The normal "Happy New Year" that the GFSA wishes you is tempered by sadness this season. Joe Lightcap passed away on December 17th. Joe was one of the founders of the GFSA (see our history) and for 34 years a staunch supporter of the society as an officer, author, and perhaps most importantly as a calm and thoughtful mentor on goldfish and society issues. Though generally enthusiastic about goldfish, Joe's special love was the Veiltail, which he put effort into as a keeper, a historian and a correspondent with key breeders worldwide. Joe will be deeply missed.
The November/December Goldfish Report is out, with a wide assortment of interesting articles. Email subscribers got their copies in December and hardcopy subscribers should get their copies this month. For info and updates on the Goldfish Report, take a look here for info from the editor on upcoming issues of the Goldfish Report and the publication schedule.
If you have let your membership lapse or have been thinking about joining the GFSA, now is a great time - here is a form you can print. To submit material for the Goldfish Report to our editor, please see the updated society contact info. Articles and photos in electronic form are particularly appreciated.
The current line-up of people filling the GFSA offices is on the society officers page. The GFSA Board of Directors kicked off 2006 with a renewed effort to ensure that the society is undertaking activities and providing services that our members want. Tell us if there is something you really want (even better, volunteer to help us do it).
Interested in joining the GFSA but still not sure? We have two sample Goldfish Reports available to download, to demonstrate that every issue is packed with thought provoking information and pictures available nowhere else. We are also promoting an electronic membership option that significantly lowers the cost of membership.
Lessons Learned "Quick Hits"
We are soliciting short lessons-learned from hobbyists: events that possibly left you sadder, but measurably wiser. Have a good one? Please send it to the . Here is a brief diatribe from the Webmaster:
Early breeding: the mild winter this year in eastern North America gives many people who winter their goldfish outside an opportunity to easily bring fish indoors to spawn. Fry hatched in January or February are 2007 hatched fish, yet can be 3 inches long by the start of the show season in August. The process involves acclimating the breeders to the temperature increase gradually over 24 or more hours. Then the fish should be treated to a feeding regime designed to condition and bring them into spawning condition. After a week or so (or when initial "chasing behavior" is seen), spawning material is introduced into the container and typically the fish will commence the breeding activity in the early morning within a day or two (occasionally they spawn immediately). Unfortunately the breeders must remain inside for the rest of the winter ... the stress of breeding will leave them too weakened to go back into hibernation.