Goldfish color.. questions...

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