frogs, tadpoles, rosie reds, and hi-fin sharks.

Golden Orfe are a great way to add life to your pond. These fish have slender, torpedo-like bodies and are golden orange in color, often with tiny black spots. They are known to be a schooling fish, meaning they like to stay together in groups, and are primarily surface dwellers. They tend to be more active than koi and goldfish, but do need an adequately sized home as they have the potential to grow up to 20”.

Gold fish are also bred primarily as ornamental fish and come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. They are ideal for smaller water features as they typically only grow up to 12”.
Gold fish are known to be hardier and cheaper than koi, making them a great choice for beginners. They can survive the cold temperatures and are known to be a peaceful fish. At Aquatic Design we carry 3 different varieties of gold fish, each with their own unique characteristics.

Rosie Reds are a part of the minnow family and can easily be housed with a variety of other fish like koi, goldfish, hi-fin sharks, and more. These small pinkish red fish only grow to be around 2-3” but can dramatically increase the liveliness and activity of your pond. They are known to be a schooling fish, meaning they like to stay together in groups, and are extremely energetic. They are hardy to the area and can remain in the pond all winter long.
Live Critters

Japanese Trapdoor Snails
They are a perfect addition to help control algae. All day long, these snails will feed on dying vegetation and algae found on the sides and bottom of the water feature. They are one of the few breeds that can tolerate the cold temperatures Indiana experiences.

Bullfrog Tadpoles
For some, their pond is not complete without the sound of croaking bullfrogs. Once grown, they are usually green to green-brown in color and can grow as big as 6”. Bullfrogs prefer to live in the vegetation along the edge of large, slow moving bodies of water and feed on just about anything that will fit in their mouth; this includes small fish, insects, birds, snakes, etc. They are hardy to the area and can be found hibernating at the bottom during the winter months. Once they turn into bullfrogs, they have been known to hop away from their home pond; many believe it is to search for love. It is encouraged to buy multiple tadpoles at one time to help prevent this from happening.
Live Plants


Planting zone 1: Bog Plants
Improve water quality by extracting excess detrimental nutrients from the pond environment before they can accumulate.

Planting zone 3: Deeper Marginals
These plants generally grow 3'-4' tall and can add dimension to your ponds cape. Grasses in this category are especially useful for removing excess nutrients.

Planting zone 5: Oxygenators
Hornwort is the only oxygenator currently allowed to be sold in the state of Indiana. It sinks to the bottom of the pond. During the day it adds oxygen to the water.

Planting zone 2: Shallow Marginals
These plants grow along the pond-edge usually in aquatic planting baskets. They provide splashes of color throughout the year. These plants are usually 1'-2' tall.

Planting zone 4: Lillies & Deep Water
Water Lillies are the most exquisite and colorful plants in the water garden. They play an important part in the pond ecosystem by shading the pond surface during the height of summer.

Planting zone 6: Floaters
A simple way to give extra shade to your pond. Floaters grow rapidly and are a great filtering plant that loves consuming nitrogen. Unfortunately they only last one season.
Click on a category bellow to see the questions (then click the dropdown arrow).
Fish & Critter Questions
Will a salt treatment hurt my fish or plants?
When should I use salt to treat my fish?
Salt is a good generalized treatment especially if you cannot pinpoint a problem. It is good at resolving mild fungal and bacterial issues. We recommend you start a salt treatment as soon as you notice something off with your fish. Waiting to treat a problem will decrease the likelihood of success.
Should I get snails?
Will bull frogs eat my fish?
How big do goldfish get?
Goldfish can grow up to 12 or 14 inches.
How big do koi get?
Koi can grow up to 24 to 36 inches. That's 2 to 3 feet!
Can you special order specific types of koi?
When should I start / stop feeding my fish?
It is best to stop feeding your fish when the water falls bellow 55 degrees. We stop feeding fish then because their metabolism slows down and they cannot digest the food before it rots in their digestive tract. Conversely, you can start feeding your fish when the water is consistently above 55 degrees.
How often should I feed my fish?
Feeding fish is for our enjoyment, not because fish need it. When fish are in an outside pond they can usually get enough nutrients from bugs and algae. If you want to feed your fish then give them as little as you would like. Try not to give them so much that they cannot eat all the food in a minuet. If you really enjoy feeding the fish then you can give them a few smaller meals throughout the day as apposed to one large feeding.
How deep should my pond be for fish?
How do I acclimate new fish to my pond?
What fish can I put in my pond?
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- We recommend cold hearty fish such as: koi, goldfish, golden orfes, and minnows.
- Koi: can grow up to 3 feet long and are best for larger ponds.
- Goldfish: usually grow up to a foot long and work well with smaller ponds
- Golden orfes: potentially grow up to 20 inches long. They are known for adding a lot of life to the pond and are also a schooling fish.
- Minnows: grow up to 3 inches and are very active. They look best in large schools and can be seen moving around the pond in a tight school.
- We recommend cold hearty fish such as: koi, goldfish, golden orfes, and minnows.
Plant Questions
Where should I place lilies in my pond?
What type of pond plants do you have to choose from?