How much does a grass goldfish cost? A detailed guide to keeping methods
The grass goldfish is the ancestor of the goldfish, also known as the red crucian carp, golden crucian carp, etc. It has a robust constitution, strong resistance and adaptability, and a wide range of feeding habits, requiring no fine management. Besides red, its body color also includes red-and-white and calico patterns. It is very suitable for large-scale rearing in parks and natural waters, and can also be kept in courtyard tanks and ponds as well as in aquariums. Let us take a look below at grass goldfish prices and keeping methods!
How much does a grass goldfish cost?
The price of a grass goldfish is about 10 to 15 yuan each, but prices vary greatly depending on the variety, size, market and so on. Grass goldfish are divided into long-tailed and short-tailed types by their caudal fin. The short-tailed type is generally called the grass goldfish, suitable for large-scale rearing in parks and natural waters, and can also be kept in courtyard tanks and ponds as well as in aquariums. The long-tailed type is called the long-tailed grass goldfish or swallowtail; its fins are slender, like ribbons fluttering in the wind, and its swimming posture is very graceful. It is suitable for keeping in aquariums and viewing from the side.
Keeping methods for grass goldfish
1. Density: The rearing density of grass goldfish should be low rather than high. Usually, adult fish longer than 8 cm should not be kept in small glass tanks; they need to be kept in large glass tanks or ceramic vats and equipped with a small oxygenator to prevent oxygen deficiency.
2. Feeding: Feed grass goldfish nutritious animal-based foods (water fleas, earthworms) and white sesame seeds, etc. Do not feed them the inferior grass goldfish feed bought from stores. Feeding is generally done once in the morning and once in the afternoon each day, and they should not be overfed; feed only until they finish eating.
3. Light: When keeping grass goldfish, it is best to place the fish tank in a spot with 1 to 2 hours of sunlight. This uses the ultraviolet rays of sunlight to sterilize and help prevent disease, and at the same time, due to photosynthesis, the fish's color is also more vivid and beautiful.
4. Water changes: Regularly changing the water for grass goldfish can increase the dissolved oxygen in the water. When changing water, only one-third to one-quarter can be changed. Changing a lot at once will make the fish uncomfortable. There is no fixed rule on when to change the water; it depends on the water quality. Change more when the water is cloudy.
Four-season management of grass goldfish
1. Spring: Spring is the breeding season for goldfish. Rearing work mainly focuses on parent fish spawning and fry care. During the breeding period, parent fish should be fed live bait as much as possible. The plum rain season is the disease season for goldfish. Diseased goldfish should be isolated promptly and treated with medication for prevention in advance.
2. Summer: In summer, the water temperature is mostly above 25°C, and harmful bacteria and parasites in the water are noticeably reduced, so they rarely get sick. However, because the water temperature is too high, algae in the water increase noticeably and the dissolved oxygen in the water decreases. At this time, the focus of rearing work is preventing heatstroke and oxygen deficiency.
3. Autumn: In autumn, the young fish born in spring have all reached the adult stage. At this time, feeding should be strengthened to keep the ornamental fish's body shape plump and beautiful, so fattening work is the focus of rearing in autumn. At the same time, autumn is also a season with more disease occurrences, so active prevention is needed.
4. Winter: In winter, although it is difficult for the fish's body length to increase further, the fatness of the fish can still increase. The ornamental fish have all developed and taken shape. This is the busiest season for buying and selling ornamental fish. The focus of rearing at this time is maintaining stable water quality and keeping the ornamental fish healthy.
Disease prevention and treatment of grass goldfish
1. Fin rot
[Symptoms]The first type starts rotting from the edge of the fin and then extends inward; the second type starts from the central part of the fin and spreads in all directions. The affected area turns white and finally falls off.
[Prevention and treatment]Once discovered, isolation must be carried out immediately, and drugs such as antibiotics or acriflavine should be applied to treat the diseased fish.
2. Bacterial gill disease
[Symptoms]At first there is loss of appetite, and the fish often stays under the water surface and breathes rapidly. If the rear edge of the gill cover is lifted, white broken gill filaments will be seen.
[Prevention and treatment]The methods and drugs for treating this disease are the same as those for bacterial tail rot and fin rot, but salt needs to be added to the water (add two grams of table salt per 100 liters of water).
3. Dropsy
[Symptoms]In most diseased fish, almost all scales will stand up. If the body surface of the diseased fish is rubbed, the already loose scales will fall off one after another.
[Prevention and treatment]The mortality rate of dropsy is very high. If discovered early, antibiotic treatment can be applied, such as American sterilization spirit and AZ00 antibacterial agent.
4. Red spot disease
[Symptoms]Obvious red spots will appear on both the sides of the body and the abdomen.
[Prevention and treatment methods]Immediately changing the tank water can cure it without medication. Seriously diseased fish need to be isolated and treated with antibiotics.
5. Saprolegniasis
[Symptoms]The infected area forms a grayish-white cotton-like covering. The affected area is round in the early stage and becomes irregular patches later. In severe cases, the skin breaks and the muscles are exposed.
[Prevention and treatment methods]For infected fish ponds, splash the whole pond with a mixture of 0.04% table salt and 0.04% baking soda. For parent fish, apply 4% sulfonated alcohol to the affected area; for fish eggs, soak and wash with 4% formalin for 2 to 3 minutes.