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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!mhuxm!agg
From: agg@mhuxm.UUCP (gross a g)
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: Re: need advice about GOLDFISH
Message-ID: <458@mhuxm.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 18-Oct-85 10:12:01 EDT
Article-I.D.: mhuxm.458
Posted: Fri Oct 18 10:12:01 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 19-Oct-85 07:26:28 EDT
References: <517@tektools.UUCP> <1626@druil.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 58

> "Fancier" fish are many times NOT as hardy as the "common" variety.
> When a new trait appears, you may only have a few fish with that
> trait to use as breeders.  You may find that you are passing
> down undesirable traits along with the new traits to the following
> generations.  Keeping a variety strong is one of the challenges of
> breeding fish for new traits.
> 
> Some varieties of goldfish have their own special problems.  Long
> fins and bubble eyes are easier to damage and thus more prone to
> infection.
> 
> Don't let this discourage you from buying fancy goldfish, but don't
> spend the extra money if you like the common varieties as much as
> the fancier varieties.
> 
> I would only put two or three in a five gallon tank and I would
> change 10 to 20% of the water every week or so.  (Would you rather
> take a short bath every day or a long bath once a week?  Same
> principle. :-) )  Cool water fish need more room than tropicals.
> 
> Good luck,
> 
> 
> -- 
>                                         ihnp4 \
> Terry Gold      AT&T ISL                       --- druil!gold
>              Denver, Colorado         allegra /    (303) 538-1135

*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE ***
This is an addendum to my previous posting.
Re: feeding
I neglected to mention that one feeding per day is generally ample
unless you are pushing for growth or conditioning for breeding.
I do neither of these.
Also the fish will survive several days without feeding with
no ill effects.
Re: water
You should start out with aged water - tap water that has
been in an open receptacle for a couple of days to clear
chlorine and other dissolved gases.  You can speed up the
process by starting with warm or hot tap water.  When it
is cool it is generally safe.  Another short cut -
tap water can be used for PARTIAL water changes. I change
20% with no difficulty at all.  I would not try over 50%.
The nose and the eye are good gauges of water quality.  If the
color is off - green, yellow, or cloudy, its time for a change.
Obvious debris - uneaten food, feces, etc should be promptly
removed with a siphon.  The fish will also let you know.
If they are gathered at the surface and appear to be trying
to breath atmospheric air through their mouths, you can bet
that the water is BAD and quick action is required.
I really am not in favor of "goldfish bowls" which I interpret
as smallish containers without filtration.  They present a
small environment which can be VERY sensitive to quick
temperature changes and require much more attention to
water quality that a larger tank.

art gross  ihnp4!mhuxm!agg