Pond fish move in Exeter
Professional pond fish move services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£85-£160
Typical Duration
1.5-3 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Pond fish caught safely and moved to new or temporary location. I use proper nets, work calmly, and transfer quickly - minimal stress for fish, maximum peace of mind for you.
Moving Fish is Trickier Than It Looks
You'd think: net, bucket, done. But fish are delicate - wrong net tears fins, chasing exhausts them, temperature shock kills them, and rough handling removes their protective slime coat.
💡 Pro tip: Fish can actually die from stress days after a badly-handled move. Doing it properly matters.
Why This Needs Doing Properly
| ✅ Done Right | ❌ Done Wrong |
|---|---|
| Soft knotless nets that don't damage fins | Kitchen sieve scraping scales off |
| Quick, calm catching technique | Hour-long chase exhausting the fish |
| Water temperatures matched | Temperature shock killing fish |
| Fish moved in pond water | Straight into tap water (chlorine!) |
| Minimal handling, in water when possible | Flopping around in net gasping |
One rough catch can injure a fish worth £100+. Koi especially are easily damaged and valuable.
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Assess | Check pond, fish numbers, hiding spots |
| Prepare | Buckets filled with pond water, nets ready |
| Catch | Work methodically, fish caught safely |
| Transfer | Quick move to new location, temperatures matched |
| Check | Count confirmed, fish settling |
📦 You're Left With
- All fish safely relocated
- No injuries or losses
- Fish settling in new environment
- Advice on monitoring them
Pricing Guide
| Job Size | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Small pond, few fish (under 10) | 1.5-2 hrs | £85-£110 |
| Medium pond, 10-20 fish | 2-3 hrs | £110-£160 |
| Large pond, many fish, lots of plants | 3-4 hrs | £160-£210 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Time depends on fish quantity, pond size, and how catchable they are.
Perfect For You If...
✅ Pond renovation - need fish out while you repair/clean
✅ Moving house - taking your fish to the new place
✅ Upgrading pond - transferring to a bigger setup
✅ Building work - temporary relocation during construction
✅ Valuable koi - can't risk damaging expensive fish
Why Choose Us for Pond fish move in Exeter?
Fish caught safely without injury
Moved quickly to minimize stress
Water conditions matched properly
Temporary or permanent relocation handled
What to Expect
Step 1: Setup
I assess the pond, spot where fish hide, set up buckets with pond water (not tap water!), and prepare nets. Planning the approach matters.
Step 2: Catch
Working calmly and methodically, I catch each fish using soft nets and gentle technique. No rushing, no chasing to exhaustion.
Step 3: Transfer
Fish moved quickly in their own pond water to the new location. Temperatures matched, fish released gently, counted to confirm everyone made it.
🔧 DIY Tips
Need to move fish yourself? Here's the safe way:
🔧 What you'll need
- Soft knotless fish nets (proper ones, not garden nets)
- Large clean buckets (never used for chemicals)
- Aerator or oxygen tablets if journey is long
- Thermometer
- Patience
📋 The safe method
- Set up first - destination pond ready, buckets filled with source pond water
- Work calmly - sudden movements stress fish
- Net technique - corner fish gently, don't chase around exhausting them
- Keep wet - fish should stay in water in the net, not flopping in air
- Temperature match - float bag/bucket in new pond 20 mins before release
- Don't feed - for 24 hours after moving (stress reduces digestion)
🎯 Catching difficult fish
- Early morning when they're sleepy and surface for oxygen
- Feeding time when they come to regular spot
- Remove some water if pond is too deep to reach
- Work hiding spots systematically, don't let them keep circling
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Using rough nets that tear fins
- Chasing fish to exhaustion
- Moving in hot weather (low oxygen)
- Temperature shock from not matching water
- Handling fish with dry hands (removes protective slime)
- Overcrowding buckets (stress and oxygen depletion)
💡 Pro trick: If you're draining the pond anyway, catch fish as water level drops - much easier than netting in deep water. Just work before it gets too shallow and fish panic.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🐟 Koi owner? These are valuable fish that need extra care. I've handled prize koi - they get the gentle treatment they deserve.
Temporary relocation? You'll need a holding tank with aeration. Paddling pools work for short-term (day or two), but proper tanks with filters for longer. I can advise.
Winter move? Fish metabolism slows in cold water - actually less stressful than summer when oxygen is low and stress is high.
Huge pond in Exeter? Some older properties have massive ponds. If yours is genuinely enormous or has dozens of fish, I'll be honest about whether it's a one-person job or needs more help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would I need to move my pond fish?
Usually pond maintenance (cleaning, repairs, liner replacement), moving house, or transferring to a bigger pond. Sometimes temporarily while building work happens. Whatever the reason, fish need careful handling - you can't just net them and dump them.
Do you supply the holding tank or new pond?
You need the destination sorted - either a temporary tank/tub with an aerator, or the new pond ready and filled. I bring proper fish nets, buckets, and the know-how to catch them without damage. I can advise on temporary setups if you're planning pond work.
Won't catching the fish stress them out?
Yes, a bit - it's unavoidable. That's why technique matters. I use soft nets, work calmly, don't chase them to exhaustion, and get them transferred quickly. Much less stressful than an amateur spending an hour flailing around with a kitchen sieve.
How long does moving pond fish take?
Depends on how many fish and how hard they are to catch. Small pond with a few goldfish - maybe 90 minutes. Big pond with shy koi hiding under lily pads - could be 3 hours. I'll estimate once I know your situation.
What if you can't catch all the fish?
If a fish is genuinely uncatchable (huge pond, very wily fish, tons of hiding spots), I'll be honest and suggest options - partial draining, waiting for feeding time when they surface, or accepting one might stay. No point pretending otherwise.
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