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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: chippy queen on October 10, 2009, 16:10:37

Title: Goldfish in your water butt
Post by: chippy queen on October 10, 2009, 16:10:37
I ahve just read an article in a monthly gardening magazine where Bob said he puts a couple of goldfish in his water butt to keep the gnat larvae away.  Does anyone else do this and do you need to keep the lids on or off???
Title: Re: Goldfish in your water butt
Post by: Fork on October 10, 2009, 16:37:50
I have friends in Wakefield who have goldfish in their water butts for exactly the same reason.

If I remember rightly they dont have lids on theirs.
Title: Re: Goldfish in your water butt
Post by: labrat on October 10, 2009, 16:53:11
Personally I wouldn't. It's cruel to the fish.
Title: Re: Goldfish in your water butt
Post by: tonybloke on October 10, 2009, 17:55:24
I kep a goldfish in my large water butt (1, 000 ltr)at the lottie, it's a lot larger than a goldfish bowl, that's for sure, and it's probably larger than a lot of garden ponds. goldfish survive ( and breed) in tiny (less than 100 ltr) ponds, so a 200ltr butt is huge to them!! ;)
Title: Re: Goldfish in your water butt
Post by: Sparkly on October 10, 2009, 18:02:46
It's not cruel at all. It's a much larger volume than a tank.....

We have one in our water butt (no lid). Have no problem with larvae.

I wouldn't put a large number of fish in there, but 1 or 2 is fine.

Title: Re: Goldfish in your water butt
Post by: caroline7758 on October 10, 2009, 18:29:42
Mentioned in Gardener's World as well- definitely without lid!
Title: Re: Goldfish in your water butt
Post by: Eristic on October 10, 2009, 20:05:52
QuotePersonally I wouldn't. It's cruel to the fish.

But much more cruel to the mosquito larve.

QuoteMentioned in Gardener's World as well- definitely without lid!

Looks like their researchers have been trawling my websites again.  8)
Title: Re: Goldfish in your water butt
Post by: Digeroo on October 10, 2009, 20:15:22
Are you worried that you might fish one out in the watering can and put on the garden.
Title: Re: Goldfish in your water butt
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on October 14, 2009, 18:31:43
Just get one that's too big to go through the tap.