I got up early this morning to a steady light rain and decided to check out
the 'porgs'. The pond is partially beneath a large oak tree, so half of
the pond doesn't get rained on like the half out in the open (duh). The
goldfish were in a spawning frenzy - ALL of them! I've got eggs and froth
all over the pond (actually, I noticed the water getting a little frothy
yesterday evening, and suspected that they were spawning), from one end to
the other, but mostly in the algae matts around the waterfall. I always
get a little bit of string algae this close to summer, but they are small
and manageable. This time of year, I ususally only get it on the rocks
around the waterfall, so that makes it easy to harvest (This stuff makes
great fertilizer. So does the grunge from the pre-filter. You should see
my tomato plants. They are already four feet tall. My miniture roses have
never looked better, and my white creeping azaleas were simply stunning
around Kentucky Derby time). The fish appear to have been eating some of
it, which is odd because I didn't think that they ate that stuff. I know
they will do so when there are eggs stuck to them, but they've been
munching on it for the last three weeks, and they haven't been spawning
during that time.

My largest female goldfish spawned about five weeks ago, and appears to be
at it again, but this time, she is joined by at least four others, while
the rest (not all are adults) appear to be totally enjoying the chase even
if they aren't ready to spawn. Even the Koi appear to be getting into the
act. I can't tell if they are actually spawning, but the two orange
metalics are chasing my dark-grayish blue "whale" all around the pond and
nipping at it. Even if they aren't, if I have both sexes (and I believe
that I do), I suspect they will spawn in the not too distant future. My
two butterfly Koi appear to be ignoring everyone else and going about their
business like nothing is happening. In other words, they don't appear to
be interested in the chase. Neither of these are of age yet, so it is no
surprise. One is about 2.5 years old while the other is about 1.5 years
old.

But all of the fish appear to be having a feast with the eggs. I don't
plan to do anything special for them (who the hell needs 5,000 goldfish
anyway?). But usually some will survive the ordeal. I did pick up the
largest algae matt containing eggs and moved it into the water behind the
rocks where the larger fish can't get to the eggs. I suspect that if I do
have any fry from the first spawn, they will likely feast on these. I
haven't seen any fry from the first spawn, but I'm not surprised since the
large goldfish spawned way back in the rocks around my filter, and that is
where any fry I have from that spawn are likely to be hanging out - right
where I can't see them. I suspect I will see some eventually, possibly
later this summer or during the fall when they get large enough to venture
out into the open water or near the front of the waterfall.

On another note, I've been seeing a lot more of my mystery goldfish that I
told everyone about a couple of months ago. It is finally starting to get
some color and venturing out into the open water more than it was. But I
didn't see it this morning. But with the adults in a frenzy, I'm not
surprised at this. It's probably getting to the eggs back in the rocks
that the adults can't reach. I've never figured out where this little
fella came from.

My cattails are looking especially healthy this year. They shot up their
fruit in the last two weeks, and I also noticed two adult dragonflies
hanging on them this morning, while at least two other nymphs are resting
comfortably nearby on a couple of rocks. My water lilly hasn't fared as
well. The Koi knocked it off of its ledge a couple of times early this
spring, and even the catfish knocked it off once, back in March. I
replanted it about a month ago, and have some large rocks weighing it down
now, and it is finally producing some decent pads. No flowers yet,
unfortunately.

And last, but certainly mot least, my albino channel catfish is really
getting huge. This guy is at least 10 lbs and about 3 feet long. He's
been very frisky this morning what with all the activity and the rain. But
it does seem to get along with everyone ok, except during feeding time.
But the others know not to get in his way when he feeds. All in all, it
has been a fascinating morning.

May the porgs be with you,

George

" George" wrote in message
news:xIXne.11445$xm3.4592@attbi_s21...
I got up early this morning to a steady light rain and decided to check
out
the 'porgs'. The pond is partially beneath a large oak tree, so half of
the pond doesn't get rained on like the half out in the open (duh). The
goldfish were in a spawning frenzy - ALL of them! I've got eggs and froth
all over the pond ................
======================
Well congrats on your fishy family! :-) As for zillions of GF. I sell the
excess or trade them from fish food, filter pads - whatever, making this a
mostly self-supporting hobby. We also get decent prices for excess koi the
years we cull them out.
--
McKoi.... the frugal ponder...
EVERYONE: "Please check people's headers for forgeries
before flushing." NAMES ARE BEING FORGED.
Do not feed the trolls.
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

"Reel McKoi" wrote in message
...

" George" wrote in message
news:xIXne.11445$xm3.4592@attbi_s21...
I got up early this morning to a steady light rain and decided to check
out
the 'porgs'. The pond is partially beneath a large oak tree, so half of
the pond doesn't get rained on like the half out in the open (duh). The
goldfish were in a spawning frenzy - ALL of them! I've got eggs and
froth
all over the pond ................
======================
Well congrats on your fishy family! :-) As for zillions of GF. I sell
the
excess or trade them from fish food, filter pads - whatever, making this
a
mostly self-supporting hobby. We also get decent prices for excess koi
the
years we cull them out.
--
McKoi.... the frugal ponder...
EVERYONE: "Please check people's headers for forgeries
before flushing." NAMES ARE BEING FORGED.
Do not feed the trolls.
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

I have discussed doing this with pet shops in my area. None are
interested, since they already have contracts with breeders, and most have
more goldfish than they know what to do with. Of course, I can always
stick a sign in front of my house, but since I'm the only one in the
neighborhood with a pond, and live on a deadend street, this is not a
viable alternative for me.

" George" wrote in message
news:cH%ne.9573$x96.5060@attbi_s72...

"Reel McKoi" wrote in message
Well congrats on your fishy family! :-) As for zillions of GF. I sell
the
excess or trade them from fish food, filter pads - whatever, making this
a
mostly self-supporting hobby. We also get decent prices for excess koi
the
years we cull them out.
--
McKoi.... the frugal ponder...
EVERYONE: "Please check people's headers for forgeries
before flushing." NAMES ARE BEING FORGED.
Do not feed the trolls.
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

I have discussed doing this with pet shops in my area. None are
interested, since they already have contracts with breeders, and most have
more goldfish than they know what to do with. Of course, I can always
stick a sign in front of my house, but since I'm the only one in the
neighborhood with a pond, and live on a deadend street, this is not a
viable alternative for me.
==========================
I found homes for a bunch of excess pond plants and plain serassa GF by
putting up index cards in local Laundromats, Wally-world's bulletin board,
the vet's bulletin boards etc. I not only unloaded everything, but two
woman "donated" $10 each for my time. That $20 bought pond plants I didn't
already have......
--
McKoi.... the frugal ponder...
EVERYONE: "Please check people's headers for forgeries
before flushing." NAMES ARE BEING FORGED.
Do not feed the trolls.
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

" George" wrote in message
news:cH%ne.9573$x96.5060@attbi_s72...

"Reel McKoi" wrote in message
...

" George" wrote in message
news:xIXne.11445$xm3.4592@attbi_s21...
I got up early this morning to a steady light rain and decided to check
out
the 'porgs'. The pond is partially beneath a large oak tree, so half
of
the pond doesn't get rained on like the half out in the open (duh).
The
goldfish were in a spawning frenzy - ALL of them! I've got eggs and
froth
all over the pond ................
======================
Well congrats on your fishy family! :-) As for zillions of GF. I sell
the
excess or trade them from fish food, filter pads - whatever, making this
a
mostly self-supporting hobby. We also get decent prices for excess koi
the
years we cull them out.
--
McKoi.... the frugal ponder...
EVERYONE: "Please check people's headers for forgeries
before flushing." NAMES ARE BEING FORGED.
Do not feed the trolls.
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

I have discussed doing this with pet shops in my area. None are
interested, since they already have contracts with breeders, and most have
more goldfish than they know what to do with. Of course, I can always
stick a sign in front of my house, but since I'm the only one in the
neighborhood with a pond, and live on a deadend street, this is not a
viable alternative for me.

Some community newspapers offer free advertising for items that are free or
the asking price is very low. You can also post them for sale on a buy/sell
newgroup in your area.

Jacqui