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FAAS Publication Awards Form 1st Rev 11-2011 Author Joel Antkowiak Society (NO Abbreviations) Aquarium Club of Lancaster County Category 29 - Best Continuing Column Age (Junior Only) Date of Publication 2011 Title of Publication (NO Abbreviations) Tank Tales Title of Article Bread 'n Butter Anyone using original material from any issue of Tank Tales must return two (2) copies of the publication in which Enter your official the article is published to our exchange editor listed below, Reprint Policy reprint policy for your or send a digital copy to [email protected] publication. Send reprints to: > Address per your Reprint Policy above: Enter Address Address Information c/o Joel Antkowiak Award certificates should all go to the same address. 36 Dawkins Drive East Earl, PA 17519 OK to type in your Signature signature & initials. By submitting this entry, I attest that the publication pages have not been materially altered from my society’s originally published document. Rev 11-2011 Form Directions 1) Fill out the form above. 2) Convert or “print” to PDF 3) Combine form with the PDF version of the article being submitted. 4) Name file as follows e.g. Greater Colorado Corydoras Association Category 13 Entry #2 013-002-gcca.pdf For Junior Entries, e.g Junior Level 1: J1-013-002.pdf Bread 'N Butter The Goldfish by Joel Antkowiak This is the first in a series of articles on those living things that commonly carry the label of a "beginner's" item and often times are among the first of that type that are kept in an aquarium. The common goldfish, Carassius auratus, is Thus, sometimes the budding aquarist never very often the first fish owned by a budding actually blooms. aquarist. It can be a long lived pet. In fact, The death of the fish is usually due to a the Guinness Book of World Records puts the combination or things. These goldfish are oldest goldfish ever at 43 years. This raised in huge quantities to be intended as goldfish, which was named Tish, was food for larger fishes. As such, they are sold fortuitously won by Peter Hand of the United very cheaply, and shipped as though they Kingdom in 1956 at a fairground stall, and are not very valuable. The fish are stressed lived until 1999. That is usually how these by shipping to the local wholesaler where the fish are thrust upon us-while we enjoy local shop got the fish, which may be done watching our youngsters win at a game of with the fish packed 500 or more to a box. ping pong ball throwing at the annual Strees also occurs in shipping from the carnival. The ball "fortuitously" lands in a wholesaler to the shop, and then from the small ivy bowl containing the fish, and the shop to the carnival. The "carnies" are not fish goes home with the youngster. I put experienced aquarists, and usually do not fortuitously in quotes because, well, YEA, the treat the fish as they should. The fish are child wins! But usually the fish is not as kept bulk packed until they are placed in the lucky as Tish. It ends up losing…its life. An albino goldfish in a pond at the Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, PA. Bread 'N Butter (cont) grossly undersized ivy bowls. Further, these scales; normal finnage, butterfly tail, fantail carnivals are usually held outdoors in the and even double tail varieties exist. Body summer, causing heated water in the bowls shapes can vary from the normal comet and keeping containers, which results in shape to the egg shaped body common to increased fish metabolism (translation-more many of the fancy varieties. The fancy egg fish wastes) as well as a lack of oxygen in shaped fishes are better suited for the the water. When the fish arrives home, the aquarium, as they stay smaller, usually new owners usually do not know how to around 8 inches or less. properly care for them. They are kept in Even the head can differ, with the growth of containers that are woefully small for this a "mane" on the lion headed varieties. Other species, with insufficient filtration, and the domestic strains include the black moor, fish usually dies within a few days. ryukin, ranchu oranda, shubunkin, and Unfortunately, it's a sad tale that does not pompom among many others. The varieties always need to end in the death of the fish. with egg shaped bodies are not as hardy as The goldfish has several requirements, not the normal body types. the least of which is a tank of sufficient size. Most people do not realize that goldfish are Goldfish can get up to 19 inches long, in the family Cyprinidae. This is the same although a foot to 15 inches is more family as barbs, danios and rasboras. As common. A fish of this stature will produce such, goldfish are, like their aforementioned large quantities of waste, so filtration must cousins, schooling fish and will do better in a be efficient, especially if the tank is large group. The schools formed by undersized. The species is omnivorous, but goldfishes are looser than those generally will eat almost any plant. However, feeding formed by other Cyprinids, but nonetheless, them dry food such as pellets or pond sticks they are schools. will be much less expensive. Be careful not to over feed, as goldfish are opportunistic Again like all Cyprinids, goldfish are egg feeders. That is to say, they will eat as long layers. It is not easy to distinguish between as there is food available, and this will often the sexes. Females are generally a little result in the demise of the specimen by plumper than males. Mature males also have blockage of the intestines. tubercles on their heads; little bumps that turn white and are easier to see while the One thing that you need not worry about fish are spawning. They will spawn best after with your goldfish is heating the tank. They a prolonged cooling period, usually outdoors will do well from 65F to 85F, and can even in a pond in the spring. I am reminded of a survive over winter outdoors in a pond. If story from my days in the Greater Pittsburgh yours are kept outdoors, remember to stop Aquarium Society, when a young boy kept feeding the fish when the water temperature his bedroom window open during the winter gets down to 55F. At this temperature, the to get his goldfish tank cold so he could then fish's digestive system is operating very close the window, warm up the tank and poorly, and undigested food in the intestinal breed his goldfish. tract will just rot inside the fish, causing disease and possibly death. This is a good Goldfish are egg scatterers and will, guideline to follow for all outdoor pond unfortunately, eat their eggs. A common creatures. method employed to save as many fry as possible is the use of spawning mops. The Selective breeding over the last few mops are placed on the bottom of the tank centuries has produced many color, eye, and the adhesive eggs fall into the mop. scale, fin and body shape varieties of the There can be as many as 1,000 eggs laid in goldfish. There are fish that are orange, one spawning. The mops are then removed white, black and combinations of colors; to a hatching tank after spawning is there are normal eyes, telescopic eyes, and completed. The eggs will hatch in 5 to 7 days eyes with bubbles; normal scales and pearly at 68F to 72F and the fry will still be Bread 'N Butter (cont) attached to their yolk sac. They will feed with other size appropriate foods. Maintain a from the yolk sac for another 3 days or so. clean tank by performing water changes Once the yolk sacs have been absorbed, you once per day. If you feed them heavily and can begin feeding your baby goldfish. maintain the water quality, the young should be ready to spawn by the next spawning The first foods will need to be very small, season and you can start the cycle all over such as infusoria, green water, rotifers, again. "sponge scrunge," liquid fry food or very fine powdered food. As the young fish grow, baby Now take a drink of water-it's time to wash brine shrimp can be added to their diet along this bread 'n butter down. THE NEXT MEETING OF THE ACLC IS SATURDAY APRIL 30TH! THE BOWL SHOW CLASSES ARE RAINBOWFISHES AND MALE BETTAS Bread 'N Butter Guppies by Joel Antkowiak Bread 'N Butter is a series of articles on those fishes that are commonly referred to as "beginner's fish" and often times are among the first fishes that one keeps in an aquarium. The guppy is among the most popular of environments. They can sometimes be found aquarium fishes and are often recommended in temperate areas where they can survive in as a beginner's fish. Their combination of waters artificially heated, for example by small size, bright colors, peaceful disposition, waste water from power stations. Many of adaptability and general hardiness are to be the introduced populations were accidental, thanked for their position in the hobby. although some were planned introductions However, very rarely does anyone keep a meant to control mosquito populations. wild type guppy in their aquarium. This The guppy prefers an aquarium with hard species, Poecilia reticulata, has been bred water on the alkaline side, and will benefit into so many different colors and patterns from salt in the water.

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