Stardew Valley Farm Pond Guide
The Fish Pond is a farm building that allows players to raise fish and harvest various fish-related products. It provides a steady source of Roe, fish-specific items, and even some rare materials.
Building Requirements
- Cost: 5,000g
- Materials:
- 200 Stone
- 5 Seaweed
- 5 Green Algae
- Builder: Robin at the Carpenter’s Shop
- Build Time: 3 days
- Size: 5x5 tiles
Fish Pond Basics
Capacity
- Each Fish Pond can hold a maximum of 10 fish of the same type
- Fish will reproduce over time up to the capacity limit
- Only one type of fish can be placed in each pond
Fish Population Growth
- Fish reproduce naturally over time
- Completing pond quests (item requests) increases the maximum population
- Population starts at 1-3 fish and can grow to 10 through quest completion
- Higher population = more and better products
Fish Types and Pond Products
Common Fish and Their Products
Salmon / Tuna / Red Snapper / Tilapia / Halibut
- Products: Roe
- Roe Value: Varies by fish type
- Notes: Standard ocean fish, produce basic Roe
Sturgeon
- Products: Sturgeon Roe (makes Caviar when placed in a Preserves Jar)
- Special Value: Caviar sells for 500g (base price)
- Notes: One of the most profitable pond fish
Lava Eel
- Products: Roe, Magma Geodes, Gold Ore, Spicy Eel
- Notes: Very profitable; Spicy Eel is a valuable food buff item
Ice Pip
- Products: Roe, Frozen Geodes, Iron Ore, Diamond
- Notes: Good source of gems and geodes
Blobfish
- Products: Roe, Pearl, Warp Totem: Farm
- Notes: Chance to produce rare Pearls
Octopus
- Products: Roe, Omni Geode, Magma Geode
- Notes: Produces geodes consistently
Super Cucumber
- Products: Roe, Iridium Ore, Amethyst
- Notes: Source of valuable Iridium Ore
Rainbow Trout
- Products: Roe, Rainbow Shell, Prismatic Shard (very rare)
- Notes: Small chance for Prismatic Shards
Slimejack
- Products: Roe, Green Slime Egg, Algae
- Notes: Useful for Slime Hutch restocking
Woodskip
- Products: Roe, Hardwood, Acorn, Maple Seed, Pine Cone
- Notes: Good source of Hardwood and tree seeds
Void Salmon
- Products: Roe, Void Essence, Void Egg
- Notes: Source of Void Eggs for cooking
Tiger Trout
- Products: Roe, Tiger Slime Egg
- Notes: Source of Tiger Slime Eggs
Legendary Fish
Legendary fish cannot be placed in Fish Ponds:
- Crimsonfish
- Angler
- Legend
- Glacierfish
- Mutant Carp
- Legend II
- Ms. Angler
- Radioactive Carp
- Son of Crimsonfish
- Glacierfish Jr.
Pond Quests
As your fish population grows, the pond will request specific items:
- Population 3: Requests 1 item
- Population 5: Requests 1-2 items
- Population 7: Requests 2-3 items
- Population 10: Final quest
Common Quest Items
- Seaweed, Algae
- Specific fish types
- Gems and minerals
- Foraged items
- Artisan goods
Completing quests increases the pond’s capacity and improves product quality.
Roe and Caviar
Roe Production
- All fish produce Roe (except Coral, Sea Urchin, and some others)
- Roe color varies by fish type
- Roe sells for 30g base price (varies by fish)
Making Caviar
- Place Sturgeon Roe in a Preserves Jar
- Processing time: 4 days
- Caviar sells for 500g (base price)
- Caviar is loved by certain villagers as a gift
Aged Roe
- Placing any Roe in a Preserves Jar creates Aged Roe
- Aged Roe sells for 1.5x the base Roe price
- Not as valuable as Caviar but still profitable
Decoration Options
While the Fish Pond itself cannot be decorated, you can enhance the surrounding area:
Pathing and Flooring
- Use Stone Path, Wood Path, or Crystal Path around the pond
- Flooring prevents weed growth and looks organized
Fences
- Place fences around the pond area for a contained look
- Hardwood Fences last the longest
Lighting
- Place Torches or Lamp Posts nearby for nighttime visibility
- Jack-O-Lanterns provide seasonal decoration
Surrounding Decorations
- Plant flowers nearby for color
- Use seasonal crops as border decoration
- Place statues or unique furniture items nearby
- Trees (Maple, Oak, Pine) provide natural framing
Multi-Pond Layouts
- Many players create “fish farm” areas with multiple ponds
- Group ponds of the same fish type together
- Create themed areas (ocean fish, river fish, specialty fish)
Profitability Tips
Most Profitable Fish
- Lava Eel - Roe + valuable items (Spicy Eel, Gold Ore)
- Sturgeon - Caviar production (500g each)
- Blobfish - Chance for Pearls
- Ice Pip - Diamonds and geodes
- Super Cucumber - Iridium Ore
Tips for Maximum Profit
- Build multiple ponds for different fish types
- Focus on Sturgeon for consistent Caviar income
- Keep ponds at maximum population (10 fish)
- Complete all pond quests promptly
- Process Roe in Preserves Jars
- Use the Fish Pond as passive income alongside crops and animals
Related Buildings and Items
- Preserves Jar: Processes Roe into Aged Roe or Caviar
- Fish Smoker: Smokes fish to increase value
- Recycling Machine: Processes Trash into useful items
- Rain Totem: Ensures rain (some fish prefer rainy weather)