My Poor Quality Goldfish.

[Nomi]

Though I'm sure my goldfish are of a far inferior quality to many of yours, I thought I would share my goldfish with you. All are LFS finds, running from about 5-20 dollars.

My black (for now) oranda (roughly 10 cm, a new find) :
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll137/Phenomi/Goldies/P7160152.jpg
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll137/Phenomi/Goldies/P7160155.jpg

He has a split in the right side of his tail fin and a curl on the left side. He may, like my other fish, be stunted, but I'm a novice in spotting a stunted fish. Hopefully with lots of good food and pristine water (especially once I upgrade the filtration) this fish and the one below will grow to a nice healthy size.

My copper lionhead (8 cm, another new addition):
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll137/Phenomi/Goldies/P7160190.jpg
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll137/Phenomi/Goldies/P7160181.jpg

What are you're thoughts? I've started feeding them hikari lionhead in hopes of improving the lionheads wen. Is there anything else I can do to improve them?

[Mikey V]

I like the copper lionhead! The dorsal-less have always been my favorites!

I've had GREAT results with hikari lionhead!:thumbUp:
Use that as a base and supplement the pellets with foods high in protein like blood worms and brine shrimp. Veggies are always great, and easier on the digestive but my fish have always had the best results with fattier and protein loaded foods foods, and they can handle them better when they're young. Feed them several times a day in small increments.

Also, clean water is a MUST for good wen development! A good trick is to not feed your fish on sundays( or w/e day you choose). Especially if you are trying to bulk them up a little, taking a day or two off can help the filters catch up.
Be patient tho, sometimes fish keep developing their wen for 4+ years!

[Nomi]

Thank you for the reply!

Along with their pellets, they get peas once a week (usually before sunday, on which they don't get fed). Occasionally I'll bring in cucumber, spinach and other goodies. I do have freeze dried bloodworms, but I'm a bit wary of them. If I do get the frozen one's, I would have to hide them very well in the freezer XD Or face some very disturbed family members.

Thank you for all the tips! I'm about to upgrade the filtration, so hopefully that helps as well.

[eros]

Nomi, theyre not poor quality. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You seem to know what you're doing. Take care of them and they'll be your beauties. Do your frozen BW, Hikari lionhead, & veggies (as Mikey suggested) and your goldies should grow

More impt than food (to me anyways) is water parameters. Stay on top of that and your fishes will be happy.

*Welcome to the board

[harzan]

Nice fish, especially for LFS.

[Virginia ranchu]

Hi Nomi,

I like the oranda too. The color is a little bit bronzey (could be darker), but the fish looks healthy and has a good oranda head and body type.

I have been trying to breed blue calico orandas, and could only find a single specimen to start this project. She was bred to a calico fantail, and the babies have nice color, but should be back-crossed to another oranda. The problem is, I can't find another decent calico oranda for this project. Unfortunately the female died recently (lesson learned, do not put female orandas in pond with male shubunkins!).

I will keep a look out for a black or blue oranda like yours to breed to the calicos. These fish retain the melanin (black pigment), so they complement a calico fish nicely.

Rob

[SeaWitch]

I think your fish are very nice!!!:exact: The oranda has a cute "oranda face" and they both seem to be very healthy and well-cared for! I am sure they will blossom in your good hands!

[bigbettadan]

Hakari frozen bloodworm for headgrowth in combo with a good pellet, ie Hakari Saki or Hakari lionhead..

Dan

[Jed]

Your oranda is beautiful! Keep us up to date with pictures on the ranchu.

[Nomi]

Thank you all for the replies! I'm hoping to do the best for them with the limitations I'm set, and hopefully end up with nice, big, healthy, happy and beautiful fish!