We hope that you will find them of value but we can't guarantee success - there are just too many variables in fishkeeping (especially if there's a vital fact you omitted to tell us in the first place!)
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We recently purchased 2 Mixed Oranda, both are "red" and black. After having them only 2 weeks a have a few questions I was hoping you could help with.
Firstly, the smaller of the 2 fish is now loosing its black colouring, and its starting to turn white. The larger of the 2 fish has a black strip from its mouth leading to a wholly black fin, which seems to be changing to "red". Is there a reason for this? They seem fine but are they unwell? We are really concerned about it.
Secondly, how do you tell their sex? The larger of the 2 fish has a rear tail which has 2 separate pieces and the tail fin is longer and larger than the other fish. The smaller fish has a rear fin that is one piece like an upside-down "V" does this help?
Any help you can give would be appreciated. Kind regards, Andrea.
Goldfish change colour quite a lot, especially as they grow from youngsters into adults and it is nothing to worry about health-wise, although it can be disconcerting if they change into colours you hadn't bargained for. Generally, colours change come up from the bottom of the fish and so your black stripe gradually disappearing is quite normal as the fish changes into 'gold'.
Sexing Goldfish is not done by looking at the finnage but by other clues: male Goldfish develop tiny white pimples on their gill covers and maybe the front part of their pectoral fins. You can see a picture of a male Shubunkin at here
Female Goldfish are generally much more plump (as they fill up with eggs, prior to spawning) especially when viewed from above. In a pond, if you see the thinner fish chasing the fatter fish then it's the boys chasing the girls!
I am interested in coming to the Festival of Fishkeeping but would like to know what species I can expect to see going at the auction. Thanks in advance, Justin
The Auction is being organised by Alan Dunne and more details can be obtained from him at:
helterskelter@livingfish.co.uk
FESTIVAL OF FISHKEEPING details HERE
The last time this fish was ill I managed to revive it with a antif-ungus stuff that I added to the pond. We have had a problem with the pump in that it keeps blocking with silt, I think I have now rectified this. Can you help? Sue
There are one or two possibilities. Your fish may have a swim-bladder problem in that it cannot maintain a chosen position in the water – like rising or falling to and from the surface. It may feel off-colour and be seeking refuge in the lily-pot area (or there may be more enticing food around that particular area!). It could be that it has gone blind an, but this does not seem to affect fishes as it would humans, as they have their specialised 'lateral line' navigational system to assist them swim around without bumping into things.
The fish's overall health may have become affected by poor water conditions.
If your pump is being constantly clogged with silt, there may be too much silt in the pond which harbours pathogens. You could try giving the fish a temporary 'salt bath' to dislodge any parasites that may be on its skin – banging its head on things may indicate the presence of parasites. Remove the fish from the salt bath if it becomes distressed in any way. You can find details of salt bath treatment on this website here
If your pump is only used to operate a fountain, then raising it up off the pond floor one a couple of bricks will cut down the intake of silt for a while. If the pump operates a filter then it is important that it is capable of shifting the dirt from the pond up into the filter.
A clogged pump can indicate that it may not be of the type known as 'solids-handling' which is required for this purpose. The sponge filter on the intake of a fountain pump is only there to protect the pump against damage from any grit drawn into it and is not there to 'filter' the pond water. In either case, excess silt on the pond should be removed each autumn rather than leave it there over winter during which time it will convert itself into food for next year's algae and possibly harbour other toxic material.
Keep an eye on your 'sick' Goldfish – if it seems OK otherwise then there isn't much you can do for it.