Breeding goldfish

[douggym]

I have about 200 young goldfish which I found when lifting some weed from my pond. I always drop weed into a bucket to ensure anything in it can get out before I dispose of the weed. I have kept the young fish which are about three eights of an inch long (some are almost invisible as they are so small) in a large clear storage box and have given them some liquid fryfood. They are now about a month old. I have had no casualties yet but think that they cannot survive on fry food alone. How soon should I change the diet and what should I give them for the next stage? Suggested so far are ...frozen and live Cyclopse, Daphnia, Brine shrimp. What are the differences and which may be the best? Any advice on keeping them alive will be useful.

[hammerman]

the problem with frozen and live food that you mention is that it is very high protein which, even though the babies will grow well, it will pollute the water very quickly.

Personally, i'd buy a tub of goldfish flake food (aquarian is my favourite), crush it up and feed that. try to feed small amounts 2-3 times a day.

One of the biggest secrets to success with raising fry is plenty of water changes.....20-50% twice a week is a good amount.

Good luck

[woofgang]

\i tend to leave mine in the pond, I do add a little crushed flake to the feed regime but there are loads of tiny bits and pieces in the weed and duckweed for them to feed on