North Florida Koi Club

Home

Next Meeting

Koi Club of the Air

Club Application

Club Officers

Barbles Articles Index

Club Demographics

Links

Pond Tour: 2001, 2002

Koi Show 2000,2001,2002, 2003,2004

Black Water Creek Trip

Site Manager

BUYING A NEW GOLDFISH
1. Needless to say, do not even look at fish in tanks where there are floating fish. Fish do die, but floating dead fish indicates the pet shop doesn't care AND the dead fish is shedding disease in the tank to the other fish. Most Goldfish will eat dead fish. Do not buy from a tank where you see fish that are drifting with the current either. Also consider that in most pet shops the water from all tanks is centrally processed, so anything 1 fish in 1 tank has, they all have.

2. Look for a fish that swims easily. If you have Jo Ann's tape, there are different "styles" of easy swimming for different fish. A long fin Demekin does not swim in a straight line like a ryukin does. Healthy fish (small to medium sized ones) spend most of their time "booking" around, looking for this and that. Look for the one that is busy, busy, busy.

3. Watch to make sure that none are doing a lot of yawning, a symptom of oxygen deprivation, perhaps gill problems or current medications being used.

4. Ask the seller if the fish have been medicated, for what, with what and for how long. This will limit what or if you can use anything without toxing them out at home. It also gives you an idea of how sick the fish were. Be sure to ask if they use salt as you will want to salt dip them when you get them home (you will actually have that all set up before you leave looking for fish!) When you get a fish, do not allow them to put anything in the bag except water and oxygen. If the trip is long, the water should just cover the fish in the bottom and the rest filled with oxygen. Make sure the bag is tight or a fish could get trapped in folds of the plastic.

5. Ask them where the fish came from, country of origin. Ask them when the fish arrived. If they just arrived, they could still die from stress of shipping, if they have been their awhile, they are probably resistant or immune to most diseases.

6. Look for a dorsal fin that is straight up. The pectoral fins should be evenly extended out from the sides (make sure all the fins are there!). Where the fins are placed varies a bit from fish to fish and pearls and long fins paddle with their pectorals. There should be two anal fins or one right in the middle. A fish with one anal fin off to one side means the other anal fin could be growing inside and kill the fish eventually. All the fins should be even as uneven fins could be an indication of recent fin rot, or worse, fin rot in progress. Look at the edges of all the fins for unevenness.
Look for smooth backs on fish, ranchus should be nearly a perfect half circle and the tail tucked in low, lionheads are a bit longer and the tail is not set as low. But there should be no odd bumps along the back. Now, look at the fish swimming and see if the lateral line of the fish is even in the water, no tilting to one side or the other. Check to see that the fish is nicely rounded. Those whose bodies appear too small for their heads could have skinny disease and will die. The exception are fish with hoods (wen) and their heads may be much larger than the body. Last, let them get the fish in the bag, then check the gills to make sure they are bright red, check the anal port to make sure there is no redness or oozing and it isn't protruding (a female that is spawning could have an "outie" a bit, but no redness). Check the outside of the mouth really closely to make sure there is no redness or white strings (columnaris) and try to see inside the mouth for the same. Check the eyes for white flecks (brain flukes). Feel the slime coat, too heavy is parasites, dry is columnaris. You may have to ask them for a bright light to be able to do a good physical. http://puregold.aquaria.net/care/care1.htm#buying a new goldfish