Biotope fish are fascinating and valuable inhabitants of a naturally kept garden pond. They not only ensure a lively ecosystem, but also actively contribute to the biological balance. Whether it's the rainbow shiner, the sunbleak, the gudgeon or the three-spined stickleback – domestic pond fish have special requirements for their environment and, above all, for their food. Only with a species-appropriate diet can biotope fish fully fulfil their role in the natural pond and remain healthy long term.
In this PROPOND pond guide, you will learn everything you need to know about species-appropriate biotope fish food, the most popular domestic garden pond fish species and how to make your natural pond an ideal habitat for these special animals. Which fish are suitable for biotopes? What constitutes a biotope in a pond and which biotope fish food supports a natural way of life for domestic pond fish?
General information on biotope fish
Biotope fish are mostly native pond fish that are perfectly suited to life in natural or biotope ponds.
These include well-known species such as the minnow, the sunbleak, the gudgeon, the bitterling and the three-spined stickleback. These fish are not only robust and adaptable, but are also important players in the ecological balance of the garden pond. Many of them are sociable animals and need to be kept in groups in order to be able to express their natural behaviour.
The biotope pond offers ideal conditions for these native fish species. It is crucial to ensure the right pond structure and water quality. Shallow areas in which swamp zones are created are particularly important for biotope ponds to function in the long term. A natural pond with biotope fish needs to be at least 180 cm deep, so that the animals can survive harsh winters.
Find more information about biotope ponds here: Biotope ponds
How old do biotope fish become? Under optimal conditions, many of these species can live for several years - the exact age varies depending on the fish species. To ensure a long and healthy life, it is particularly important to choose a high-quality and natural food that is specially tailored to the needs of biotope fish.
What biotope fish species are there?
In a naturally kept garden pond or biotope pond, robust and native fish species that can adapt well to changing conditions are particularly important. Here we introduce you to the best-known biotope fish that are ideal for a natural pond – from the sunbleak to the minnow.
Sunbleak (Leucaspius delineatus) - Adaptable schooling fish for the garden pond
The sunbleak is a typical schooling fish and is one of the most popular biotope fish for garden ponds. These small and manoeuvrable fish prefer shallow, plant-rich water zones. The sunbleak is very adaptable and also copes well with lower oxygen levels in the biotope pond.
Gudgeon (gobio gobio) - The bottom-dwelling fish for naturally kept ponds
The gudgeon belongs to the bottom-dwelling fish family and prefers clean, oxygen-rich waters with gravel or sandy substrates. Gudgeons like to live in groups and feed on small animals and algae residues from the substrate. As a typical schooling fish, the gudgeon creates a lively scene in your pond biotope.
Orfes (Leuciscus idus) - Lively swimming beauties
The orfe is an active and fast swimmer, which likes to swim in the middle layer of water. The popular breeding form - the golden orfe - brings additional colour to the garden pond with its golden-yellow shimmer. They are sociable and need to be kept in shoals. Orfes are particularly useful as insectivores, as they eat insects and their larvae directly from the water surface.
Three-spined stickleback (gasterosteus aculeatus) - Domestic pond fish with character
The three-spined stickleback is a small but conspicuous predator that is easy to recognise with its three distinctive dorsal spines. This species is considered to be very adaptable and robust. During the spawning season, the male develops intense colouration and builds elaborate nests. The stickleback in the garden pond prefers plant-rich zones where it can find shelter and food. It is therefore perfectly suited to naturally kept garden ponds.
Bitterling (rhodeus sericeus amarus) - A unique breeder among the biotope fish
The bitterling is known for its unique reproduction style: it lays its eggs in mussels, which protect the offspring. This small, shiny silvery fish is therefore ideal for naturally kept garden ponds that also have mussel stocks. The bitterling (rhodeus sericeus amarus) is peaceful and sociable – perfect for the biotope pond.
Minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) - Colourful schooling fish
Minnows are among the best-known native small fish and are ideal for natural ponds. They live in small shoals and feel particularly at home in cool, oxygen-rich ponds. In addition to the classic minnow, the colourful fathead minnow or the rainbow shiner are also very popular, providing visual highlights with their bright colourings.
What do biotope fish eat?
The diet of biotope fish in the garden pond is varied and depends on the conditions in the pond. But what do sunbleaks eat? What about sticklebacks? What do bitterlings eat? What about minnows? Basically, most native biotope fish feed on a mixture of animal and plant components.
Favourite food sources include insect larvae, small crustaceans, worms, zooplankton, algae and dead plant debris. Biotope fish will find all the food they need in naturally kept ponds with rich bank and underwater vegetation.
Many species, such as the gudgeon or the sunbleak, look for their food in the substrate or in shallow, plant-rich zones. Others, such as the three-spined stickleback, use the open water and shore areas in the pond to prey on insects, fish spawn and small animals.
Overall, the diet of the biotope fish adapts flexibly to the natural conditions in the pond. Many species, including the stickleback, minnow and bitterling, are considered frugal and also do well in nutrient-poor biotopes.
Despite this, many pond owners want to know: Are biotope fish algae eaters?
It can be said that biotope fish help to stabilise the ecological balance through their feeding behaviour. In doing so, they can pick up loose algae or biofilms from the substrate and plants. However, they do not provide specific and effective algae control. Nevertheless, biotope fish support the interaction in the pond ecosystem and thus contribute to the reduction of excessive algae growth.
All in all, biotope fish are not typical algae eaters. They can, however, make a small contribution to algae control in the garden pond through their feeding habits.
What is the best food for biotope fish?
Biotope fish in garden ponds are generally omnivorous and have a very varied diet. As already mentioned, they consume both animal and plant food. In naturally kept ponds, they often find sufficient food themselves: insect larvae, small crustaceans, worms and algae remains are high on the menu. Smaller aquatic organisms and detritus from the bottom of the pond are also gladly eaten.
If you want to feed your biotope fish, you need to use high-quality biotope fish food that is specially tailored to the requirements of these fish. The JBL PROPOND BIOTOPE is such a high-quality food for biotope fish, which covers the food spectrum of all biotope fish species. It is therefore suitable for use as a food for sunbleak, bitterling, gudgeon, etc. It consists of insects, shrimps, green-lipped mussels and plant-based raw materials/ingredients and thus ensures a natural diet for biotope fish. Another important feature is that the food sinks. This plays a decisive role, as most species of biotope fish live near the ground.
Too much food pollutes the water and promotes algae growth. It is therefore better to feed less and as and when needed, so as not to disturb the biological balance in the natural pond.
How often do you need to feed biotope fish in the pond?
Biotope fish often find all the natural food they need in a well-designed natural pond. Nevertheless, careful feeding can be useful – especially in the warmer months, with a high fish population or in young ponds that are still undergoing ecological development.
As a rule of thumb, feed once or twice a day in small quantities, as much as the fish can consume within a few minutes. During this, it is important to observe the fish's behaviour. If food remains lying around, the amount was too large.
Less is often more. Adapted feeding not only supports the health of the fish, but also protects the biological balance in the garden pond.
How do you feed biotope fish in winter?
During the cold season, biotope fish change their behaviour as falling temperatures slow down their metabolism. They reduce their activity and retreat to deeper, more temperature-stable water zones.
Feeding should be reduced if the water temperature falls below 10 °C. Many domestic fish then hardly eat at all. If feeding does take place, make sure the fish food has a sinking property so that it reaches the more passive biotope fish species in the deeper water layers and they do not have to rise to feed. This ensures that no unnecessary energy reserves are wasted.
It is also important that the water is deep enough to prevent the bottom of the pond from freezing over completely. Species such as bitterlings and golden orfes particularly need sheltered areas with sufficient oxygen in winter. Pond aeration ( JBL PondOxi-Set ) or an ice preventer can help to ensure an oxygen supply.
Overall, the following applies: In winter only feed very sparingly or not at all - most biotope fish hibernate without any problems and draw on their natural energy reserves.
Socialising biotope fish
Only socialise biotope fish with species that have similar requirements in terms of water quality, temperature and food.
Which fish go well with the sunbleaks? Is it possible to keep sunbleaks and bitterlings together? Do bitterlings and goldfish get along in the pond?
In principle, all the biotope fish listed can be kept together in one pond, as they are all relatively peaceful pond inhabitants. As long as there is sufficient space and hiding places and the pond corresponds to their natural habitat with the various Pond areas , the socialisation is not a problem.
A common combination is the keeping of sunbleaks and minnows, as both species thrive in oxygen-rich waters. It is also possible to socialise the sunbleaks and bitterlings together, as bitterlings are very peaceful pond inhabitants.
Socialising with larger species such as goldfish or koi is also possible. It’s important to know that these will occasionally eat small fish or their spawn. A well-designed pond therefore has a positive effect on the well-being of all pond inhabitants.
However, if you keep different species of fish in your pond, it is best to cater to the respective needs of your pond fish individually - ideally with specially adapted species foods. You can find an overview of the complete PROPOND species food range here: JBL SPECIES
