Fish Ponds in Stardew Valley

Complete Guide

Fish pond stardew

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.

Fishi Pond Stardew valley

Best Fish for Fish Ponds

Different fish provide different benefits. Here are the best fish to raise in ponds:

For Profit (Roe Production)

  1. Sturgeon
    • Produces Sturgeon Roe, which turns into Aged Roe in a Preserves Jar.
    • Essential for making Caviar, a high-value artisan good.
  2. Lava Eel
    • Produces Lava Eel Roe, the most valuable roe in the game.
    • Also provides Gold Ore and Spicy Eel, a great food buff.
  3. Blobfish
    • Produces Blobfish Roe, which sells for a good profit.
    • Drops Pearls and Treasure Chests.

For Resources

  1. Super Cucumber
    • Drops Iridium Ore and Amethyst.
    • Good for farming high-tier resources.
  2. Ice Pip
    • Produces Iron Ore and Refined Quartz.
  3. Stonefish
    • Produces Copper Ore, Geodes, and even Diamonds.

For Unique Drops

  1. Void Salmon
    • Provides Void Essence and Void Eggs.
    • Great for players following the Dark Talisman questline.
  2. 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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