Re: NANFA-- Golden shiner questions

R. W. Wolff (choupiqu_at_wctc.net)
Sat, 4 Oct 2003 11:10:29 -0500

I have kept goldens on occassion. They do very well in large planted well
decorated tanks. They don't seem to bother the plants you mention. Water
sprite sprouts were one of the few things they nibbeled on, and that is not
a problem because it is prolific. Feeding almost exclusively on tender
vegatation ( algaes and duckweeds) but not hesitateing to eat worms, flake
food, and pellets. The one draw back is eggs and fry of other fish are a
tasty snack for them as well. Them , along with pearl dace, have cleaned out
many of my large tanks that had algaes entrenched in them. No matter how
many water changes I did, gravel vacs I did, the algae would recurr quickly.
They took out brush, bluegreen , cottony and hair like algaes. I cannot
remember if the pearls ate brush and bluegreen as well, or at all.

In my pond they spawn at three inches, and I have also caught fully colored
males and ripe females of this size in the wild. They only improve with age
and size in color. Large males in spawning condition often have distorted
scales gold bronze scales and orange to red fins trimmed in black.. I have
noticed this strange scale pattern on quillbacks as well. Female goldens
remain silver, but often develop yellow fins with some black too.

They are not to bad to eat. I have fryed them along with other panfish and
they were alright. Nothing I would go out and target , but not unplatable
like common shiners and creek chubs.

They are awesome aquarium fish, working well with sunfish and other large
fish. I would suggest anyone thinking about the large silver barbs to give
the golden shiner a shot first, you won't be dissappointed.

Ray
/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
/"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily
/ reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
/ Association"
/ This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association
/ nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word
/ subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to
/ nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to
/ nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead.
/ For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org