The lateral line is often thought to be a mysterious, almost magical feature of fish that gives them some sort of “sixth sense”. The reality isn’t quite so fortean, but is nonetheless interesting.
The Lateral Line
July 20th, 2008Controlling Pond Algae
July 13th, 2008Out of control pond algae looks like thick green pea soup, feels like slime, and smells of stagnation. Not only is it unpleasant, it is harmful to a pond and its inhabitants. It uses up too much oxygen for goldfish, wildlife and plants to thrive, and may eventually result in their death.
Glass Aquarium vs Acrylic Aquarium
July 6th, 2008The following table sets out the relative merits of glass and acrylic aquariums.
How to Stop Herons Taking Goldfish from a Pond
June 29th, 2008The heron is one of nature’s most beautiful sights. It stands tall and elegant with a striking colour pattern, and in flight looks like it has the wings of an eagle. As a fisherman, it has great skill - hours of perfectly still patience followed by stabbing its prey in a flash with a snap of the neck.
However, that is in a natural setting. When a heron visits a goldfish pond, it doesn’t need any patience. There is crystal clear water with brightly coloured goldfish that can be picked off at will. No need to wait for a fish that is the same colour as the murky water it is swimming in.
The Shubunkin Goldfish
June 22nd, 2008The shubunkin has one of the most striking colour patterns of any goldfish variety. There is a lot of variation but the base colour is blue, violet and/or pearl with patches and speckles of orange, gold, red, white, black, grey and/or brown.
A Closer Look at Goldfish Ick - Part 2 (Treatment)
June 15th, 2008Before reading this post, it would be advisable to read “A Closer Look at Ick - Part 1 (The Life Cycle)”. Several of the terms and concepts mentioned there will be referred to in this post.
A Closer Look at Goldfish Ick - Part 1 (The Life Cycle)
June 8th, 2008Ick (also known as ich) is short for ichthyophthiriasis and is caused by a parasite called Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. This organism is a protozoan, which is a general term for single-celled animals. Although it is only made up of a single cell, it has many features that make it extremely good at what is does. In fact, ick is so successful it has become the most common disease of captive goldfish, and is responsible for more goldfish deaths than any other disease.
Goldfish Compatible Fish
June 1st, 2008Putting other coldwater fish in with goldfish is not just a matter of going to the petshop, buying anything that can survive in coldwater and putting it in with goldfish. A whole world of problems is just around the corner for those who think it’s anything other than advanced goldfish keeping.
Choosing An Aquarium Filter
May 25th, 2008Crystal clear water that looks like it has been polished can be achieved with proper filtration. Getting it wrong, on the other hand, can lead to cloudy, dirty, smelly water that will only do harm to your goldfish.
With so many different types of filter available - each with very persuasive marketing all over the packaging - it is hard to know which is the right one for any given goldfish tank.
Why Has My Goldfish Lost Its Appetite?
May 19th, 2008Every now and again goldfish will go off their food. To get them eating again, it’s important to know the reasons goldfish lose their appetite in the first place. If the correct cause of the loss of appetite is known, the necessary adjustments or treatments can be applied.