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.
Note that there are new photos from John Hubschman on the members photos page and a new goldfish show in Atlanta on the calendar of events.
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:
Pond leaking problems ... ants as the culprits?! Just prior to heading out on vacation, I had to diagnose and cure the slow leak in my above ground pond with an EPDM liner. To make a long story short, there was a massive nest of ants between the wood form and liner. They had created pathways through the liner folds and in a few places they had actually chewed the liner for their trails, where the liner was tight against the wood. And a few of these chewed paths had gone all the way through liner for tiny spot leaks (which where entirely invisible from inside the pond).
I spent an unpleasant hour with big rubber gloves and boots pulling the liner from the wood frame to spot these leaks and mark them. The ants were of course enraged and unfortunately could bite rather effectively, but I got the job done and the pond seems to be holding water. I am curious, is this a common problem? Have people found ways to discourage ants from nesting under their ponds? I would guess that fire ants in the southern US could be a huge problem if they did something like this. I am thinking one solution might be a "Xavan" type liner that would be harder to chew.