Wen Growth Problem On A Lionchu Options

[32Bit_Fish]

I was looking at the pics of my goldfish which they were taken several months ago when I first got them.

One of the fish that I bought from pet store, his wen gotten so much smaller. The difference is like day and night. I dont know what happened. I feed him progold in the morning and hikari frozen food at night. A lot of you were telling me that I'm overfeeding my fish, but why his wen gotten so much smaller n there is no wen growth even when I have been overfeeding them? They suppose to be overweight, not the other way around. This just doesn't make any sense to me.

Now I feel like I need to feed more frequent or the other possibility is the seller injected hormone to the wen area try to make a sell.

I bought the fish couple hours after he arrived at the my LFS, so either the breeder or the middle person done something to the fish. Otherwise, I couldn't figure out why this is happening to my fish.

All my fish have lengthen, but the wen growth has been going backwards.

Does anyone have any idea about what I'm talking about?

[goldrush]

Hi there

When I started with goldfish I do encounter the same problem.This got nothing to do with genetics,nor injectibles,special diet or hidden secrets.Deterioration can only be acquired.The number one culprit is water and space given.

Goldfish need space to grow and so does its wen.A confined space with overcrowding can retard any growth(wen inclusive)The secretion of protein based pheromones will retard any growth as well.Water parameters especially sky rocketing reading of NITRATES will hamper wen development(hence the need for frequent water changes)


Genetics aside,wen development can be enhanced through diet(good protein source like bloodworms,high quality pellets)only if the above are met.Hope that answer your query

doc

[32Bit_Fish]

Sorry, I probably need to be alittle more informative in my post.. I should give a little specs of my set up and stocking info before posting the problem.

I have a 38 G barebuttom tank with three 5" lionheads. They have been in my tank for the past 3 months.

There are two HOB Power filters running on the tank, each of them has a water turn over rate of 300GPH, so total of 600 GPH turn over rate, that equivlent to 10x+ turnover rate filtration.

I feed goldfish dry pellet (Progold that are well know high quality goldfish food in U.S) in the morning and I feed Hikari Frozen bloodworm, brineshrimp and Mysis at night. I feed twice a day during weekdays and three times a day during weekend.

I do 80-90% w/c twice a week and nitrate level kept at constant of 7 PPM.

My questions are am I overstocking? have been feeding proper food? need more w/c due to dirty water?

I dont see I have any of the problems/possible causes that you mentioned in your post. That's why I'm very confused. I am hoping I have been doing something wrong to cause this problem, so I can correct it.

But I couldn't find any at this point.

[GlassGoldfish]

I would put those 3 fish in 140 gal. outdoor pond and allow green water to develop, then your fish will grow like crazy. I buy these Tough-stuff brand livestock troughs at the farm supply stores for about $75 each. All you need is an airstone in there w/ water changes. Then get a 75 gallon tank for those 3 fish during the wintertime. Don't up your filtration on the 75, tho. You must find a balance between filtration and water current, especially with weak swimmers like lionheads. Those old grandmas that preach the 10x filtration rate here in the usa don't consider the ill-effects of water current.

I would include a soybean into your food regiment. The fad in the usa is to feed green peas, but soybeans are higher in protein and lower in sugars. I get the ones that are already shelled. They need to be thawed, peeled and chopped up.

Good luck!

[32Bit_Fish]

I would put those 3 fish in 140 gal. outdoor pond and allow green water to develop, then your fish will grow like crazy. I buy these Tough-stuff brand livestock troughs at the farm supply stores for about $75 each. All you need is an airstone in there w/ water changes. Then get a 75 gallon tank for those 3 fish during the wintertime. Don't up your filtration on the 75, tho. You must find a balance between filtration and water current, especially with weak swimmers like lionheads. Those old grandmas that preach the 10x filtration rate here in the usa don't consider the ill-effects of water current.

I would include a soybean into your food regiment. The fad in the usa is to feed green peas, but soybeans are higher in protein and lower in sugars. I get the ones that are already shelled. They need to be thawed, peeled and chopped up.

Good luck!

Yeah, I wish I have a house with a big backyard, so I can have alot of goldfish live in a big pond. It's my dream, unfortunately I live in NYC and I do not have the luxury to do so. If putting the fish in a pond outdoor is only way to promote their growth, then I think keeping goldfish is a wrong hobby I got into.

I thought a goldfish needs 10-20 gallon of water in order for them to grow to their potential, no?

[GlassGoldfish]

10/20 gallons per fish is a good rule to help newbies wrap their heads around just how much water goldfish really need. How many people get into the goldfish hobby and put 5 goldfish in a ten gallon tank? Lots, I bet. These rules of 10/20 gallons per fish are a way to get people thinking differently about goldfish, and I would consider it the minimum, not the ideal for growing to their max potential. I've read that ryukins require over 100 gallons each if you want them to grow over 6/7 inches.

I don't think an outdoor pond is the ONLY way to get them to thrive. However, it is damn effective.
Do you have a balcony or porch?

[32Bit_Fish]

10/20 gallons per fish is a good rule to help newbies wrap their heads around just how much water goldfish really need. How many people get into the goldfish hobby and put 5 goldfish in a ten gallon tank? Lots, I bet. These rules of 10/20 gallons per fish are a way to get people thinking differently about goldfish, and I would consider it the minimum, not the ideal for growing to their max potential. I've read that ryukins require over 100 gallons each if you want them to grow over 6/7 inches.

I don't think an outdoor pond is the ONLY way to get them to thrive. However, it is damn effective.
Do you have a balcony or porch?

I live in a small apartment. I probably need to start buying lottery and if I'm really really lucky and hit the jackpot. Then I can buy a house with a big backyard for my poor fish.

[small_ranchu]

I hear you buddy. I still put 90, 60 and 29 g tank in my apartment. I have 3 fish in 90, 2 in 60 and 1 in 29.

[32Bit_Fish]

I hear you buddy. I still put 90, 60 and 29 g tank in my apartment. I have 3 fish in 90, 2 in 60 and 1 in 29.

Fred,

I'm sure your apartment is bigger than mine.

BTW, would you mind come take care my fish while I travel oversea?

[small_ranchu]

no problem, if you trust my skill.

[32Bit_Fish]

no problem, if you trust my skill.

of course, u r the pro man..

[bekko]

Has the wen actually gotten smaller, or does it just look smaller because the rest of the fish is larger?

I agree with the comments above..... When it comes to goldfish, space is everything.

-steve

[pangjcc]

It will be good if you can show the before and present photos, preferably from the top.

I suspect your fish are suffering from parasites. I kept two red cap oranda in a 30 liters tank with green water and air stone for 6 months and their wen became so big I sent them away.

Johnson

[32Bit_Fish]

The wen gotten smaller.. When I first purchased the fish, his wen is like perfect square from topview. Now it is like an arrow head from topview.

I have to admit the fish has fluke and I started treating him since last week.

Could fluke sucking out all the nutrient from the fish, hence restrain the fish's growth?

[32Bit_Fish]

I kept two red cap oranda in a 30 liters tank with green water and air stone for 6 months and their wen became so big I sent them away.

Johnson

Are you sure it was 30 liter, not 300 liter? 30 liter = 8 gallon for two goldfish and you see growth of the wen?