“Don’t push it ,don’t push it Let it happens naturally It will happen, if it is meant to be…..”


A chorus from a song that carries a grave message for all goldfish keepers.

How often we are bombarded by terms we common associate in our keeping.Terms of endearment include the most utilized and sensationised word……PUMP and nothing but PUMP.The pump here is not a noun but a verb to connote the urge to fatten up and speed up the growth rate of the fish in a relative short time.Now comparing a fish that is underfed and not pushed ,the overfed and over pumped fish are cursed with a shorten life expectancy and often succumb to many associated health ailments .Our over zealous concern of its development has indirectly cause more harm than good.I myself had my fair share of such consequences and I must admit I’m equally guilty of such indifferent practice to peak the fish in a relative short time.Let me share with you some of my most recent blunder…

This fish,I'm sure you all are familiar with.2 days before MFGC it happen to bloat after an accidental increment of feeding of high protein type D JRL.this fish has been an exceptional greedy one.So she must have gorged a significant amount of dried pellets to succumb to subsequent intestinal blockage leading to suspected enteritis.

A scan(not metatarsal) certified the fish not fit for competition and thus you did not see it at the compe.





Some food for thought not just for yourself but more importantly for your fish.

Pumping position everybody………DOWN!!!!!!!

Hi doc,

"Pumping up" this old post. How many food (rated in minutes eating) and how many times per day did you feed this ranchu to achieve this result?

Regards,

Carlos

Woah,I'm afraid I can't recall the frequency of feed and amount and the fish did not live to tell

Hi doc,

Thanks for your answer. Let me ask you the other way. How often and how much do you feed your fish right now? I've seen outstanding results from your grooming method, so this is my new question.

Thanks in advance,

Carlos

OK sounds more like present rather than the past

It really depends on the age of the fish.Fish under year can be fed up to 5 times a day but each time sparingly.Adult go on 3 meals a day with more wheatgerm based feed.

While waiting for the wise doctor, we should remember the advice of Mr. Coppens who says to look at each fish each morning and decide whether or not it should be fed.

A good goldfish has many characteristics in addition to size. Do not forget overall conformation, finnage, wen, color and health. To make a good goldfish, you have to nurture all the components - each in their own way.

-steve

Great, 5 times protein based food for younger fishes (< 1 year) and 3 times wheat germ (Hikari?) based for older ones.

But, how much time should they eat? I've read times that ranges from 2 minutes to 10 minutes per meal. What's your advice?

Hi steve

Thanks for your reply. When you say that you should look your fish each morning, do you mean look at fish activity? (Lots of activity = hungry, less activity = not so hungry)

Regards.

Carlos

to see if they are getting too fat.

5 minutes should be sufficient.Any reputable brand of wheatgerm available in your country.

Many thanks. And yes,the full line of Hikari is available here.