GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post

13-09-2004, 03:33 PM

wrote:

get to rec. ponds with this. (please cross post to GF). Ingrid

so238 wrote:

There seems to be the notion around that goldfish mustn't be kept with
tropical fish due to differences in temperature requirements. I am quite
certain it's not really true, as I've lived in sub-tropical Taiwan.
Temperatures are around 30 cel. most the year (dips briefly to +10 for a
month in winter), but goldfish are commonly kept and survive and thrive
(when properly cared for, of course). And goldfish are bred commercially
in southern China with a similar climate.

I think the reason goldfish aren't so good with tropicals is because
they're big and messy. Maybe goldfish survive less than ideal water
quality better than tropicals?

Yes, and no. Everybody's seen goldfish living way beyond any safe stocking
limit in murky water. otoh, there are many tropical varieties that can
survive extreme conditions (killifish come to mind).

Speaking of goldfish and climate, I've settled in Europe now and
preparing to keep some goldfish in a big tub on my balcony. I know
nothing about overwintering. If it gets near freezing (but usually just
above) in winter, how should I go about reduced feeding, etc.? Can you
actually keep them in a big tub (50 gallons?) in this kind of weather?

I would just eliminate feeding altogether. In a pond, I never feed
goldfish. In a small tub (no, 50 gallons, even English ones, is _not_ a
"big" tub :-) ), there probably isn't enough naturally occurring fauna to
keep them fed in summer, but in Winter they need practically no food.
--
derek