We have seen the Jan/Feb Goldfish Report magazine, which will be in members' mailboxes in a few weeks and it is excellent. Go take a look here for more info on this and upcoming issues. We hope everyone has enjoyed what has now been a full year publishing top quality content in a full color format!
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 editor Matt Lyon, please see the updated society contact info. Articles and photos in electronic form are particularly appreciated.
We would like to start creating the 2004 events calendar. We would also like to expand this calendar to reflect the tropical fish shows that support a significant goldfish class and, for that matter, any other goldfish-related events. So if you have a show or event please send us an email or use the submission form on the calendar.
The current line-up of people filling the GFSA offices is on the society officers page.
Seasonal Advice
Spring is sprung ... nearly.
For those of you with pond fish, who have never tried to raise young, but would like to, get ready. One way to do this is to place a fine mesh container in your pond and then get some eggs into it, before the parents can eat them. For the container, the Container Store has ready made mesh cubes or you can make your own using nylon tulle mesh from a fabric store. Fasten this in your pond so that the top 1-2 inches stick out of the water, and fill it with aquatic plants like anachris or cambomba.
For the eggs, you need spawning material that you can collect and put in the fry container. Water plants like anachris or Water Hyacinth work great. Even a shredded plastic grocery bag, tied around a rock will work. When the fish are spawning (usually in the first hours of light or during a rain storm), move the spawning material to the container once you see some eggs on it.
The fry should hatch in 4 days and need food 2 days after that. To start, take a tiny bit of hardboiled egg yolk between your thumb and forefinger and grind it in the container water, to create a fine particle suspension. If possible, do this 3 times a day during daylight hours. After 4 days of that, gradually change over to finely powdered dry food (whatever you are feeding the parents, ground up).
By doing this in a pond, hopefully you will not need to worry about water changes and this can be very low effort. At 1 to 2 months, the fry should be small fish that are large enough to not be eaten by the parents, so you can release them in the pond. The best practice is to pick the nicest ones and then ask local fish store if they would take the rest.
Have fun, welcome to the world of goldfish breeding!