Friday, October 19, 2007

A Fish Story

A couple weeks ago, I brought my outside goldfish in for the winter. There are only 2 but they had quite a growth spurt over the summer. Fortunately, I was able to use some of my birthday money and purchase a new 10-gallon aquarium set-up for them. I also brought in some of the small water lettuce I had in the pond so I can maybe keep it alive over the winter and put it back in the pond next spring.


Here's a picture of one of my goldfish with my hand as a size reference. It really is this big! I have a calico one in the tank also, but that one is a little camera-shy. I got these goldfish at Wal-Mart about 2 and 1/2 years ago for less than $2 each. There were maybe 2 inches long when I brought them home and put them in the pond. I'm impressed with how much they've grown and how long-lived they have been. I sure enjoy watching them.

My friend Squirrel finally brought me some girl guppies today. He's been talking about it for a couple months, but he finally fished some out of his tank last night before heading up to the fish show in Minneapolis this weekend.

Here are the 3 new girls in their plastic bag getting acclimated to my tank. See the boy guppies in front checking them out and showing off for them?


This is going to be interesting. Squirrel says guppies are prolific breeders so I wonder how long it will be before my first baby guppies appear and how much time it will take for this small tank to be overrun with guppies of all sizes.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can't believe your fish have grown that much, they are huge. To bad you had to buy another aquarium. Guppies heh! Will the goldfish eat them now that they are bigger? I sure am enjoying reading all the blogs again from your friends, some serious, some informational, and some downright hilarious with pixs.
MOM

Anonymous said...

Sounds like Guppy heaven to me! Keep up updated for sure!

Mary said...

Ruthie,

I used to keep two large aquariums (no salt water). Goldfish are surprising, for sure - the eat and grow according to the space they live in.

I had sharks in an aquarium (4 inches in length). We went on a week vacation and came back to a very fishy smelling house. The cats had a field day while we were gone and ate them - left bits and pieces all over the place.

Good luck with the guppies. They do multiply!

Maud said...

My experience is that guppies breed so well it's bordering to a problem. Beautiful goldfish! Our godfish are not so lucky that they get out in a pond in summer, but they do still grow very much. They are six years old this summer.

Robin (Bumblebee) said...

When I was a kid we had an aquarium with so many guppies we couldn't possibly give them all away.I don't recall what my mom's final solution was, but I hope it wasn't the final solution, if you know what I mean.

We only have one fish, named Pish, who lives by my kitchen sink. He doesn't do much, but I enjoy him anyway.

--Robin (Bumblebee)

Jayne said...

WOW, that is SOME fish! I love the fancy tailed guppies. Get ready for lotsa beebies!

RuthieJ said...

Hi Mom,
The goldfish and guppies are in separate tanks--the guppies need warmer water, so they have a tank heater. I figured since the goldfish live outside from April to October, they should be OK if the water gets a little cooler.

P.S. I'm glad you're back on the "comments" page again too.

Hi Mon@rch,
I can see where this fish thing could get a little addictive too. Squirrel's got a 20 gallon octagon tank that he's not using and he thinks it would be great for me to get it for my guppies and maybe some albino plecostamus he's raising now too.

Hi Mare,
My cat is so lazy, she just lays on her chair and watches the guppies and I don't think she's even noticed the goldfish yet!

Hi Maud,
That's what Squirrel tells me about the guppies too. I'm not sure what I'll do when the tank is overfilled with baby guppies...maybe goldfish food???

Hi Robin,
I seem to remember we had a tank full up guppies when I was a little kid too. It was always a big thrill seeing those baby guppies being born, but I don't remember what my dad did with them...probably a solution similar to your mom's.

Hi Jayne,
I think these fancy guppies are beautiful also. The males have such brilliant iridescence....they almost remind me a bit of the neon tetras. I'd like to get some swordtail guppies also, but Squirrel says some of them have gotten really pricey!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Love the goldfish. I had some in a small water feature I have and the darned racoons ate them. :( I don't want to feed the racoons any more so no goldfish for me.

RuthieJ said...

Hi Lisa,
Thanks for visiting my blog. I've been fortunate that no raccoons have discovered my little pond (I think there are people in the neighborhood who take it upon themselves to "eliminate" any raccoons).
I had another person tell me she has a great blue heron who discovered the goldfish in her pond (she lives in the country). She wasn't too happy about that either.

Meggie said...

Ruth: I posted your biker message today...told you I would.
Guppies are fun to breed. Not sure if other guppies will eat the babies or not...just be sure they have plenty of places to hide...OR get a little baby container that hangs on the inside of the tank but separates the babies from the others. Good Luck!