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Q. I have a fairly "established" pond (3 yrs old). What can I do to encourage my fish to spawn? The fish seem to be healthy and the Koi and goldfish are old enough. A friend of mine, who also has a pond, says he has "young-ones" frequently. But, not me. I've yet to have the patter of little fins...what's wrong?

A. You can try a food that encourages the spawning activity of fish. Also, try floating candles and Barry White music!

But seriously, when they do spawn, you will see increased swimming and rubbing activity. Once this has ceased, keep an eye out for tiny eggs in the pond; you will especially notice them clinging to plants. Koi tend to eat the eggs, so if you want offspring I suggest you isolate the eggs. I used a small, rimmed tub filled with pond water, placed the eggs inside, and floated it on the pond. Once the fry hatched, I released them into the pond. Make sure you have potted plants in the pond so the offspring have a place to hide, helping to ensure their survival.