betta-cat

Hi all,
I was wondering if anyone has had experience with some of the more exotic types of goldfish for their outdoor ponds? I would love to get a couple of black moors, fantails or some such. How do they compete with the others for food? There's usually lots of algae to nibble on between meals. I won't get the really fragile ones like bubble eyes. I'm seriously thinking of starting up another exotic goldfish tank inside where I can keep a good eye on them.

I live in cold Alberta, and would bring them inside for the winter. Anyone with experience?

Cheers,

gremlin

The fancy goldies with the egg shaped bodies do not swim as fast as the commons, comets, and shubunkins. It is usually not a good idea to mix the two body types as the faster ones will eat all the food before the fancies have a chance at it. The algae is good too, so you may not need to worry about the feed quite as much. I would stay away from any of the fancies that have protruding eyes (telescope, celestial, black moors) as they are prone to damage just from bumping into things. Another concern with the fancies, they don't swim as fast so it is harder for them to escape predators that may come by the pond. Depending on where you are, you may have to deal with stray/feral cats, raccoons, birds, and the neighborhood kids who like to throw things in the water just to see the splash.

platy ben

There are really only 2 species of goldfish which can be kept in a pond, which are, common gold fish, and any species of comet are nice

gremlin

shubunkins work also. They have the same body shape as commons and comets and can do well in a pond. The name shubunkin generally refers to their coloring which is the blue/orange/white/black mottled calico type of coloring.

fishlover78

I agree Gremlin and Platy Ben, go with the comets, commons and subunkins, they are more cut out for the pond life than the fancy goldies.

betta-cat

That makes sense so I'll stick to what I have. I have commons, comets and shubunkins already, plus I went against all my own reservations and bought little koi (which, with any luck, will become big koi, two will be max). If I get fancies, I'll keep them inside and move them downstairs during the summer. We don't do air conditioning.

Here's another idea though, to let me indulge in the pretties ... I have a separate patio pond made out of an old bathtub that hubby covered with a wood frame. Its my 'grow out' tub for the previous year's babies. Maybe my fancies, if I should get them, could go in that? I've done the bubble-eyes before and find them too fragile so I probably would stick to the moors and other tubby bodies. The temps in this tub are moderated by shade so it doesn't get so hot even though its fairly shallow. I have two filters going in it, one to really filter and one to move the water.

My mind keeps turning to the spring and summer. Its snowing here, temps have warmed up to just below freezing. A few days ago it was close to -30C. Apparently its one of the first times that there's been a white Christmas from coast to coast here in Canada.

gremlin

There are several fancies that may do well in a protected outdoor pond. I've found this website helpful when I want to compare the different body shapes/types. Maybe it will help you decide which fancies would do well in your protected pond.

http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/ftypes.html

praices

I live in the Philadelphia area and never had good luck with Orandas during the cold weather. Neither with the telescoped eyes fish. I will just keep it simle with goldfish and Koi.