They have turned out to be some of my favorite fish that I have. They are very personable and interactive. Very happy with my choice to convert two tanks over to goldies.
Goldfish... really? lol
- Thread starter DMD123
- Start date
Doing a bit of a revisit a year later.
My thoughts have changed dramatically with keeping fancy goldfish after numerous "mystery" deaths. They would be eating fine one day and floating dead in the tank the next. The other issue is that the vendors really push to raise these in warm temps so that they have less digestive issues and not have bloat related problems. This works for that issue BUT then they have been super susceptible to infections that have spread super rapidly and led to fish demise in a very short period of time.
As of this moment my update is that I am down to just 4 fancy goldfish in just one 90 gallon tank. And of those 4, one is acting a bit 'off' with some swim bladder related thing and not sure if it will make it. If it passes, I will move the 3 remaining fish to a 65B and open up the 90 for other fish.
Another weirdness factor has been a complete color change to a 'panda' that went from an awesome black and white fish to a black and brassy one. A lionchu develop a single little bubble under one eye. Another lionchu has lost almost all its orange and turned white. So a bit of a warning, what you see is not what you may get in the long run.
While I think they can be cute and personable I will never go down this path again. If these pass, likely they will not be replaced with more.
My thoughts have changed dramatically with keeping fancy goldfish after numerous "mystery" deaths. They would be eating fine one day and floating dead in the tank the next. The other issue is that the vendors really push to raise these in warm temps so that they have less digestive issues and not have bloat related problems. This works for that issue BUT then they have been super susceptible to infections that have spread super rapidly and led to fish demise in a very short period of time.
As of this moment my update is that I am down to just 4 fancy goldfish in just one 90 gallon tank. And of those 4, one is acting a bit 'off' with some swim bladder related thing and not sure if it will make it. If it passes, I will move the 3 remaining fish to a 65B and open up the 90 for other fish.
Another weirdness factor has been a complete color change to a 'panda' that went from an awesome black and white fish to a black and brassy one. A lionchu develop a single little bubble under one eye. Another lionchu has lost almost all its orange and turned white. So a bit of a warning, what you see is not what you may get in the long run.
While I think they can be cute and personable I will never go down this path again. If these pass, likely they will not be replaced with more.
Sunday morning worked on tanks and now all 3 goldies are in the 65B. The one that I thought would have the most health issues, the dragon eye pearlscale, has been doing well while the oranda that I felt were bulletproof are the ones that passed.... My very first two goldies (lionchu) are the ones I still have in the tank they first started in. The 3 left also all came from the same vendor, who is no longer selling online anymore.
Another one bites the dust…one of my first goldfish, a red and white lionchu, passed today. Again very mysterious death, was eating fine yesterday with no issues and today I see base of tail inflamed red and fish still alive but just floating at the surface. Then a couple hours later it was dead. My pearlscale has a few scales missing on its side but doesn’t look infected or anything but am wondering if it’s next. Now down to the 2 goldfish in the tank.
I don't know about the 'cute' part, but for sure they have many centuries of relentless inbreeding going against them.
One more down… the dragon eye pearl scale now gone. It had scraped off a couple scales on its side and was slow to heal, then the swim bladder started acting up and bam, its dead. Just down to one lionchu. Do I add a couple cheap-o goldfish to keep it company? Or rehome and restock with something else?
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Been down to the one goldfish now for a few months and it seems to be doing well. It got some weird redness near its tail for a week or so and I did a water change and it went away. Not really sure if I want to continue keeping this one or not. Interestingly this was one of the very first of the goldfish I got and it has survived everything thats happened so I am a little attached to the fish. Have a little trip planned to go up the Bridges and Ive seen some fairly nicce little ranchu and other goldies up there so I might just add to the group...
It amazing that you started this journey a few years ago now.
I know you like the “unusual” goldfish ( to put it nicely, haha.
But have you ever considered doing butterfly koi? Yes they will outgrow your tank, but I think these might actually be profitable for you. You buy them T 2.5-3” at Hosi farms for 2 for $50, in the spring you sell them online for $50 each when they have double / tripled in size .
I did that last year in my and gave the koi to my uncle for his pond, but I could have easily sold them too.
Koi are hardier fish, have beautiful markings, have the long graceful fins in you go with butterfly, and if you want the metallic look, you could get the ginrin koi or ghost koi.
I know you like the “unusual” goldfish ( to put it nicely, haha.
But have you ever considered doing butterfly koi? Yes they will outgrow your tank, but I think these might actually be profitable for you. You buy them T 2.5-3” at Hosi farms for 2 for $50, in the spring you sell them online for $50 each when they have double / tripled in size .
I did that last year in my and gave the koi to my uncle for his pond, but I could have easily sold them too.
Koi are hardier fish, have beautiful markings, have the long graceful fins in you go with butterfly, and if you want the metallic look, you could get the ginrin koi or ghost koi.