How can I increase goldfish hump?

[ewasahm]

I am a new member and wondering if this is the right place to ask such a question!

Anyway, I bought 2 calico ryukin babies (or, I wonder if those are veiltail) 2 and half months ago when they were 2 inches long. I grew them in a 10 G tank. Now, they are somehow close to four and half inches long. I bought a 29 G tank yesterday and transferred them there.

My question, what can I do to increase their hump? I feed these tubifex worm and green pea mainly. I light them for 14 hrs a day and change 25% water every week. My water PH is 7.8.

[johnatoranchu]

There are two major considerations involved in the development of Goldfish, genetics and husbandry. From the rate of growth you are achieving it would seem that your husbandry is about right but perhaps introducing a quality pellet food to their diet might be a good idea. However, you have no control over genetics, that is set already and cannot be changed by good husbandry. If your Ryukin do not have the genes for hump development then, quite simply, you won't achieve it although some goldfish develop a sort of hump later as part of the aging process. Metallic Ryukin tend to develop better humps that calicos in any event so this could be another factor to consider although a good Ryukin should/must have a sizeable hump regardless of its scale group.
John

[ewasahm]

Hi John,
Thank you so much for your nice advice. I liked that idea of 2 different considerations “genetics and husbandry” :yess:. Yes, I must have been carefully selecting my fish only from the imported quality Japanese sources. Anyway, as an average fish keeper, I must be happy with my 2 bright and energetic fishes now.

I plan to work on them with protein enrich food until they are at least seven inches. Maybe introducing heavy starch with their food would do a little trick than. I heard, depth of water has some relation with hump! Do you know anything about that? What is the effect of green water on goldfish growth? Does sunlight increase color as well?

Yes, I planned to drive down to Edmonton or Calgary if I find original Hikari Saki.

[johnatoranchu]

I don't know whether or not water depth affects hump development but by their very nature Ryukin are deep bodied/high backed fish which suggests that they need relatively deep water. Sunlight certainly aids colour development and as green water is a food source I guess the latter could help them grow but green water is a difficult environment to manage,l I don't use or trust it.
John

[nygold]

I have been down the same road with calico ryukins. First we have to know what makes a calico ryukin desirable? First off it must have all the traits of a good ryukin things like nice round body, good deep body, nice paired fins, nice hump, etc. The calico must have the red, black, & white colors not too much of one color. What is also desired is if these 3 colors are on a blue base.
I was able to achieve this with the use of green water and a high protien diet. Lots of frozen bloodworms. Since green water may not be an option for you, you can try darkening 3 sides of your 29 gallon tank. A black background, keep up with your frequent water changes, go high protien and keep the ph over 7.5. I will try and post a picture of my calico.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj243/blueclaw92/calicoryukin.jpg

[nygold]

This is what my calico looked like when I first picked her up and then again at around 3 weeks.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj243/blueclaw92/1882_calico_1_1.jpg

[johnatoranchu]

This is what my calico looked like when I first picked her up and then again at around 3 weeks.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj243/blueclaw92/1882_calico_1_1.jpg

Impressive change - a really nice calico Ryukin.
John

[Cincy Ranchu]

These fish are very nice. I'd suggest that you might just include the amount of food and up the space/fish:exact:. Also my experience suggest that not all of the fish in a spawn get humps, but these are very nice

[ewasahm]

Woo! This is an excellent Ryukin. The development is amazing!

[small_ranchu]

go high protien
what do you feed then?

[nygold]

In the begining I fed mostly bloodworms and egg whites. Then after a few months I added in hikari lionhead.

[small_ranchu]

egg whites? How do you prepare it? steam?

For the time being, I just eat egg white by myself, not for fish yet. lol

[johnatoranchu]

Egg whites? I thought most of the egg's food value was in its yolk.
John

[VeiltailGuy]

eggs whites is where the protein is...:exact:

[nygold]

Like Vailtailguy said that's were the protein is. There are around 40 different protiens in the white part of the egg. All the fat and cholesterol is in the yolk. I just boil an egg for 20 minutes, let it cool, peel off the shell, cut it in half, discard the yolk, then cut the egg white in tiny squares. A little tupperware container will keep them fresh for over a week. At first it might be a bit foreign to them but after a few feedings they catch on. So far I haven't had a fish refuse it yet.

[TheTruth]

for years i have been feeding scrambled eggs mixed with peas wheat germ etc.the fish get very large and live a long time.this food will cloud the water.if you make frequent water changes or use a uv light youll be ok

[zph2k]

Do you have a recipe for that?

[TheTruth]

i use i pound of frozen peas,2 eggs,small amt.of wheat germ or fruit and fiber cereal.place in a blender and mix.place in a micro wave for 15 min.cool flatten out what looks like a pie an place in freezer bags and put in freezer

[Pokerfish]

Nice calico fry and really interesting colour change :)

[bodyboarder]

Interesting formula, with the use of the eggs too!
I have a similar formula i use with Sweetcorn, Frozen peas, japanese algae, dandelion leaves & banana
for protein Shrimp, mussle, bloodworms, daphnia, and well eggs to from know on! LOL.. I have a formula with more protein for the fry and one with more veg for the adult fish!!

Thanks for shareing this , TheTruth! :-)