So - I have read that if you feed fry a heavy diet of protien, they grow fast, strong and deep. I have ALSO read the OPPOSITE - that a diet heavy in carbohydrates increases the depth of the fish....

So: has anyone read similar info???? Any opinions?

I am looking to increase the depth of the bodies of my Ryukin fry. I only got about 20% last year that had the deep bodies that I am seeking. This year, I really have no long, lean fry - all appear to be nice chunky little fellows. None have started that "belly drop" that they get at about 12 weeks of age (they are only 4 weeks old now), but I want to make sure I do everything within my power to increase the numbers of nice deep-bodied fish.

Carbohydrates or Protien????

Up until now, they have been fed copious amounts of live baby brine shrimp and daphnia. THey are a solid 1/2 inch and the calicos are starting to get color. It is a fine time to introduce them to carbohydrates if that is truly the way to go.

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Since feeding a blend of gel food with babyfood greens and fruit and all the protein fixings I've noticed my Orandas are getting very deep bodied..Since joining this forum and learning about gel food and vegetables my fish have grown very fast...I feed mine everything known to a veggie stand ..I cant really answer your question but I've sure the heck seen great growth from Veggies...

Since they are young and growing I'd still go with lots of protein for building up. Some carbs can release starches, acids and sugars that are hard to digest and can cause bouyancy probs. Protein on the other hand is a more natural feed and builds muscle and is easily digested. If you are introducing carbs make sure they are the easy-to-digest kind. Avoid soy products or anything with sugar..soft white rice grains are a popular carb feed here in Japan. Over feeding of carbs can make the liver fatty and because glucose is produced during carb digestion blood sugar is raised which lowers immunity. There must be some well digested carbs though, I wonder what these would be.

Brown rice and pearl barley are the most digestible ones I've found, I use them in all my gel food and after the first day or two rarely see any digestive issues with them. I don't know what works best for fry, but my common fry are developing well on food that contains those. From generic biology, I'd think you'd want a mix - enough carbs to sustain their general metabolic activity without drawing down protein reserves and the protein available for muscle development.

I have decided to make a gel food that is heavy on the seafood flakes and baby brine shrimp and daphnia, but with added green algae flakes and some brown rice. I have all those things - the rice is nice and organic, so I do not fear that. I have also let the tank go heavy with green algae for the bottom 6 inches of glass - for feeding.

I considered doing a "protein only" group, a "carb only" group, and a mix group, but I do not want to "sacrifice" any of these guys. The majority of them are looking really good - I am impressed. The calicos are starting to color, the metallics are shining and they are fat and sassy and growing fast. I would say I have about 85% broadtails in the bunch, too!!!

I just want BIG body along with the BIG tail. Last year I got way too much tail and not enough body on the majority. I know a lot of that was genetic, but......



I will let you know how it all works out!

PM HNLim to find out what he's been feeding his "runty" orandas to make them look so much like shorttail ryukins.

I'm still secretly betting on meat from chickens offered to some cosmic being with a hard-to-pronounce name though...

They sound lovely, I'd love to see photos of them.

it's just a few posts down the thread list... but, here ya go...

http://www.kokosgoldfish.invisionzone.com/...c=65177&hl=

My largest and oldest Ryukins DO have a bit of "thickening" on the top of their heads, but nothing like those "runt Orandas"!!!!

Perhaps because he tosses them in the sump tank? I have been reading up on those cosmic chickens and that sounds like a WAY TO GO!!!! I want bodies like those Orandas on my RYUKINS!!!!!!!!!!! Those are interesting fish!

Until I find a good source for cosmic chickens or some other miracle body building substance (steroids? ) I am leading morning motivational speeches in, next to the fry tanks.

oh daryl... you could MAKE your own cosmic chicken mash! You just choose one among the Lovecraftian Pantheon and sacrifice away for a whole month's supply

They're mostly just interested in the blood and innards anyway so it'd be a waste of the whole bird :

My fancies don't get deep bodies.

They get spherical bodies. Hah!

I can't let any tennis players in my living room.