Pet Information > ASK Experts > Pet Fish > Pond Water Gardening > salamanders in Koi pond

salamanders in Koi pond

25 10:02:26

Question
I live in central PA. I have a 1 year old, 150 gallon garden pond that has about 12 Koi and goldfish (3" to 4" long) My farm pond has many salamanders in it.  Are there any problems with putting 15 or 20 of them in the Koi pond? What will the salamanders eat?  pond fish food?  

Answer
Salamanders only come to water to breed so if you put them in the koi pond, they will not stick around.  They seem to know also that laying their eggs there would not be a good idea as the fish would eat them all (eggs and larvae).  The salamanders eat small animals like earthworms, beetles, and other bugs.  They won't eat fish food, only live foods.  Now newts during part of their lives, do stay in ponds for a while but as the fish grow, they would eat the newts.  Also, your 150 gallon pond is too small for koi in the long run.  Time to build another pond!  You're lucky to have salamanders in your farm pond!  You might build a small pond without fish just to put some of their eggs in if you want to observe them develop and grow.

Good luck!
Robyn
fishpondinfo.com