Every spring I stock my small backyard pond with tiny feeder goldfish and rosy red minnows. I buy them for a tiny amount of fiat from the local pet store. They are sold as food for larger fish. Since they are bred and raised in horrible conditions, half of them usually die within a week of dumping them in the pond.

Last year was an exception. Many survived and there were a good number of fish by the time winter set in.

In the past we tried keeping nicer, more expensive young koi, but where we live they get spotted by herons or egrets as soon as they get big enough to make a decent meal. We also used to keep a bubbler running all winter so the pond wouldn't freeze over too solidly and deprive the fish of oxygen. When it broke, I didn't bother to replace it, since we have had a string of mild winters.

This winter was different. There were long stretches of below freezing temperatures and the pond looked frozen solid. I knew I had dug it deep enough so it wouldn't completely freeze solid, but I didn't think enough oxygen would be available under the ice for the fish to survive.

I was wrong. I was happy to see they all look great. It may not seem like a big deal, but I get satisfaction giving these condemned fish a new lease on life.