Kai: These are my Japanese Fantail gold fish. I have kept Fantails before, but never tried to breed them. I’ve heard double tail varieties are more challenging to breed than single tails, so this will be an interesting experience.
Continue reading Breeding FantailsTag Archives: Fish
Pet Animals on the Homestead
Kai: So how can “pet animals” benefit from permaculture and homesteading?
Continue reading Pet Animals on the HomesteadA Permaculture Fish System
Kai: When I first started breeding goldfish, I knew I wanted to do it in the most permaculture fashion I possibly could. This led me to challenge myself – no filters, no chemicals, no prepackaged fish food. To overcome the commercial ways, I partition the ponds often, and use an ecosystem strategy to keep them clean. When I partition water, it is used to water the garden instead of just getting dumped. It might be odd to say, but I did treat some ill fish naturally, and as for food, I used a Japanese method used for koi – feed from the garden! Meaning fruits, veggies, eggs and garden pests! This all worked well, but there were two things that I could not wrap my head around in the beginning. The first, was when fish would leap out of the ponds and kill themselves. The other, is when I put fry in seemingly “safe” crystal clear water, which caused them to perish. These were conundrums that first year.
Continue reading A Permaculture Fish SystemHow Water makes Permaculture Better
Kai: Water is an important feature in permaculture. Whether you are adding a pond, bird bath, rain barrel or other source to your yard, no matter how big or small, it enhances all aspects of the garden. Water attracts beneficial birds, insects, and reptiles, which eat many of the pests that would normally consume your garden.
Continue reading How Water makes Permaculture Better