Have you got heaters for your ponds?

Ice is getting so bad on ours it's killed one of the fish. My boyfriend has managed to rescue another. Next door's pond has no ice so we think they've got some kind of heater.

Save a fish, kill a polar bear .

Put a football or an empty plastic bottle (with the lid on) on the surface before it freezes. Then remove it in the morning, the fish will then have access to air & food.

I'll ask my mate who owns an aquatics company if there's anything else to do.

If Ice does form, never smash it, it can cause shock which can kill the fish underneath. Partially covering the surface with bubble wrap (floating) is the cheapest option.

Or polystyrene - we have a small floating igloo which does the job.

Thanks I'll let him indoors know.

Ponds with fountains take longer to freeze over.

My dad only had a small pond so a tennis ball did the trick. Mind you he did have a pump so that helped keep the ball moving.