Marissa Hake, DVM, shares how goldfish help keep stock tanks clean. The goldfish stocking rate is one fish per 30 gallons of water. The fish do not need to be fed and can survive off chunks that fall in from cows’ mouths.
Source: calfvet, Instagram, June 5, 2022. Link.
Also see: Fish in the water trough, Dr Erik Johnson, Veterinarian, September 1, 2020. Link.
By adding certain species of fish to your water troughs, you can help reduce the quantity of algae. In addition, the fish will also likely eat any bugs, like mosquitoes, that may lay their larvae in algae infested water. Both algae and mosquitoes can cause dirty water that can potentially be harmful to horses.
INSIGHTS: While reviewing this topic, we found other references skeptical of the benefits of goldfish in stock tanks. The species of algae present may be one factor that determines if the goldfish are helpful, but who can argue with mosquitos being eaten?