Typically, when you install a garden pond to stock it with fish, you're doing it because you want to get some enjoyment out of watching the fish. It's only natural after all to want to look on nature, and we all expect the maintenance to be rather easy. It can be, if you're careful about tending the fish in your garden pond.

It's important to remember that what you feed your fish depends greatly on the temperature. Even in the great state of California, our temperatures still shift enough that we need to carefully monitor how we tend to our fish. Always remember that water temperature in ponds is part of water quality for the inhabitants.

Once we kick the cooler months and spring cycles around, you'll notice that your fish will begin to surface more often as the water warms. If you experience a particular cold spell, your fish may have been overly-restful and almost hibernating. If you can do so, keep your water above 50 degrees before trying to feed the fish. When the temperature in your garden pond gets any colder than that, for any reason, and the fish won't digest the food as well.

As the days warm, stick to food that is easily digested such as wheat germ based floating pellets. They should be fed in small amounts and small increments early in the morning. Take heed not to over feed the fish in your garden pond. They can stuff themselves and become extremely ill. The fish should be fed lightly at first so that their bodies can warm with the sun on the water around them as it's heated to over 55 degrees. By midday, your fish should be much more active and ready to eat appropriate foods, especially those that are high in protein.

Feeding fish the wrong food, at the wrong time such as on a colder day, can cause the fish to become lethargic – more so than usual. This prevents the fish from moving as much as they need to in order to maintain their form and color. The last thing you want is a garden pond full of sick fish.

It's a good idea to keep a thermometer in your ponds water, usually about 12 inches below the surface. A pool thermometer works well, or a custom garden pond thermometer. Check it regularly when cold spells hit, especially in the morning. What may feel comfortable to us may be far too cold for the fish to resume their normal eating habits.

Keep in mind that a great rule to follow is to only feed your fish what they can readily consume within a span of about 10 minutes. Excess food that isn't eaten will sink to the bottom of your garden pond and quickly rot. This organic waste can create dead zones near the bottom of your pond, especially without proper aeration. A heavy buildup of organic waste will eventually kill off your fish as the toxicity creates gases that displace the oxygen. It's amazing the amount of damage an extra handful of food can do each day.

While it rarely happens, if the temperature of your water falls below 50 degrees, stop feeding the fish completely. It's likely that they won't consume anything you add to the water until it warms back up. By that time, the food will be rotting which will upset the balance in the water of backyard ponds.

Fish are a wonderful addition to any garden pond, large or small. Develop a careful routine to tend your fish and you'll have a tranquil scene to partake of any time you like.