Sunday, November 2, 2008

Learn All The Secrets About The Color Of Your Goldfish

The main colors that the modern goldfish are available in are: Bronze: These types have to be specially bred. Pink (albino): This is a type which is also a result of selective breeding. Wild type: These types of goldfish are more common and they slowly change their color as they grow, losing all the black pigments and becoming more of the ornamental type. 

The two main ornamental color types in goldfish can be classified as the: Metallic group: These type of goldfish can either be self-colored or red, orange, yellow, blue, brown and black, or even a combination of colors with a dash of silver and a splash of patterns. Metallic goldfish have scales that reflect thanks to what is called the guanine layer present in their skin and make their color look like gleaming, burnished metal. Calico group: The Calico type of goldfish can have different kinds of patterns of either reflective scales, matt scales because of the absence of the guanine layer in their skin and nacreous scales when the guanine layer is partly present. The common color effects of the goldfish with matt scales depending on the color pigments that are present are pink; blue and colors like violet, gray and brown. The ideal calico goldfish is believed to be the Shubunkin which is a combination of red over blue The Goldfish look and form The Goldfish might be common but there is hardly one average on the looks side! Apart from being available in different kinds of colors, Goldfish also have different types of body structures. These are the most common types of goldfish available according to their body type: 
Single-tailed: This kind of Goldfish have, as the name suggests, a single, short and sleek tail. They have a very slender body and are very hardy. Singletailed goldfish include the popular Comets, Commons and the Shubunkins.

Double-tailed: This kind of Goldfish are also slender but their tail fins are split giving it a fan like look. The double tailed variety includes the Wakins and the Jikins that usually come in white, red and white and orange.

Double Tailed with Dorsal Fin Goldfish: This type of Goldfish has a very egg shaped body with long doubled or short tail fins. These are hardy but more of the fancy kind of goldfish. Their midsections are larger than other goldfish and some of them have a head growth or a hump on the back. Some of common types of this variety are the Fantails, the Pearlscales, the Orandas, the Ryukins, the totally black Moors and the Telescopes.

Double Tailed with No Dorsal Fin goldfish: This type of Goldfish also have egg shaped bodies but no dorsal fins. Instead they have flowing fins like the rare Eggfish, head growths like the Lionheads and the exotic Celestials and Bubble Eyes.
Article Source: http://goldfish-kiki.blogspot.com/search/label/goldfish%20color

Home Aquariums: Why They Are Handy by Jeanie Smith

The practice of keeping fish in the home came about in the late 1800's. These fish were usually kept for short periods of time, and were used as a food source. Home aquariums were generally kept only in coastal towns where the fish were readily accessible. Today, however many things of changed. We wouldn't dream of dipping a net into an aquarium and frying up the family pet for dinner. That's what Red Lobster is for. Home aquariums are for our personal entertainment and enjoyment. Aquariums add life and color to any room. They soothe sick patients at doctor's offices, and entertain small children while their parents are shopping at Nordstrom. 

When considering adopting a family pet, think fish. They are a good compromise when your children are eying that puppy in the window of the local pet store. Aquariums need little care in comparison to cats, dogs and even birds. When going out of town, it is acceptable to leave the fish alone for a week or even longer. Just have a neighbor feed them once or twice. There is no grooming or bathing needed for fish. While a home aquarium does require regular maintenance and cleaning, it is minor compared to the care required for larger pets. Aquariums are usually less costly, as well. Dogs and cats require regular visits to the veterinarian, vaccinations, flea and tick medications, etc. Last year the purchase of pet toys was a billion dollar industry. We don't have to worry about buying a tug rope or a stuffed friend for our fish. 

An aquarium is less of a commitment than larger pets, and can still be a welcome addition to the family home. Aquariums are great learning tools for small children. Kids get excited if they are involved in process. They can learn responsibility by having to help with the chores associated with aquarium care. Teach the children how to feed the fish and how to clean the tank. Aquariums are very handy for helping kids develop language skills, as well. It's amazing how much conversation can take place between a two-year old and an aquarium. Let the kids name the fish. Have discussions and ask questions like, what color is that fish? What are the fish doing today? Count the fish. Just be careful with counting. If one of the fish has decided to eat some of its tank mates that could turn into a different type of learning experience altogether. This doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing; you just have to be prepared for it. After all, kids do have to learn about the cycle of life and death somehow. It would certainly be a lot easier to cope with the death of goldfish as a child's first loss, rather than a human family member. 

In these times of having five hundred plus cable channels and excessive video games, an aquarium can be a refreshing touch to a home. The next time you sit down for a family dinner, try looking at the aquarium instead of the television. You never know, it may just start an actual conversation.
Article Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1008190