Care sheets--Post any animal related care sheets here..

Hey where can someone get a sugar glider from and how much do they cost?

I've read that neutering boars will not affect their personality, make them less aggressive or help them to get along with other boars, and that it won't stop them mounting each other and attempting to mate.Is this true?

I have two young boars from different litters that live together and get along fine at the moment, I was wondering if I should get them neutered and if yes, how old do they have to be?

What are the adavantages? I'm not planning on getting anymore GPs, so them living with females won't be an issue. Are there any health benefits or would it just be unnessesary to put them through it?

Thanks,

Shelli.

Great news, thanks, glad I don't have to put the little guys through it!

Removed on request of poster.

GOLDFISH CARE SHEET

(ALSO APPLICABLE FOR SMALL KOI AND ORFE UP TO ABOUT 1.5 YEARS OF AGE)


Origin

Many years ago in ancient China carp we're kept in shallow fish farms resembling rice paddy feilds.The fish were being farmed to help feed the ever increasing chinese population. These carp were plain black or brown and unremarkable. One day some farmers noticed a few golden carp we're being hatched from these black carp eggs, taking it as a sign from the heavens they kept these fish and bred them together, creating the first goldfish and giving birth to a hobby thats still very much alive today. Goldfish keeping.

A few things you should know before you get started

Types of Goldfish

GOLDFISH are related to the CARP family of freshwater fish, and cousins of Japanese KOI (Also domestic fish), They are fresh water fish and cold water fish. There are 2 basic types of Goldfish, common and fancy goldfish. The common goldfish is the standard orange goldfish everyone is familiar with, while the fancy varieties include fish of various shapes and colours, some have two caudal fins,( "Tail" fins) others have no dorsal fin (The fin on their back) etc just like the variations in the many breeds of dogs today.

There are important difference's between the fancy and common varieties, speed and toughness.

Goldfish with the standard body shape, including common, Shubunkins, and comets etc are faster and more robust then the fancier varieties such as Black moors, Lionheads and oranda's. In an ideal aquarium the fast moving fish should not be kept with the slower fancier types as this can cause problems as the slower fish become stressed by not being able to keep up and compete with the faster goldfish at feeding time, they are also more likely to get sick as a result of this stress and also may not achieve there full potential size and beauty simply because the faster fish eat more and outgrow them. If you choose to keep fancy and common goldfish together it is ok just remember the fancy fish will not grow large in this situation.

If a first time fish keeper try stick to the tougher types, Common goldfish, Shubunkins, comet's and anything with the average fish like shape.
Try avoid the stranger shaped goldfish such as the Lionhead, Ryukin, Bubble eye's etc your pet shop will point out the different types of goldfish to you if you ask.

NOTE: Avoid black moors as a beginner because they require a slightly higher temperature then other goldfish and if this need is not met their life expectancy is low.They will most likely get sick and spread disease to the other fish.

Goldfish can be kept with many simular size fresh water fish provided you do your research first, Don't add any other animals such as snails or Tropical freshwater fish. Young Koi and Orfe are recommmended but not minnows because they will be quickly become dinner for the Goldfish.


Requirements (These can be quite expensive so be prepared!:eek: )

It is a common misconception that Goldfish (or any freshwater fish for that matter) can live in simply fresh water, But in reality they require a carefully cultivated eco system contained within an aquarium which requires cleaning, monitoring, adjusting and maintenance. If you are the type to put a goldfish in a bowl of water and expect it to live as long as you feed it then stop right now! The best advice I was ever given about goldfish was "to keep healthy fish you must keep healthy water". You should spend more time looking after the water then the fish themselves!

Don't get a fright when you read of all the things required for an aquarium, many pet shops sell complete starter packs containing everything or nearly everything you will need. ok for an aquarium containing goldfish you will need:

An appropriate sized Aquarium: with a hood or "lid" with a place to fit the light. most are sold complete with hoods. You can use a large goldfish bowl provided there is a surface area larger then the widest body of water. Contrary to tradition goldfish bowls are generally not a healthy environment to keep your Goldfish. Always remember surface area is more important than dept to a goldfish, to provide for proper oxygenation.

You will need at least a 10 Gallon tank for 2 - 3 small goldfish because they will grow quite fast. I recommend a 2 foot long x 1 foot tall x about 1 foot wide to keep about five 4 inch goldfish. Don’t go by what you see in the pet shop set ups, remember these often overcrowded tanks are only temporary homes and not suitable for long term housing.

Tank placement is very, very important. Do not place in direct sunlight or near a heat source such as a radiator, I cant stress this enough if you want to avoid all sorts of problems be sure to take this advice. The quietest, darkest corner in the house is the best place for your fish. Remember water is very heavy so be careful the surface you place it on can hold the weight.

Polystyrene sheet: place the tank on a sheet of polystyrene cut to the right size, to evenly spread the weight of the tank and ease strain on the glass. This prevents cracking of the glass as you fill it with water.

A Filter: many types are available from your local pet shop, remember to check the filters specs against the size of your aquarium, to be sure it can manage the amount of water present.
Power head filters are probably the easiest to maintain for beginners altough There are better options such as external canister filters whith several layers of chemical and Biological filters.
Its a good idea to get a powerhead filter that oxygenates the water as well (it sucks in water from the tank and some air from above and pumps out bubbles of air in water). This way you wont need a separate airstone. I use 2 powerhead filters, one large pumping water, one small pumping water infused with oxygen. Again ask in your pet shop.

A fluorescent light (for freshwater fish, ask in your pet shop) and an electrical starter for it: Goldfish require light in order to keep healthy, stress free and colourful. the amount of light also regulates their seasonal behaviours such as breeding etc.

A substrate: the pebbles or sand you usually see at the bottom of a fish tank is called the Substrate. It is important as it provides a filter in itself. A place for waste to break down, a place for helpful bacteria to cultivate and some pebbles for the fish to clean there mouths on. Its also natural for the fish to have a substrate so it makes for healthier happier fish. Use small rounded (smooth) Gravel pebbles for the goldfish if possible, I've had a few fish choke on pointy pebbles in the past, luckily I managed to save them all. Don't use coral sands or anything like that, remember goldfish are freshwater fish and are quite messy, sand will cloud the water when these fish go rummaging for food.

A net: of suitable size for catching and moving Fish

A magnetic glass cleaner: very handy

A siphoning kit of some sort and a bucket: For cleaning. a piece of standard garden hose will do.

A water conditioner specifically for freshwater fish: A liquid that breaks down harmful chemicals found in tap water. available at any pet shop costs around 10 euro, Also available is Stress Zyme (tm) and other similar products which help boost the bacteria levels in a newly set up aquarium.
It is also advisable to invest in a PH testing kit just to make sure the water in your area isnt too acidic or alkaline. Goldfish thrive at the PH 7.2 - 7.6 range, its best if you check these levels regularly as possible, at least every second month.

Decor: a nice rock or ornament for them to hide behind, be careful the rock isn’t made up of potentially harmful minerals such as Lime or Calcium. Don’t use Concrete either!!

Plants: are optional, me I don’t use them, they are messy, hard to keep and tend to get eaten and pulled around the tank by the fish. They provide Oxygen and aid in the breakdown of harmful chemicals. As mentioned above a powerhead filter that gives off oxygen does the same job and is easier to maintain.

A BOOK! Despite all I have said go out and buy a professionals book on goldfish or coldwater fish keeping, it will be an essential tool in understanding your goldfish.

So now you've probably come to realise there is quite a bit to keeping Goldfish, well there’s more!!

Maintenance

As with all animals, wash hands before and after cleaning of the enclosure

If routine maintenance are not preformed the fish will get sick and eventually die, the following Tasks are ESSENTIAL in caring for your goldfish. NEVER USE ANY DOMESTIC CLEANING PRODUCTS WITH YOUR AQUARIUM (with the exception of glass cleaning agents for the outside glass surfaces, be careful none of this gets in the tank so keep the hood closed!)

1: Weekly 10 percent water change OR fortnightly 20 percent water change. Don’t change all the water in one go unless absolutely necessary, the water takes a few weeks to develop the right bacteria in order to break down harmful waste produced by the fish, Changing the water completely will remove most of this helpful bacteria. Remember to condition tap water with commercially available water conditioner before adding it to your tank.

2: Clean the filter medium. basically clean the sponge in the pump.
Clean the sponge when the water begins to pump slowly, simply remove your pump from the aquarium, (plug it out first:rolleyes: ) and remove the sponge and wash IN WATER FROM YOUR AQUARIUM, not tap water as this will kill the helpful bacteria. Obviously remove some tank water for this purpose, don’t wash in the actual aquarium:o !!

3: clean the Glass inside with a magnetic glass cleaner. To remove algae build-up from the glass and let in light. Don’t use a tissue or any cloth. Don’t bother cleaning the rear glass of the tank as goldfish may enjoy grazing on the algae here.

4: Examine your fish regularly. Check their behaviour. are they flicking their fins? is their dorsal fin (back) lowered? are their eyes glazed over? are they having trouble swimming to the top or bottom of the tank? are they listless or rubbing against the decor?

Check their appearance, Are their bodies bloated or "twisted" in any way? Any Fungus like growths, white spots, parasites etc?

All of these are signs that something is wrong and should be examined and treated accordingly. I wont dwell on fish health here because that would require a lot of space. Ask your pet shop for the Interpet (tm) guide to fish health, most pet shops have them and they are free and very useful in diagnosing problems.

In general a healthy fish is alert, swimming freely (except at night, when they rest) clear eyed and all fins are extended like sails. There should be no wounds, white freckle like spots, rotting of the fin or mouth or bloating.

When purchasing fish look for the above signs of health and disease, do not buy a healthy looking fish that has been kept with sick fish, only accept fish from tanks that contain healthy fish:cool:

Adding the fish to your new Aquarium:

Ok here's the part no one like's to hear but it's necessary I’m afraid. You must set up the tank and let the pumps run for 2 weeks before buying and adding the fish. This is in order to give the bacteria needed by the fish time to cultivate, a head start if you like. If you don't let the water settle like this you are basically dropping the fish into "dead" water which is completly unlike carps natural habitat of freshwater teeming with microscopic life. It's not recommended as the fish may die or develop disease within the first 2 weeks.
To add the goldfish, float the bag they came in in the tank water for 10 minutes to allow the temperatures to even out gradually. Goldfish don't take well to sudden changes in temperature.

Eco System

Heres a basic layout of the mini ecosystem in an aquarium. Goldfish eat and produce waste containing harmful ammonia (other causes are the breakdown of uneaten food, decaying plant matter, and dead fish) The bacteria which grows on the filter medium converts the ammonia to less harmful Nitrate and finally the plants or algae in the tank convert nitrite to harmles nitrate. If ammonia or Nitrite is not Broken down in this way the water will become Toxic to the Fish. The Filter, Algae and Plants take care of this.This is why It's so important to let the tank run for 2 weeks before adding the fish as a new aquarium set up does not have the ability to break down these chemicals. It is also the reason a large tank is required and an adequate filtration system is installed, And why overcrowding of fish is to be avoided.

The objective of a fish keeper is to maintain a balance between:

1 The amount of water.
2 The amount of water the filtration system can handle.
3 The amount of fish.
4 The amount of Oxygen being supplied to the water through bubble creating pumps or plantlife.
5 The amount of algea and bacteria.
6 The amount of light recieved daily ( 14 hours summer, 12 hours winter)
7 The amount of regular partial water changes.

This sounds hard but trust me the right aquarium set up will provide all this for you without you really having to worry about anything beyond maintenence, feeding and fish health.


Feeding

Each owner has his or her own ideas feeding for goldfish. To be safe stick with the specifications on the fish food container. Goldfish can live for up to 46 years of age and Koi have been recorded at over 220 years of age!! the secret to this longevity?? simply put " Maintain Good water quality and Do not overfeed" I feed my fish small amounts every day in the morning and evening, with one day a week when I do not feed them at all. Buy a high quality fish food, I find the small pellets the best because they don’t dirty the water and they digest well. Supplement Their diet with other foods such as freeze dried live foods like tubifex worms. Also some greens can be fed to your fish (Research first!!) as well as the occasional live earthworm. (Chop up for small fish). Generally speaking feed twice daily as much as the tank can consume in 2 minutes, and have one day a week when they are not fed, to encourage foraging for uneaten food particles. Also remember that a fish will eat anything edible that fits in it's mouth, including smaller fish so be careful when choosing different size fish.


This is just my general guide to keeping Goldfish, This also applies to Koi and what are commercially marketed (mistakenly) as "orfes", but these must eventually make there way to a pond as they will outgrow the aquariums quickly.


So why go to all this trouble?

well It's a very rewarding hobby if like me you can appreciate the beauty and grace of these fish and there really isn't much work involved once the initial setting up period and teething problems have been worked out.

I hope you either learned enough to get started or learned enough to know you've changed your mind about getting goldfish!! Either way my job is done so last but not least remember: A Goldfish will live a long time, so think about the commitment your making before Purchasing these animals.

(Note: all information here is based on my lifelong experience keeping coldwater fish, However I urge potential and new fish keepers to purchase a good book on Goldfish/coldwater fish keeping written by a certified professional as they will go into greater dept about all the issues raised here, and will provide invaluable referance in years to come)

Best of Luck and enjoy!!!:D

Regards
Jim

Hellrazer wrote:

Merged for you Jimkel.

cheers

tallus wrote:

That's excellent jimkel

Thanks very much:D If I missed anything just let me know and i'll add it