My fish have died, what caused problem?

Every year a number of East Texas pondowners lose part or all of their farm pond fish population due to an oxygen depletion.

An oxygen depletion is not the only cause of fish die-offs in Texas ponds, but about 85 percent of the time it is the most common cause of fish kills.  Pond owners should be aware of the causes, signs and corrective measures to lessen the likelihood of experiencing an oxygen depletion.

There are many factors or combinations of factors that can contribute to an oxygen depletion. The most common factors (not all of which can be controlled by the pond owner) which account for the majority of oxygen depletions in Texas farm ponds are as follows:

Season - Most oxygen depletions occur in warm weather, usually June through September. Warm water holds less oxygen than does cool water.

In addition, fish experience a faster metabolic rate as water temperature increases, therefore their requirement for oxygen increases. As a result, more oxygen is needed by the fish during a season when less is available. The fish are therefore more likely to become stressed during the warmer months.

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