Pond Renovation

Introduction   |   What is Rotenone?   |   Preparing the Pond   |   Applying Rotenone   |    Restocking the Pond   |   Toxicity and Neutralization   |   Partial Fish Kill   |  

Click here for a printable version of this publication: Using Rotenone To Renovate Fish Populations In Farm Ponds

Restocking the Pond

It is important to wait until the rotenone dissipates before restocking. If the kill is conducted in early fall, the rotenone should be detoxified by the time winter rains have occurred to partially refill the pond. A good general rule of thumb is to wait 1 month. A simple test can help determine when it is safe to restock. A few fish (bream, goldfish, minnows) can be placed in a small cage in the pond or in a container with water from the pond. If the fish survive 24 to 36 hours, it is safe to restock the pond.

Another reason to renovate the pond in late summer/early fall is that it coincides conveniently with the availability of fingerling bream from hatcheries. Visit our stocking page for information on selection of species and stocking procedures for farm ponds.