Norfine Japanese Style Containment Zip Cage – 2ft Cube

Norfine Japanese Style Containment Zip Cage – 2ft Cube

A floating, soft-mesh enclosure for short-term fish containment

The Norfine Japanese Style Containment Zip Cage gives you a defined, accessible space within the pond when a suitably sized fish needs temporary containment. This is the BT200 2ft cube, with a floating pipework frame, smooth black 3mm mesh, weighted bottom corners and a zipped lid. Water passes through its sides, so the fish remains in the surrounding pond water while being physically separated from fish outside the enclosure.

Its compact footprint can be useful when you need to keep a fish within reach for observation without repeatedly catching it across the whole pond. Choose it around the actual size and behaviour of the fish, the depth available and your access to the lid. The 2ft measurement describes the enclosure; it is not a recommendation that every koi will fit comfortably inside.

Dimensions and construction

Norfine describes its 2ft model as approximately 60cm in each direction. A mathematical conversion of two feet is about 61cm, so treat these figures as nominal sizing rather than an exact installation tolerance. Allow additional clearance around the frame, and check the available water depth before ordering. The soft net needs room to extend below the floating top without resting in sediment or bunching against a pond shelf.

How the floating cage holds its shape

The flotation pipework supports the opening at the surface, while the corner weights draw the bottom of the net down into the water. This creates a suspended enclosure without rigid walls. The smooth mesh provides the containment surface; nevertheless, careful handling and sufficient room remain essential. A soft net does not make crowding or repeated contact with the sides acceptable.

The zipped top provides access for introducing or removing a fish and can be closed afterwards. Inspect every zip and the adjoining netting before use, checking for trapped debris, damaged stitching or gaps. Keep fins and net folds clear when closing it. The lid is part of the fish enclosure and should not be treated as a weight-bearing cover or protection for people around the pond.

Choosing a suitable position

Choose a place where you can reach the opening safely and see the fish clearly. Keep the enclosure clear of pump intakes, sharp edges and forceful returns that could draw in the net or press a fish against it. Check its position again after deployment, including whether the lower corners have extended and the mesh remains clear of nearby equipment.

The mesh allows water exchange, but leaves, blanket weed and settled debris can reduce the open area. Inspect it during use rather than assuming that flotation alone guarantees suitable conditions inside. The surrounding pond still needs effective filtration and oxygenation. Keep access available to remove the fish promptly if its behaviour changes or the enclosure becomes unsuitable.

Physical separation and quarantine

This cage shares water with the pond. It therefore cannot provide independent quarantine for newly purchased fish or prevent a waterborne problem passing between fish inside and outside. Likewise, it cannot hold a separate concentration of medication: anything dissolved in the enclosure can mix with the surrounding water. Use an appropriately equipped separate system when independent isolation or treatment is required.

For observation, watch breathing, swimming position, fin condition and appetite. Changes such as persistent surface hanging, clamped fins or unusual movement warrant a water-quality check and further advice. Our Colombo Test Lab provides an option for checking pond parameters. Containment makes a fish easier to observe; it does not identify the cause of a health problem.

Handling, cleaning and choosing the right net

Prepare suitable fish-handling equipment before opening the cage. Our Norfine koi sock nets are a separate handling option to assess against the fish being moved. Keep the transfer controlled and avoid using the floating frame as a lifting basket with fish inside. Move the fish out before removing the enclosure for cleaning.

After use, remove debris, rinse the mesh and check the seams, weights, frame and zip operation. Allow the enclosure to dry before storage and protect it from sharp tools or heavy objects. If it has held a fish with a suspected infectious problem, follow an appropriate equipment-disinfection procedure before using it elsewhere. Do not assume that a quick rinse makes shared equipment suitable for another pond.