goldies ready to spawn i think... but

[onspeed]

Hi, I currently have a 35 gallon tank containing 3 3" goldfish, 2 1"
coldfish, a 3" weather loach and a 2" weather loach.

I also have another 25 gallon tank set up with 50% fresh water and 50% from
their weekly water change.

Recently two of the bigger goldies have developed spots on their gills and
are harassing the other goldie. They are getting very horny and frankly its
disgusting.

I hope to breed some new goldies but i`m stuck for what to do. I know i need
to catch the eggs before they are eaten, but is the best bet to A. let
nature take its course and just harvest what i can out of their current tank
(bearing in mind the loaches are like vacuum cleaners) B. Move the loaches
to the new tank, followed by the goldfish after spawning. C. put the goldies
in the new tank and put them in the old tank once spawned (maybe this would
stress them into not getting it on?)

Or none of the above...

I hope the move the hatchery tank from the kitchen to the livingroom once
the eggs are in there as this is supposed to aid in their developement?

Also i`ve read about placing certain media in the tank for the fish to lay
their eggs on, can someone suggest anything that would do the job and be
safe for the fish? I stocked it with 5 bunches of oxygen weed last week but
the goldies have ate it all...

I rambled a bit, apologies ;) But any advice greatly appreciated...

[Geezer From Freezer]

to be honest, dont even bother trying to breed. Your tank is overstocked as it
is and only
really has room for the 3 goldies on their own. You should really think about
upgrading to
a larger tank.

[onspeed]

Forgot to mention, i have an 8*6*4 pond.this is where the larger goldies are
going when spring warms up a bit, leaving the smaller goldies and the loach
and hopefully another tank full of fry ready for the pet shop. I`m well
aware of the inches of fish per surface area.

I`d love to get bigger tanks, but i don`t have the room, money, or indeed
feel its necessary as my fish are perfectly healthy.

"Geezer From Freezer" > wrote in message
...
> to be honest, dont even bother trying to breed. Your tank is overstocked
as it
> is and only
> really has room for the 3 goldies on their own. You should really think
about
> upgrading to
> a larger tank.

[Elizabeth Naime]

Quoth "onspeed" > on Thu, 18 Mar 2004 11:06:22 -0000,

>Forgot to mention, i have an 8*6*4 pond.this is where the larger goldies are
>going when spring warms up a bit, leaving the smaller goldies and the loach
>and hopefully another tank full of fry ready for the pet shop.

Aha! Just as I was getting ready to ask where you planned to put several
hundred, or a thousand, baby goldfish. :-)

The pond will do nicely for a permanent home for the larger fish. You
might also consider that spawning occurs more often and easily in ponds,
so your pond population may tend to increase. Goldfish will eat each
others and indeed their own eggs. In a pond, some will get lucky and not
be eaten, which is why I have more goldfish and koi than I originally
put in mine (somewhat to my chagrin; I'll have to expand and/or give
away some fish). I think some people put in plain cotton mop heads for
the fish to lay eggs in, which provide some cover and protection -- and
can be removed to another facility, say a kiddie pool with pond water,
for hatching. Do you really want to breed goldfish right now, or were
you just not wanting to miss the opportunity? If the latter, opportunity
will abound once the fish are pond-dwellers.

How do the goldfish and the loaches get along? That's a combination that
really intrigues me and I'm thinking about trying it. A big and somewhat
scary move for me, as I've long followed the "only goldfish with
goldfish" rule.


-----------------------------------------
Only know that there is no spork.

[Geezer From Freezer]

I wouldn't breed with the intention of giving them to pet shops. I have heard
some shops feed
any returned fish etc to larger fish. Of course unless you have already made an
agreement with one.