fishy update

[Lolafish]

Everytime I update, I promise new pictures..so this time I won't promise anything.      My goldfish are still living in their pond paradise and loving life!  They are getting so big out there - and it's great not having to worry about them because they are in an enclosed porch.  Some of my homegrown babies are humongous...it's mind boggling!      
 
I do have one "baby" that may eventually succomb to an early death though.   :sad:   He has a tumor right above one eye.  I've been watching it, and although it's not growing too quickly, it is definately growing.  I'm beginning to think there might be something in the Florida well water that's causing it.  Of course I use water conditioners to remove heavy metals, etc...but I'm sure it's impossible to remove everything that's bad.  I don't know. I could be wrong.  It could just be one of those things.  It just sucks because I know that eventually he won't be able to see out of that one eye, and you never know if these things are causing any pain.
 
Other than that, they are all very fat and sassy.  They only get fed once per day, mostly homemade gel food, with a couple of fast days every week.  It's kind of a bummer because having them on the back porch, I don't get to see them except at feeding and water changing time.  We haven't bought any new patio furniture yet, so can't really just chill out there.  I'd love to just sit out there next next to them, and watch them swim around.  Their fountain makes such a relaxing waterfall sound too. 
 
I will never regret moving from indoor tanks to an outdoor pond.  Florida is wonderful in that respect. If I lived anywhere else, I wouldn't have this luxury.  The only thing missing is a Koi pond!  Someday!!!!!   

[claire_uk]

aww. Our pond fish look after themselves pretty much. Saw them out the other day for the first time in a while as it has been very cold here and the top of the pond has been froozen.
They look like they have been doing some growing!
I have been feeding my indoor fish a lot less than what I used to, they have live plants to munch on if they wanted, but havent really been touching them so they cant be getting hungry!
Hope your baby with the tumor is ok, is it bumpy looking or smooth?

[Au_fish]

If I lived in FL, I'd have a tropical pond. All the neat "monster" fish you could have there that you can't have anywhere else.

[Lucky]

Lolafish, you say that you have all your babys in the outdoor pond now.  I have a question, do you have a mix of Goldies like Orandas, Lionheads, moors, Ranchus, basically I wonder about the feeding in something larger than a tank.  Do you have any fish that don't have a dorsel fin, and is there much competition for the food?

[Lolafish]

Hope your baby with the tumor is ok, is it bumpy looking or smooth?

Really hard to tell.  He/she is always too fast to catch with my hands, and I haven't bothered to try and net him/her.  As it grows, I'll be able to tell though. 

[Lolafish]

Lolafish, you say that you have all your babys in the outdoor pond now.  I have a question, do you have a mix of Goldies like Orandas, Lionheads, moors, Ranchus, basically I wonder about the feeding in something larger than a tank.  Do you have any fish that don't have a dorsel fin, and is there much competition for the food?

Although I have 3 shubies with my fancies, they all have learned to hunt for food pretty quickly.  I watch them when I feed them, to make sure everyone eats.  I only have one Ranchu, and he's quite the piggy, so even he is right there with all the rest.  My other fancies are orandas and fantails.