Go.....Stay....... Maybe?

[BruceP]

When you are culling how critical are you? Is it black and white; either they are culled or not or is there a gray area where you may keep some that may not be perfect just to see how they do as they mature?
Often I find a fish I really like but think to myself, "backline isnt as good as the others, or, "are the anal fins set too low". That sort of thing. What do you do?

[orandablue]

I am thick in the culling process myself and wondering if I am wishy washy. I pull em out scrutinize...put half back in etc. etc. I am not sure what bred so I do not know exactly what to look for! It was a surprise spawn. I think it depends on why you bred in the first place. Quality, quantity, freakishness, absolute rigidity, perfecting a line. There has to be an "Art" and artistry about goldfish raising. I myself currently cull for different reasons. First the obvious, tails, symmetry, size. But then it is balance of overall fish AND strikeability! I look for a hint of "FLASH" Something that IS unusual. Darker color contrast for example is what I look for now. (after 1 week of culling)
Good luck. If the fish winks at you def keep it!

[Cincy Ranchu]

Lots of opinions and preferences, if you have 80 tanks keep more, if you have two tanks, buy more tanks!

[johnatoranchu]

When you are culling how critical are you? Is it black and white; either they are culled or not or is there a gray area where you may keep some that may not be perfect just to see how they do as they mature?
Often I find a fish I really like but think to myself, "backline isnt as good as the others, or, "are the anal fins set too low". That sort of thing. What do you do?

Culling is not an exact science and therefore can never be "black and white."
However firstly you must have a picture of exactly what you are trying to produce firmly in your mind and cull to achieve it but at the same time keeping a lookout for any fish which appear to have one or more exceptional characteristics as they could develop into your breeders regardless of their faults.
If you hope to show your fish or "impress" those who do then you need to have the "approved" Standard firmly fixed in your mind but if you are simply doing your own thing then you need to set your own "standard" which is far more difficult than it sounds. The golden rule however must be - if you don't know the parents or didn't plan the spawning then don't raise the spawning, let the fish eat the eggs.
John

[jinyu_fan]

The golden rule however must be - if you don't know the parents or didn't plan the spawning then don't raise the spawning, let the fish eat the eggs.
John

Sage advice. I think too many jump into breeding for the sheer excitement of it without having a clear goal.

[SeaWitch]

Sage advice. I think too many jump into breeding for the sheer excitement of it without having a clear goal.

I agree with you, Helen, on this point, but Bruce is not an inexperienced breeder. He did plan this spawn and he has the parents (and they are STUNNING). I think he is just trying to get an idea of how other people cull their fish.

However, that being said, there are WAY too many ppl out there who think to themselves, "Wow! I have eggs in my tank/pond! I think I will try to hatch them!" and they have NO idea what they are doing, how to raise fry, or anything. I think ppl need to research before jumping into breeding.:exact: I'm not referring to anyone in particular, just what I have experienced on my forum with newbies.
I'm not saying "don't breed", I am just saying that research should be done first.

[afnaveils]

I cull my fry in 3 stages: the first 2 stages are the black or white method and the 3rd stage is in the grey area.

Stage 1: All fry with obvious defects/faults are out. For example, a single tail in a twin-tail brood OR a pinky in a calico brood OR spikes/partial dorsal on egg fish, etc.

Stage 2: All fry with 2 defects/faults or more are out. For example in a ranchu brood, wavy back and crooked fin rays OR T-tail and no anal, etc.

Stage 3: Well, this stage is the grey one. Webbed tail, single anal, longuish, shortish, colour, forked tail or straight edge, caudal fin too high or too low, fins twisted or not. I use stage 3 culls as my back-up fish in case of any disaster to my main fish.

ps: I only keep offsprings of known parents or lineage.

[bekko]

There is never enough space. Look for reasons to cull, not reasons to keep.

-steve