New Pond under a year old

[PondNYW]

So I am a new pond person and excited to be here. I am in the US in New York and the pond is about 10ft by 12 ft and about 2 ft deep (no clue how many gallons that is) it also has a waterfall going into it, filter, sump, aerator. I do not want Koi but am looking for some interesting fish or creatures to keep in the pond that can withstand the winter and are somewhat self sufficient since sometimes I am gone for a couple months at a time. Right now I just have some tadpoles, red rosy minnows and some trapdoor snails. I was considering weather loaches and am open to any interesting fish that could do well. I have a built in cave. Not sure what else to add but hopefully can get a few suggestions here. Very small catfish?

 

[j.w]

@PondNYW
I like the Shubunkin goldfish. Look kinda like koi only smaller. Nice calico and other type of colored markings.

 

[Stephen Noble]

Welcome to the forum!
Two things about the question for stocking your pond:
The depth of your pond and self-sufficiency during your absence for a couple of months.
Is your absence during the winter? If during the pond season, you will need to have someone care for your pond.
Depth could be a real issue if you live say, in the Adirondacks with seriously hard, extended freezes. If so, do you have some way to keep a hole in the ice?
Just based on the information you provided; I would very lightly stock the pond if at all. You might consider just letting nature take it and see what happens for a year to two.

 

[Mgessert]

I think I’d stay with what you have since you aren’t always there to monitor water quality.

 

[GBBUDD]

1795 gallons plus minus . gold fish can look very much like a koi the colors just do not get as radical. but these fish can go months on end with no intervention

 

[addy1]

Welcome to the forum!

I would stick with shubunkins also.