Hi Judy,
you can take quite different approachs for rearing your fry. Every one has their pros and cons. Is up to you to decide which one you prefer for your first attempt.
If you want to rear a limited number of fry, and learn as much as possible, then maybe you should consider using a rearing tank.
Contrary to a mud pond, you must take good care of the fry on a daily basis, but you will be able to keep a close eye to them and check their development easily. I did that last year having filtration on right from the begining (turnover rate=total volume/1'5 hours), as well as UV clarifier and aeration. Don't botter about live food: start your own cultures of protozoa and rotifers first, then Daphnia/Moina, and when these go exhausted swicht to Artemia if necessary. You just have to add stuff from your cultures to the rearing tank. In 15 or 20 days your fry will be able to feed powdered (grounded) pellets.
A small swimming pool (foldable, for kids) is allright provided you clean and rinse it carefully in advance. I do that three or for times during two days before using a new pool. Also make sure the base is well protected from puctures.
The mud pond can be much better if you are going to raise big numbers of fry, but many things will go unnoticed since the water won't be clear. First of all you have to prepare your mud pond in such a way that, by the time the eggs hatch, it must be:
1) full of rotifers and protozoa, and Daphnia population way up
3) no predators (either adults or larvae) present
Seems that many breeders start several mud ponds in one season with the hope that at least one will be in optimal conditions by the time of egg hatching.
Good luck,
Diego
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