Frequently asked questions
Instructions
How do i introduce the fish into my pond?
Instructions for introducing fish into your pond can vary depending on the time of year. What we recommend is that, if your pond water temperature is withing 5 degrees Fahrenheit of the water temperature in the box, then release the fish into your pond immediately. It is always best to release fish in a deeper area, such as off the end of a dock, so that they can dive down to the depth at which they are most comfortable temperature wise.
If the discrepancy is greater than 5 degrees Fahrenheit, remove the bag from the box and float it in the edge of the pond for approximately 20 minutes. Leave the bag sealed while it floats and make sure that it is in a shady spot where it will not drift away. After 20 minutes have elapsed, open the bag and release the fish into the pond.
HOW DO I know what species are in my box?
Whenever you receive your fish either from our truck or via UPS, you’ll see a label.
With the exception of Koi, we use an abbreviation for our species followed by a number that indicates how many fish of that species come in your box*
The meaning of those abbreviations are:
BC: Black Crappie
BS: Bluegill Sunfish
CC: Channel Catfish
FM: Fathead Minnows*
GC: Grass Carp
LB: Largemouth Bass
RT: Rainbow Trout
WA: Walleye
YP: Yellow Perch
*In the case of Fathead Minnows the number is indicating the amount of pounds. For example FM 4 means that there are 4 lb of minnows in the box.
How often SHOULD I FEED MY FISH?
Hand feeding your fish can be a fun activity but make sure you don’t over feed or else you can be adding excess nutrients to your pond.
A good rule of the thumb is to not exceed a 5 minute feeding cycle and not to feed more than 3 times per day.
Pond care products
ARE THE Pond care products HARMFUL FOR THE FISH OR OTHER POND WILDLIFE?
The pond care products that we offer are 100% natural, therefore, they are safe for both you and your fish.
HOW to apply THE CLARIFIER and how does it WORK ?
How to apply:
Clarifier should be dissolved in water and sprayed uniformly across the surface of the pond.
General information:
Nontoxic material that reduces sediment and the amount of phosphorus in the water column.
How to apply the muck pellets and how do they work?
How to apply:
Muck pellets are used as a spot treatment for your pond, dock, pier, beach, or other swimming areas where you may have muck accumulation. It is recommended that you use 4 pounds per week for four weeks. You can then use 1 pound every other week or as needed.
General information:
Instead of reducing nutrients throughout the water column, muck pellets work in localized areas. This option is much more efficient because you can concentrate on cleaning problem areas. The pellets themselves sink to the bottom of the pond, where they will begin to eliminate accumulated sludge and muck.
How Do I apply the Algae prevention package?
Algae Prevention Pellets:
Pellets should be broadcast around the perimeter of the pond with higher concentrations being applied in areas with more algae.
Beneficial Bacteria:
Do not open the pouch containing the powdered bacteria. Pouches of beneficial bacteria are dissolvable. To apply, remove the pouch from the zip lock bag and throw it into the center of your pond. Bacteria should be applied when the water temperature is 50 degrees Fahrenheit or above.
Pond Dye:
Do not open the pouch containing the powdered dye. Pouches of dye are dissolvable. To apply, remove the pouch from the zip lock bag and throw it into the center of your pond.
Orders
When do I need to submit my order by?
Is there a minimum order amount?
Do you offer quantity discounts?
Delivery
How do I get my fish?
Fish can be shipped directly to your home via UPS Next Day Air®. If you would prefer this option, you can select shipping during the checkout process.
We also offer delivery of fish directly to your pond. If you are interested in delivery then please Contact Us by email or phone to request a quote.
How long will I have to get my fish home?
How will my fish be packaged?
When will my fish arrive?
*This is only an example and does not correlate to the actual schedule*
- Stop 1: 7:00AM
- Stop 2: 9:00AM
- Stop 3: 11:00AM
- Stop 4: 1:00PM
- Stop 5: 3:00PM
- Stop 6: 5:00PM
shipping
how will my fish be shipped?
When will my pond care products be shipped?
how will my pond care products be shipped?
when will my fish be shipped?
We do not ship fish from November-March or July-August. Your fish will only ship during the months in which they are available. For example, bluegill sunfish are only available during April, May, June and September. Orders that are placed outside of available dates will be shipped on the first Wednesday of the normal season. For example, if an order is placed in February for shipment of bluegill sunfish, they will be shipped on the first Wednesday in April. Shipments may be postponed in excessively warm weather due to the potential for higher mortality in transit. If your shipment is postponed for any reason, you will be notified in advance.
Fish are always shipped out on Wednesdays regardless of what day the order is placed on. For example, if shipping is selected for your fish at checkout and your order is placed on a Saturday, your order will be shipped the following Wednesday and will arrive at your home the next day. Having a designated shipping day allows us to quickly pack multiple orders and transport them to the UPS facility at a specific time to minimize the time spent in transit.
what if my fish are doa?
If you have signed for your packages and find that more than 5 percent of the fish in the box are dead on arrival, take a photograph of them and email it to us along with proof that the packages were signed for and we will ship new fish out the following Wednesday.
Fish
Do I need to do anything special in preparation for my delivery?
Are the fish disease free?
How many fish should I stock?
Should I feed my fish?
Do I need a permit?
Payment
When do I pay for my fish?
Is my credit card information safe?
DOCKS
How Much Is a dock?
Docks are 100% customizable therefore, depending on your preferences, we can design the perfect dock for you. You can add the components that you are interested in to the quote request form and we will provide you with a drawing and quote for the requested pieces.
Do you offer dock installation?
Yes, although they are fairly easy to install yourself, we do offer installation. If you would like us to include the cost of installation on your quote, let us know in the “Customer Notes” section of the quote request form.
How LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR MY DOCK TO ARRIVE?
We have many common pieces in stock however, some components may have to be ordered through the manufacturer so lead times can vary. We can let you know current lead times when we provide your quote.
How is the dock anchored?
There are multiple ways to anchor your dock but the most common is to use galvanized steel pipes. Other methods include dead-weight brackets, pilings, attaching to an existing dock, and many others. A representative can discuss the best options with you based on the configuration and location of your dock.