Just had a odd question.

We just have the 26 cent walmart goldfish in our pond.

All the ones we purchased are bright orange color, some with white or black
accents.

Most of the first spawn are also gold, but about 1/2 of them are dark
colored.

I remember reading that fry start out dark, but then turn gold once they
get a little older, and we did see that happening, but some just remained
that dark color!

Is that common?

Gareee©
(Gary Tabar Jr.)

"Gareee©" wrote in message
...
Just had a odd question.

We just have the 26 cent walmart goldfish in our pond.

All the ones we purchased are bright orange color, some with white or
black accents.

Most of the first spawn are also gold, but about 1/2 of them are dark
colored.

I remember reading that fry start out dark, but then turn gold once they
get a little older, and we did see that happening, but some just remained
that dark color!

Is that common?
=======================
YES! They will revert back to their natural color if given the change.
Cull the dark ones out and give them to a farmer for his stock ponds. For
the best looking goldfish over the long-haul also cull out all the solid
color oranges and keep those that are orange and white with the longest
finnage. The prettiest goldfish are the Shubunkins in my opinion and I see
their prices have gone up in the past few years. You wont find them in my
area for 99¢ anymore.
--

Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

"Gareee©" wrote in message
...
Just had a odd question.

We just have the 26 cent walmart goldfish in our pond.

All the ones we purchased are bright orange color, some with white or
black accents.

Most of the first spawn are also gold, but about 1/2 of them are dark
colored.

I remember reading that fry start out dark, but then turn gold once they
get a little older, and we did see that happening, but some just remained
that dark color!

Is that common?

Gareee©
(Gary Tabar Jr.)

AFAIK some of them never change colour, and these would be the culls of a
dealer or breeder.
However, I just keep mine :-)

Peter

Gareee© wrote:

Just had a odd question.

We just have the 26 cent walmart goldfish in our pond.

All the ones we purchased are bright orange color, some with white or
black accents.

Most of the first spawn are also gold, but about 1/2 of them are dark
colored.

I remember reading that fry start out dark, but then turn gold once they
get a little older, and we did see that happening, but some just remained
that dark color!

Is that common?

How old _are_ they? It can take quite some time - and eventually, without
selective breeding, they breed right back to a dull brown color anyway. If
they've reached 3" without changing, they probably aren't going to, but
I've had them get that large and then start.
--
derek

Thanks for the replys, guys.. and yep, most are 3" or longer.

Wish I knew of a farmer that could take them, but if the pond looks
overstocked by the end of the year, I supposed releasing the extra in a
nearby man made lake would be acceptable.


--
Gareee©
(Gary Tabar Jr.)

"Gareee©" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the replys, guys.. and yep, most are 3" or longer.

Wish I knew of a farmer that could take them, but if the pond looks
overstocked by the end of the year, I supposed releasing the extra in a
nearby man made lake would be acceptable.
==========================
Yes, people do that here as well. We have a large man-made lake where I
have SEEN people pour out a bucket of either goldfish or small orange
colored koi. They stock this lake with largemouth bass and there are huge
catfish there as well. I'm sure most end up dinner for these predators but
it's better than tossing them on a compost pile (and one man I know does
that as well) and die a lingering death by suffocation.
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

Koi-Lo wrote:

"Gareee©" wrote in message
...

Thanks for the replys, guys.. and yep, most are 3" or longer.

Wish I knew of a farmer that could take them, but if the pond looks
overstocked by the end of the year, I supposed releasing the extra in
a nearby man made lake would be acceptable.

==========================
Yes, people do that here as well. We have a large man-made lake where I
have SEEN people pour out a bucket of either goldfish or small orange
colored koi. They stock this lake with largemouth bass and there are
huge catfish there as well. I'm sure most end up dinner for these
predators but it's better than tossing them on a compost pile (and one
man I know does that as well) and die a lingering death by suffocation.

I think that you have to be very careful when considering releasing
non-native fish into the environment whatever predators are out there....

1. They could go native and destroy the eco system
2. They could be diseased and kill off the wildlife preying on them or
preying on the fish that eat them.

I don't know the answer for those of you who are overly successful in
breeding your fish but I don't think releasing them into the wild is the
right way....

Gill

On Wed, 29 Mar 2006 21:51:59 +0100, Gill Passman
wrote:

Koi-Lo wrote:

"Gareee©" wrote in message
...

Thanks for the replys, guys.. and yep, most are 3" or longer.

Wish I knew of a farmer that could take them, but if the pond looks
overstocked by the end of the year, I supposed releasing the extra in
a nearby man made lake would be acceptable.

==========================
Yes, people do that here as well. We have a large man-made lake where I
have SEEN people pour out a bucket of either goldfish or small orange
colored koi. They stock this lake with largemouth bass and there are
huge catfish there as well. I'm sure most end up dinner for these
predators but it's better than tossing them on a compost pile (and one
man I know does that as well) and die a lingering death by suffocation.

I think that you have to be very careful when considering releasing
non-native fish into the environment whatever predators are out there....

1. They could go native and destroy the eco system
2. They could be diseased and kill off the wildlife preying on them or
preying on the fish that eat them.

I don't know the answer for those of you who are overly successful in
breeding your fish but I don't think releasing them into the wild is the
right way....

Gill


I donate mine either to the LFS feeder tub or the ponds at the local
water garden nursery, depending on their quality. Pretty ones go to
the nursery, plain ones to the LFS.

Gill Passman wrote:
Koi-Lo wrote:

"Gareee©" wrote in message
...

Thanks for the replys, guys.. and yep, most are 3" or longer.

Wish I knew of a farmer that could take them, but if the pond looks
overstocked by the end of the year, I supposed releasing the extra in
a nearby man made lake would be acceptable.

==========================
Yes, people do that here as well. We have a large man-made lake where
I have SEEN people pour out a bucket of either goldfish or small
orange colored koi. They stock this lake with largemouth bass and
there are huge catfish there as well. I'm sure most end up dinner for
these predators but it's better than tossing them on a compost pile
(and one man I know does that as well) and die a lingering death by
suffocation.

I think that you have to be very careful when considering releasing
non-native fish into the environment whatever predators are out there....

1. They could go native and destroy the eco system
2. They could be diseased and kill off the wildlife preying on them or
preying on the fish that eat them.

I don't know the answer for those of you who are overly successful in
breeding your fish but I don't think releasing them into the wild is the
right way....

Gill
Gill you are 100 % correct and here in Ontario, Canada there are strict
laws on transporting fish from one lake to another.
Even some of the water plants can get into the lakes and cause severe
damage.

YES putting them into your garden as fertilizer sounds cruel but alot
more beneficial to everybody.

On Wed, 29 Mar 2006 21:51:59 +0100, Gill Passman
wrote:

Koi-Lo wrote:

"Gareee©" wrote in message
...

Thanks for the replys, guys.. and yep, most are 3" or longer.

Wish I knew of a farmer that could take them, but if the pond looks
overstocked by the end of the year, I supposed releasing the extra in
a nearby man made lake would be acceptable.

==========================
Yes, people do that here as well. We have a large man-made lake where I
have SEEN people pour out a bucket of either goldfish or small orange
colored koi. They stock this lake with largemouth bass and there are
huge catfish there as well. I'm sure most end up dinner for these
predators but it's better than tossing them on a compost pile (and one
man I know does that as well) and die a lingering death by suffocation.

I think that you have to be very careful when considering releasing
non-native fish into the environment whatever predators are out there....

1. They could go native and destroy the eco system
2. They could be diseased and kill off the wildlife preying on them or
preying on the fish that eat them.

I don't know the answer for those of you who are overly successful in
breeding your fish but I don't think releasing them into the wild is the
right way....

Gill

Amen. And one good flooding storm can send those goldfish into the
next waterway and from there to who knows where.

-- Mister Gardener

"Gill Passman" wrote in message
...
Koi-Lo wrote:

"Gareee©" wrote in message
...

Thanks for the replys, guys.. and yep, most are 3" or longer.

Wish I knew of a farmer that could take them, but if the pond looks
overstocked by the end of the year, I supposed releasing the extra in a
nearby man made lake would be acceptable.

==========================
Yes, people do that here as well. We have a large man-made lake where I
have SEEN people pour out a bucket of either goldfish or small orange
colored koi. They stock this lake with largemouth bass and there are
huge catfish there as well. I'm sure most end up dinner for these
predators but it's better than tossing them on a compost pile (and one
man I know does that as well) and die a lingering death by suffocation.

I think that you have to be very careful when considering releasing
non-native fish into the environment whatever predators are out there....

This is true Gill. I don't know where this lake drains off to as I never
checked on a map. Fortunately I can get rid of mine in a farm stock pond.

1. They could go native and destroy the eco system

Man made lakes here are not a natural system. It appears that goldfish and
koi have not naturalized in our lakes. Probably because of all the
predators and their bright colors. But what you said also applies to
backyard ponds. How many people have their ponds netted to keep out
wildlife and possibly spreading disease to natural eco systems?

2. They could be diseased and kill off the wildlife preying on them or
preying on the fish that eat them.

They can do the same thing feeding in someone's unnetted backyard pond.
Herons and Kingfishers will feed in an unnatural backyard pond as well as
any other body of water. Before we netted our ponds I even saw what looked
like some kind of hawk carrying off a fish. So we can spread disease as
well as the predators bringing our pond disease/parasites from nature. It
goes both ways.

I don't know the answer for those of you who are overly successful in
breeding your fish but I don't think releasing them into the wild is the
right way....

I agree.... but to prevent wildlife from carrying GF and koi eggs to
natural water and marsh habitats we would all have to net our ponds. My
neighbor's stock pond is at least a mile from the lake and always has
sunfish in it!!! Some water bird (or other form of wildlife) must be
bringing them in.
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

"Charles" wrote in message
...

I donate mine either to the LFS feeder tub or the ponds at the local
water garden nursery, depending on their quality. Pretty ones go to
the nursery, plain ones to the LFS.
=================
I have no problem selling or trading the pretty Shubunkins. It's the ugly
brown ones and short finned orange ones no one wants that go to the farm
stock ponds. Since I now have only Shubunkin goldfish, I no longer get the
short finned orange but still get the occasional ugly brown fish. Better
they are used for mosquito control than as feeders in the pet stores.
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

"CanadianCowboy©" wrote in message
...
Gill you are 100 % correct and here in Ontario, Canada there are strict
laws on transporting fish from one lake to another.

This also applies here to natural waterways and lakes. I don't know about
man-made lakes and ponds since so many people now have back-yard ponds.
Many farms here have stock ponds. It would be impossible to keep water
birds and other wildlife from spreading koi and goldfish to natural
waterways. See my post above - we believe water birds are bringing in the
sunfish to my neighbor's stock pond on the adjoining property. They pick up
the eggs on their feet and feathers as they wade and swim around a nearby
man-made lake. They can just as well pick up koi and goldfish eggs and
carry them back to nature.

Even some of the water plants can get into the lakes and cause severe
damage.

Fortunately that hasn't happened yet to the man-made lake near us.

YES putting them into your garden as fertilizer sounds cruel but alot more
beneficial to everybody.

If they're humanely euthanized first.
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

I don't know the answer for those of you who are overly successful in
breeding your fish but I don't think releasing them into the wild is the
right way.... Gill

I agree, ask permission at the very least. Supposedly there is some law on
the books (YMMV) that fish stores HAVE to take them. Here they will give
you store credit, so you might want to check into that before giving them
away.

It never fails I go up to the Demo Pond and there is some new (and often
ugly) goldfish added... or worst, someone has fished out the koi we put in
there as small fry, grew up to a foot, and someone takes them. That was
quite irritating, I even wrote a letter to the editor on that, and a kind
soul donated $150 towards the pond after she read it. Guess it was worth
the effort of writing, but we all would have liked to have our fish back.
Even though they weren't worth anything near $150. ~ jan



~ jan/WA
Zone 7a

On Wed, 29 Mar 2006 22:04:55 -0600, "Koi-Lo"
wrote:


"Gill Passman" wrote in message
.. .
Koi-Lo wrote:

"Gareee©" wrote in message
...

Thanks for the replys, guys.. and yep, most are 3" or longer.

Wish I knew of a farmer that could take them, but if the pond looks
overstocked by the end of the year, I supposed releasing the extra in a
nearby man made lake would be acceptable.

==========================
Yes, people do that here as well. We have a large man-made lake where I
have SEEN people pour out a bucket of either goldfish or small orange
colored koi. They stock this lake with largemouth bass and there are
huge catfish there as well. I'm sure most end up dinner for these
predators but it's better than tossing them on a compost pile (and one
man I know does that as well) and die a lingering death by suffocation.

I think that you have to be very careful when considering releasing
non-native fish into the environment whatever predators are out there....

This is true Gill. I don't know where this lake drains off to as I never
checked on a map. Fortunately I can get rid of mine in a farm stock pond.

1. They could go native and destroy the eco system

Man made lakes here are not a natural system. It appears that goldfish and
koi have not naturalized in our lakes. Probably because of all the
predators and their bright colors. But what you said also applies to
backyard ponds. How many people have their ponds netted to keep out
wildlife and possibly spreading disease to natural eco systems?

2. They could be diseased and kill off the wildlife preying on them or
preying on the fish that eat them.

They can do the same thing feeding in someone's unnetted backyard pond.
Herons and Kingfishers will feed in an unnatural backyard pond as well as
any other body of water. Before we netted our ponds I even saw what looked
like some kind of hawk carrying off a fish. So we can spread disease as
well as the predators bringing our pond disease/parasites from nature. It
goes both ways.

I don't know the answer for those of you who are overly successful in
breeding your fish but I don't think releasing them into the wild is the
right way....

I agree.... but to prevent wildlife from carrying GF and koi eggs to
natural water and marsh habitats we would all have to net our ponds. My
neighbor's stock pond is at least a mile from the lake and always has
sunfish in it!!! Some water bird (or other form of wildlife) must be
bringing them in.

I like the way my state, Maine, is dealing with the potential problem.
It is illegal to keep goldfish outside. In ponds or bathtubs or kiddie
pools or anything. You won't find "pond fish" being sold openly at pet
stores - pond fish referring to ordinary large goldfish. I'm not
saying it doesn't happen, and we don't have a Goldfish Enforcement
Squad, but cutting them off at the pet store chokes the supply chain a
little. Koi and fancy goldfish are sold, but not for outdoor keeping.
(I'm not smart about goldfish, all I know is the plain kind and the
fancy kind.) I just noted while reviewing the state wildlife laws that
it is also illegal for pet shops to sell snails of any kind. Jack
Dempsey fish have been recently banned in the state. Interesting.
Many residents are pushing to increase the banned list to include
black flies and tourists from Massachusetts.

-- Mister Gardener