Complete Guide
Fish ponds are a fantastic feature in Stardew Valley that allow you to cultivate and harvest fish over time. Whether you want to farm roe for profit, collect resources, or simply decorate your farm, this guide will cover everything you need to know about fish ponds.
Introduction to Fish Ponds
Fish ponds are farm
buildings that let you breed and raise fish. They passively generate resources
such as roe, various crafting materials, and even rare items. Understanding how
they work and which fish to stock is crucial for maximizing their benefits.
Why Use Fish Ponds?
- Passive income: Fish generate roe, which can be turned
into aged roe for higher profits.
- Resource generation: Some fish provide valuable items like
ores, pearls, and geodes.
- Sustainable fishing: Instead of depleting rivers and lakes,
you can harvest fish indefinitely.
- Decorative purposes: Fish ponds enhance the aesthetic of your farm.
Build a Fish Pond
Step 1: Unlocking
the Fish Pond
To build a fish
pond, you need to visit Robin, the carpenter, at her shop in the Mountains. Her
shop is open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, except on Tuesdays (unless it's raining).
You can also find her at home during some festivals.
Fish Pond
Requirements
- Gold Cost: 5,000g
- Materials Needed:
- 200 Stone
- 5 Seaweed
- 5 Green Algae
- Build Time: 2 Days
Once Robin starts
construction, your fish pond will be ready after two in-game days.
Step 2: Placing the
Fish Pond
Fish Ponds take up
a 5x5 tile space, so ensure you have a suitable spot on your farm. Consider
placing it near your farm buildings or next to other ponds for a well-organized
layout. Some players create beautiful decorative pond areas, while others focus
on efficiency by placing multiple ponds close together for easy collection of
items.
Step 3: Stocking
the Fish Pond
After your fish
pond is built, you need to stock it with fish. To do this, simply hold a fish
in your inventory and right-click on the pond to place it inside. You can only
have one type of fish per pond, so choose wisely based on what benefits you
want.
Best Fish to Use in
Fish Ponds
Here are some of
the best fish to raise and their benefits:
Fish |
Produces |
Extra Drops |
Best For |
Max Population |
Sturgeon |
Sturgeon Roe (for Caviar) |
N/A |
High profit via Caviar |
10 |
Lava Eel |
Lava Eel Roe |
Gold Ore, Spicy Eel |
High-value roe, ores |
10 |
Blobfish |
Blobfish Roe |
Pearls, Treasure |
Rare drops |
10 |
Super Cucumber |
Super Cucumber Roe |
Iridium Ore, Amethyst |
Iridium farming |
10 |
Ice Pip |
Ice Pip Roe |
Refined Quartz, Iron |
Quartz and Iron farming |
10 |
Stonefish |
Stonefish Roe |
Geodes, Copper Ore |
Mining resources |
10 |
Octopus |
Octopus Roe |
Omni Geodes |
Chance for valuable gems |
10 |
Midnight Carp |
Midnight Carp Roe |
N/A |
Low-profit but aesthetic |
10 |
Void Salmon |
Void Salmon Roe |
Void Essence |
Dark-themed farm aesthetic |
10 |
Lionfish |
Lionfish Roe |
N/A |
Purely decorative |
10 |
Step 4: Increasing
Fish Pond Capacity
Each fish pond
starts with a capacity of three fish. To increase this limit, the fish will
periodically request items in a Fish Pond Quest. Completing these requests
increases the population cap to 5, then 7, and finally 10.
Common Fish
Requests
Fish will request
random items based on their species. Some examples include:
- Sturgeon: Jelly, Diamond, Pickles
- Lava Eel: Fire Quartz, Basalt, Magma Geode
- Blobfish: Coffee, Mayonnaise, Quartz
- Super Cucumber: Iridium Bar, Amethyst,
Battery Pack
Keeping a stockpile
of commonly requested items will help you quickly fulfill these quests and
expand your pond.
Step 5: Harvesting
Resources
Fish Ponds produce
resources automatically over time. You can collect these by interacting with
the pond when the fish have generated items. Different fish provide different
products:
- Roe: Used to make Aged Roe (or Caviar if
from Sturgeon)
- Ores and Geodes: Useful for mining
materials
- Pearls and Treasure Chests: Rare and
valuable items
Processing Roe for
Profit
Roe can be placed
in a Preserves Jar to create Aged Roe, which sells for a higher price.
- Sturgeon Roe turns into Caviar, one of the
most profitable artisan goods in the game (sells for 500g base price).
- Other roe types have varying values but
can still be a great source of income.
Step 6: Managing
Multiple Fish Ponds
Many players choose
to run multiple fish ponds to maximize profits and resources. Here are some
strategies:
- Dedicated Resource Farming: Have separate
ponds for Lava Eels (gold ore), Super Cucumbers (iridium), and Stonefish
(geodes).
- High-Profit Focus: Maintain multiple
Sturgeon ponds for Caviar production.
- Aesthetic Design: Create a decorative pond
area using Carp or ornamental fish like Lionfish.
How Fish Ponds Work
Basic Mechanics
- A pond starts with one fish, which
will reproduce over time up to its population limit.
- The default starting limit is three
fish.
- Fish will request certain items
(quests) to increase the pond’s population cap.
- Completing the quest raises the cap to 5,
then 7, and finally 10 fish.
Fish Requests
To increase a pond’s
capacity, fish will ask for items such as:
- Shells (Clams, Mussels, Cockles)
- Gems (Rubies, Emeralds)
- Artisan goods (Jellies, Mayonnaise)
- Random resources (Hardwood, Void Essence,
etc.)
The requests vary based on the fish species, so planning ahead is helpful.
Best Fish for Fish Ponds
Different fish provide
different benefits. Here are the best fish to raise in ponds:
For Profit (Roe
Production)
- Sturgeon
- Produces Sturgeon Roe, which turns
into Aged Roe in a Preserves Jar.
- Essential for making Caviar, a
high-value artisan good.
- Lava Eel
- Produces Lava Eel Roe, the most
valuable roe in the game.
- Also provides Gold Ore and Spicy
Eel, a great food buff.
- Blobfish
- Produces Blobfish Roe, which sells
for a good profit.
- Drops Pearls and Treasure
Chests.
For Resources
- Super Cucumber
- Drops Iridium Ore and Amethyst.
- Good for farming high-tier resources.
- Ice Pip
- Produces Iron Ore and Refined
Quartz.
- Stonefish
- Produces Copper Ore, Geodes,
and even Diamonds.
For Unique Drops
- Void Salmon
- Provides Void Essence and Void
Eggs.
- Great for players following the Dark
Talisman questline.
- Slimejack
- Drops Slime, useful for making Slime Eggs for Slime Hutches.
Maximizing Fish Pond Efficiency
Placement Strategy
- Group ponds together for easier
management.
- Place near Preserves Jars to
process roe quickly.
- Leave space for pathways and aesthetic
design.
Fulfilling Requests
Quickly
- Keep a stockpile of commonly requested
items like Coral, Quartz, and Sea Urchins.
- Use a chest near your ponds to
store quest items.
Automation &
Storage
- Place Chests nearby to store roe,
ores, and other items.
- Use Automator Mods (if playing on PC) to streamline collection.
Aesthetic and Roleplaying Uses
Fish ponds can be decorative
or serve as part of roleplay setups:
- Koi Ponds: Fill with Carp for a tranquil
aesthetic.
- Tropical Resort: Use Lionfish and Pufferfish.
- Haunted Farm: Use Void Salmon for an eerie
vibe.
Adding fencing, torches, and paths enhances the look of your fish ponds.
Advanced Fish Pond Strategies
Optimizing for
Quests
- Some fish, like Sturgeon, are
needed for the Community Center (Lake Fish Bundle).
- Keeping multiple ponds of the same
fish can speed up resource generation.
Using Fish Ponds
for Farming
- Fish ponds can generate ores like Iron,
Gold, and Iridium, reducing mining trips.
- Lava Eels provide Spicy Eel, an excellent
food for mining buffs.
Breeding Rare Fish
- Some rare fish (e.g., Legendary Fish)
cannot be placed in ponds.
- However, Ghostfish and Woodskip are easy to farm in ponds and useful for small profits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I change the
fish in my pond?
A: Yes, but you
must empty the pond first. This removes all fish and resets it.
Q: Do I need to
feed fish in ponds?
A: No! Fish ponds
are self-sustaining.
Q: Can I have
multiple fish ponds?
A: Yes, you can
build multiple fish ponds for different fish types.
Q: What happens if
I don’t complete a fish’s request?
A: Nothing bad
happens, but the population won't grow beyond its current limit.
Q: How do I empty a
fish pond?
A: To empty a pond,
go to the pond menu and select the option to remove all fish. This will also
remove any stored items and reset the pond.
Q: Can I breed
legendary fish in a fish pond?
A: No, legendary
fish cannot be placed in a fish pond.
Q: What is the best
fish for profit?
A: Sturgeon is the
best for profit since Sturgeon Roe turns into Caviar, which sells for a high
price.
Q: Can fish die in
a pond?
A: No, fish in Stardew
Valley do not die, even if you don’t check the pond frequently.
Q: Can I move a
fish pond after placing it?
A: Yes! You can
move fish ponds by visiting Robin’s shop and selecting the “Move Buildings”
option.
Q: Do fish ponds
work in winter?
A: Yes, fish ponds continue to function in winter, producing items as usual.
Fish ponds in Stardew Valley offer a fun, profitable, and useful way to manage resources. Whether you're farming roe, collecting rare items, or just decorating your farm, they’re an excellent investment.
By selecting the right
fish, fulfilling their requests, and placing ponds strategically,
you can make the most of this fantastic farm feature. Now go build your fish
empire! 🐟✨
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