My new Goldfish pics

where is the pic?

looks like a redcap oranda. what else is it with? how big is the tank? what filter are you using? are those flakes floating around on top? for roundbodied goldfish it is better to only feed sinking pellets because if fed floating foods they can develop swim bladder disease.

Hikari. they make a nice sinking pellet for lionheads (it will be good for orandas as well). it comes in a black pouch (all of hikari's foods come in the puches). i got the smaller pouch and it was about $7, so its not the cheapest, but hikari makes really good foods. tetra makes a sinking goldfish pellet as well, tetra exotica, you can use that as well for more variety. usually rounbodied goldfish are out-eaten by the faster and more agile slender bodied goldfish like comets, so keep an eye on that and make sure the oranda gets enough food. my 55 with 2 lionhead goldfish is bare bottom because i only use sinking foods, this way they cant swallow gravel while trying to eat. food could also fall between the rocks of larger gravel that is too big for them to eat, so i just didnt put in any gravel. what exact type of filter do you use?

honestly with sinking pellets i wouldnt/dont use any type of gravel for the same reasons as before. i have a stalk of lucky bamboo in my 55 with the 2 lionheads. it has only been in for a few days. my cousin read online that lucky bamboo is fine for fish tanks, even completely submerged. he tried it and so far it is doing fine, so i tried it too. i already had some lucky bamboo and it seems to be really hardy, doing better in low lighting. other live plants i have tried dont do well for me (or i guess you could say i dont do well for them, since i have never done anything for them like plant food, special lighting, or that kind of stuff to help them out). without any gravel in the tank i put the bamboo in a small vase so the goldfish wont eat the roots, there is gravel in the vase to hold the bamboo in. any numbers on the filter, like 110, or anything that my hint to the exact model it is? here is a pic of my 55 with the 2 lionheads. i know the tank is boring looking, but when these guys and other goldfish i may add are big, their beauty will be enough. no lights yet, im getting them friday. i use 2 whisper 60 filters, i pretty much only use whispers for all my tanks, they have proven to be more than good enough time after time after time, even with water turtles.

Try a search in the plant thread - or make a post there. I know Roan Art has been researching plants that are suitable for goldfish tanks (basically plants they dont like to eat) and i am sure she'll share her knowledge with you.

I have a planted tank and its not easy - you have to read a lot and figure out a balance between all the nutrients so algae doesnt have a chance. But also for that there are many valuable threads in the plant forum.

I've got the theory down now... so the "only" problem left is applying it to the tank. lol

Good luck - and nice new fish btw.