Raising goldfish for bait is a fun and worthwhile activity.
What many people don’t know is that it is also easy to do. In fact, with the right tools and techniques, you should be able to get your goldfish growing healthy to use as bait.
It is simply something worth doing, since you won’t need to buy bait anymore. You can use your goldfish and have the assurance that they are raised well. With healthy and good quality baits, you can guarantee the outcome of your catch!
So, let’s go through this surprisingly easy process on how to raise goldfish for bait. You will be amazed at how simple it is – and ask yourself why you’ve never thought of doing it before!
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Raising Goldfish For Bait – How It’s Done
Contrary to what some people think, raising goldfish for bait is actually not a difficult ordeal.
In fact, you can get it done even as a novice. We will walk you through each step, so you can carry out this task and achieve the results you want.
1. Choose the right medium.
When raising goldfish for bait, you have a few options – either use an indoor aquarium or a pond.
If you opt for an indoor aquarium, it should at least be a decent size, somewhere around 20 to as much as 50 gallons. This largely depends on how big the parent goldfish are and the amount of fish you plan to breed.
In the case of an outdoor pond, however, it should be able to hold up to 80 gallons of water.
But whether you go for an indoor aquarium or a pond, you need to keep it as bare as possible. Don’t add in any type of ornaments such as rocks or gravel. This way, you can prevent instances of injuries, while at the same time making it easier to clean the pond or aquarium.
However, you can definitely put in some plants or spawning mops. These are useful for receiving the eggs.
Aquarium Vs. Pond
An aquarium is a decent choice because of the smaller volume of water. This allows for a higher egg fertilization rate. You will also be able to easily control the water temperature by using a heater.
Furthermore, aquariums give you the ease of observing your fish more closely in case there are problems. If there are male fish with less-than-perfect eyesight, they should not be able to lose sight of the females.
On the other hand, goldfish do not quite naturally spawn indoors. There are higher chances of pollutants because of the small space, along with minimal temperature changes. Hence, you need to change the water, at least partially, to prevent excessive water movement.
As for an outside pond, it allows goldfish to spawn easily and readily because of the greater changes in the water temperature. The pond also receives sunlight quickly and your fish should feel more accustomed when in a greater water volume.
But at the same time, the higher the water volume, the lower the fertilization rate. Poor-sighted males tend to lose their females. And with not so many spawning mops, females do not have enough hiding places.
Lastly, there are predators to watch out for. You will need to cover the pond, so your fish can be safe from larger predators lurking behind.
2. Have a good amount of water.
Now that you have figured out the right location for your goldfish, let us talk about water level.
Generally, you want it to be shallow enough to let the fish move effortlessly to the shallows. This way, they can breed properly. We are looking at a water level of around 8 to a maximum of 12 inches.
3. Preparation is key.
When you have made a decision between a pond and an aquarium, you can go ahead and prepare it for your fish.
Make sure that there are no chemicals or toxic elements in the aquarium or pond. Avoid using chemicals when conditioning the water. In case there is chloramine added by your supplier to the water, you will have to remove it with a water conditioner.
As part of cleaning the pond, you may want to place clear plastic over a certain part of the bottom and the side. You need to do this to secure the spawning mops. Keep in mind that goldfish tend to scatter eggs, so a plastic should prevent the eggs from falling to the pond’s bottom.
But at the same time, you need to place some smooth rocks to keep the plastic firmly in place. Fish tend to go underneath plastic, which can cause them to suffocate.
If you are using an aquarium, set it up the way you would for a pond. The only difference is that you should not use plastic on the bottom. When eggs fall to the aquarium’s bottom portion, these will end up sticking and getting flushed as you replace the water.
4. Consider the right time for raising goldfish for bait.
The best time to raise goldfish is in springtime. The water is ideal at 68 degrees Fahrenheit and the days are also longer this time of the year.
Furthermore, you may want to start breeding earlier in the year. This allows for a longer growing period. But at the same time, don’t start earlier than you should as the cold weather may still be around.
When you breed too early, your fry won’t be able to find a lot of food to eat. In this case, we are talking about mosquito wrigglers.
It is also worth noting that goldfish tend to spawn when there is a drastic change in weather. Hot weather followed by some rain will speed up the spawning process. The same holds true during the cooler weather where the increase in water temperature causes the fish to spawn sooner.
Read More: Is It Illegal to Fish with Goldfish? Important Facts Anglers Should Know
Final Thoughts
Overall, the practice of raising goldfish for bait is completely doable and easy.
You only have to make sure you use the right tools and the perfect location for raising your fish. A larger space is good for a number of reasons but you will have to protect your fish from predators nearby.
The most suitable climate condition also matters as it greatly impacts how fast or slow the fish spawn.
Just be sure to keep our tips in mind when raising goldfish for bait, and you can ensure their health and development to catch a bigger fish with your homemade baits!
