Summary
InStardew Valley, a fish pond is an aquaculture item that enables fish reproduction. Each pond can hold up to ten fish of any type, but its maximum capacity is unlocked after the player completes a few quick objectives. As farm buildings, fish ponds can be purchased from Robin, the local carpenter. Each pond costs 5,000 gold and requires 200 Stones, five Seaweed, and five Green Algae to build.
In addition to fish reproduction, fish ponds can produce random objects based on the type of fish they contain. This can make it challenging for players to determine the best fish for their ponds, as they may want to know which species will be the most lucrative in the long run. To simplify things for allStardew Valleyfarmers, the following list ranks thebest fish for fish ponds inStardew Valleyand explains why they offer the highest return on investment.
Updated on July 20, 2025, by Mohsen Baqery: Stardew Valley 1.6 didn’t add any new fish species, but it did introduce some new items like the Golden Animal Crackers, Bait Maker, Fish Smoker, and Challenge Bait that transformed fishing. Fish ponds, on the other hand, have pretty much remained the same, though more players are looking to utilize them as passive income sources. To help these profit-seeking fans, this list has been revised to include more practical options for a fish pond, along with additional information about each candidate to help players make up their minds.
11Sea Cucumber
Best Item: Lucky Meal
Sea Cucumbermight not be the first choice that comes to mind when considering the best fish for a pond inStardew Valley. However, this deep-sea creature comes with a side product that should not be overlooked: The Lucky Meal. Using one Sea Cucumber, a Tortilla, and a Blue Jazz, the player can create a satisfying meal capable of boosting Luck by three points.
For veteran players, Super Cucumber would be a better option. Although quite rare to obtain, Super Cucumber has a small chance of producing Iridium Roe in the pond, which adds to its overall value. (The daily chance of getting an Iridium Roe from a Super Cucumber pond is about 5%, which is not that bad compared with other rare items’ drop rates.)
1-4
16-33%
5-10
55-95%
10Stingray
Best Item: Dragon Tooth
Most players use Stingray fish ponds to harvest Roe and Cinder Shards. While both these items are quite practical to have on the farm, Stingrays can also produce Dragon Tooth, which is one of the rarest items in the game. Every day, a Stingray fish pond has up to a 5% chance of dropping a Dragon Tooth, which the player can collect and use in crafting unique items like Warp Totem: Island and Mini-Forge, as well as the Island Obelisk.
Stingrays are not necessarily moneymaking fish for the ponds. But for a veteran player with enough space to hold a couple of spare ponds, they’re the perfect creature. Players should see them as a cost-effective, low-risk way of obtaining some rare materials without having to leave the farm.
1-3
18-31%
4
36%
5-6
52-60%
7-8
61-68%
9-10
63-69%
4-6
2-3%
3-4%
4%
5%
7-8%
9-10%
9Squid or Midnight Squid
Best Item: Squid Ink
Squids are a great addition to a fisherperson’s pond due to their high drop rates of Squid Ink. While Squid Ink isn’t worth much when sold, it’s essential for crafting Seafoam Pudding, one of the best fishing buffs that significantly boosts your fishing skills, perfect for farming legendary fish.
Squid Ink can be a bit tricky to farm in Pelican Town, but aSquidor Midnight Squid Pond makes it much easier. With ten Squids in the pond, you have up to a 69% chance to get Squid Ink per day, making the process much more efficient.
1-2
6-8%
3-4
23-28%
46-53%
7-10
71-95%
8Slimejack
Best Item: Slime Eggs
While theSlimejackmay not be the most lucrative choice for a fish pond, its ability to drop Slime Eggs makes it a reliable option. Players can either hatch these eggs into Slimes using a Slime Incubator orsell them immediately for 1,000 gold.
Prospective Slimejack owners should note that this fish typically drops the most common type of egg, the Green Slime Egg. Specifically, there is up to a 2% chance that a Slimejack pond with nine to ten fish will yield one Green Slime Egg per day.
1-10
18-44%
3-10
4-8%
6-15%
1.7-1.9%
7Spook Fish
Best Item: Treasure Chests
Spook Fishcan be caught on the Submarine ride at the Night Market. For players who want toget Treasure Chests daily, placing Spook Fish in a fish pond is the best option.
Treasure Chests can be sold for an impressive 5,000 gold, offering a fast way to boost your profits. However, obtaining these chests is rare, as each Spook fish pond has only a 0.4% chance of dropping one per day. More commonly, the pond yields Roe, which is significantly less profitable than Treasure Chests.
1
23-95%
9
0.4%
6Blue Discus
Best Item: Golden Coconut
TheBlue Discusis a beautifultropical fish found on Ginger Island. It can be caught in freshwater bodies on the Island’s North and West sides during any season. When placed in a fish pond on the farm, the Blue Discus reproduces every three days. Additionally, they drop items that can’t be found in Pelican Town - things like Bananas and golden Coconuts.
The likeliest item a Blue Discus fish pond will yield is its exclusive Roe. Each day, there’s up to a 76% chance that the player will get this product. However, there’s also a 4% chance that the pond will produce a Golden Coconut, which is a relatively rare and valuable item. (CrackingGolden Coconuts can reward players with Golden Walnuts, Banana Saplings, Mango Saplings, Pineapple Seeds, Taro Tubers, Mahogany Seeds, Fossilized Skulls, Iridium Ores, and Golden Helmets.)
23-76%
5-15%
5Ice Pip
Best Item: Diamond
Ice Pipsare a rare fish species that can thrive in freezing conditions, making them an easy catch on Floor 60 in theFrozen Earth section of the Mines. When placed in a fish pond, Ice Pips reproduce everyfive days. They’re a valuable fish, with a base selling price of500g, which can be doubled to1,000gfor iridium quality.
Luckyplayers may also receive free Diamondsby keeping this fish. When the pond’s population reaches nine or ten, there’s a 0.7% daily chance of getting one. However, it’s best not to rely on this item, as it is a relatively rare drop.
6-41%
3
15-15%
6-7%
0.7%
4Rainbow Trout
Best Item: Prismatic Shard
Found swimming in freshwater bodies around the Valley, theRainbow Troutis the ultimate fish to place in fishponds on the farm inStardew Valley. They can be effortlessly caught in the River flowing through Pelican Town and Cindersap Forest and the Mountain Lake onsunny summer days. Rainbow Trout reproduce quickly (aboutevery two days) in a fish pond.
The most valuable item a Rainbow Trout pond can produce isthe Prismatic Shard. However, like other rare drops, it is quite unlikely for the average player to obtain one. The chance of receiving a Prismatic Shard from this pond is just 0.09% per day, which translates to approximately a 10% chance per year.
1-8
100%
0.09%
3Blobfish
Best Item: Pearl
Blobfishare rare creatures that can only be caught while fishing in the Submarine at the Night Market. Players have a 10% chance to hook a Blobfish in the Submarine ridefrom 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Placing Blobfish in fish ponds is a good option since they reproduce every four days. They sell for500gfor regular fish to1,000gfor iridium-quality fish. Additionally, they yield valuable items such as:
21-91%
2Sturgeon
Best Item: Caviar (Roe)
Sturgeonare fascinating fish that can be caught during summers and winters in The Mountain Lake. They’re quite challenging to catch as these fish are only available on rainy summer days but are the least common during rainy winter days. However,players can purchase them from Krobus’s Shopon Wednesdays for200g.
Sturgeons reproduce everyfour dayswhen placed in a fish pond. They are highly valued for their Roe, which can be processed into Caviar through a Preserves Jar. Caviar is a luxurious delicacy priced at500 gold.
5-84%
