Breeding/ Cold Water/ DIY Ugh, where do I post this?

[Tanyoberu]

I know gold fish are taboo when it comes to using them primarily as feeders because of all of the "extra" junk they can bring to the tank. But what about home bred and raised goldfish?

Is it primarily because goldfish are disease prone that makes them "bad" for feeders or are there other nutritional deficiencies that make them less admirable? Though I must say, before I feed any to my fish, the goldfish get gut loaded with normal fish food and then go through a salt bath and I've never had any disease issues.

I ask because, for the first time ever, I've seen a fancy goldfish drop tiny eggs all over the place in a pet store. But because they were in a small tank, they were consumed as quickly as she could drop them. But at least I know she's a female and I was sure I noted one of the fish trying to germinate the eggs on the bottom.

I did not buy the fish, and have them on hold until I know that a it may be worth my $40.00 investment to buy the KNOWN egg laying female and a possible male.

So quick replies are a must! HELP!

 

[Lil_Stinker]

40 bucks for a goldfish eek

there are easier fish to breed for feeders by far; & cheaper than that..

perhaps you should rethink that project..

 

[Lockness' Oscar]

Yea, I agree with stinker. But, you can sell fancy goldfish back to your lfs. Personally, I would do it though. You do get feeders and you can sell them back like I said.

 

[Tanyoberu]

Oh yeah, I have a 35 gallon that's filled with convicts and their generations, but they don't put out quickly enough IMO. And I have sailfin mollies and their generations in a 29 gallon, they do well too.

The problem I have with these two species is that while they produce well, I like to wait until they get larger to feed them. Otherwise, I could dump a whole batch of fry into a tank and they'd be consumed by one fish before they'd hit the bottom of the tank. Where as goldfish drop thousands of eggs and I wouldn't mind throwing all of those bastages in at one time.

Like I said, I didn't buy the fish. $40 is a lot for goldfish IMO, but if they are egg laying factories like I understand, then I wouldn't mind that investment for thousands of fry.

 

[johno27]

Goldfish as feeders can cause defficiencies in your fish there are several articles in this forum on it use the search option to locate one

But it would still be fun to watch them breed

 

[Honda12]

I wold do it, but thats just me.

 

[guppy]

The other problem with goldfish and roseyreds is that they contain high levels of thiamanase and to much of that in a diet causes a thiamine defficiency leading to a disorder that in people is called BeriBeri. as a treat a couple times a week with mainly other foods there is nothing wrong with using healthy goldfish as food but a steady diet of it would be like you trying to live off nothing but bananas, it will eventually cause you problems. If you have room for them a breeding pair of goldfish is cool.