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garden pond help please?

can someone tell me why my pond fish (goldfish and a carp) have started to jump out the water.the pond is 8 feet by 6 feet by 3 feet deep ,i have 15 fish from 2" to 10".it is very clear water with plants, they jump a few inchs into the air ,so far they not jump to the side just straight up.

Public Comments

1. they got salmonella.
2. either the water is wrong, high nitrites level, or low oxygen, or they have parasites that 'itch' ... or they're showing off for the ladies?... ....read up here... http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-us&q=pond+fish+jumping&btnG=Search ponddoctor is a good one....
3. Is it at a certain time of the day? It could be that there is a hatch of insects that are over the pond. Mine tend to do this in the early evening...
4. trying to catch bug
5. may be playing
6. I'm not sure of salmonella but the rest of the answers are all possibilities. Impressing the ladies would be a spring thing but mine never do. Parasites will make fish jump out of my aquariums but I've never had a problem outside. I suppose bad water chemistry might be a reason but mine become lethargic and gulp air when stressed. My koi raise there heads out of the water at feeding time - too cute, but never leap. Which leaves insects and playing. My gold fish will leap for insects in late afternoon through evening. What's funny is when one jumps for an insect, others leap for no apparent reason. I can only assume they're playing follow the leader. RScott
7. I think its natural,I keep koi so the water has to be good quality and my fish jump.It has been said that they do it to clean their gills.It would be worth testing the water to be sure and check for small parasites clinging to the fish.Another point is that your pond seems to be over stocked ie the amount of "fish inches" for48 sq ft of area so water quality could be a problem in terms of high nitrite
8. Has your pump got an earth leak!