Goldfish.......is it true?

[Gormers]

Been cleaning water troughs out this aft, chap calls in while i'am doing said job and says "you've no need to do that boy"......"lob a goldfish in" . Hmmm thinks me, fishy tale perhaps .
Anyone done it?, do they keep tanks algae free?, any thoughts or opinions aprieciated

TIA Gormers

 

[ProDrive]

Seen a few water troughs with goldfish in, water is always crystal clear. But if the water was dirty you wouldn't see them anyhow, who knows, best get down the local coconut shy!!!

 

[Princess Pooper]

we had goldfish in our troughs for a few years til the heron had them. Impressive liveweight gains and the cows used to spend quite a bit of time watching them!

 

[Muck Spreader]

You got to careful of the fish introducing salmonella into the trough.

 

[buffalo_soldier]

I've heard of this, no idea whether its any good or not. If the goldfish are eating the algae something has to come out the back end surely.

 

[B&B Pig Man]

We put them in our troughs.
Mainly because my grandad was filling in his garden pond and wanted rid of his fish - so we took them out his way.

Can't really say I noticed any difference tbh.

 

[Danllan]

Expensive heron food! But I do like the way the cattle watch them.

 

[Dragline]

Used to have them in all the water troughs on the dairy. Worked good till winter came around when they were moved to a tank in the milk house

 

[Woolgatherer]

A farm I relief milk on have 2 in a water trough. They've been there for years now, grown quite big. They're out there all winter, the ice doesn't seem to be a problem, it's a very big trough though.the biggest problem is on summer when the cows are thirsty and all the water gets drunk. The fish go under the water inlet, you can see they're a bit desperate till the water level comes back! I'm not aware of any problems with disease in the cows, I know the fish wouldn't be there if they gave the farmer any cause for concern.

 

[Beef farmer]

Defiantly work. Just they will breed.... You've been warned! Went to a finishing unit in derby, 1400 cattle in yard, water troughs sparkling clean. But thousands of baby goldfish in troughs. Suppose as a sideline you could take em to the fair and give em away.

 

[Cowabunga]

Oddly, I've not seen a goldfish tank yet that didn't need regular cleaning of both the water and the glass.

 

[phil t]

We had them in our until water went off and cows emptied trough

 

[johnb5555]

Oddly, I've not seen a goldfish tank yet that didn't need regular cleaning of both the water and the glass.

Suppose in a trough they keep getting topped up with fresh water.

 

[Cowabunga]

Suppose in a trough they keep getting topped up with fresh water.

Yes, but the whole point is that they keep the water clean, especially in the periods when the cows aren't actually drinking, which may be up to 21 days in a rotational grazing system. Or I'm missing something fundamental.

 

[Sussex Martin]

What a coincidence, mentioned this to the wife on Friday when cleaning troughs, she popped into town on Saturday and came back with a dozen . Only tiny things so put four in each trough that had been cleaned, is this too many? Have another couple to clean so can thin them out a bit if necessary.

 

[jade35]

What a coincidence, mentioned this to the wife on Friday when cleaning troughs, she popped into town on Saturday and came back with a dozen . Only tiny things so put four in each trough that had been cleaned, is this too many? Have another couple to clean so can thin them out a bit if necessary.

We have some goldfish and shubunkins in the yard troughs. Think the young goldfish need to learn to eat the algae etc., have had a couple that have been poor doers but the others have done well and have grown away. They keep the sides of the troughs clean but the troughs still need a good clean out every now and then.

 

[Gone Shooting]

Had eels in the tanks when I was down under late 70s - ate all the larvae from mossies etc - used to catch them in the water wheels that measured usage on the flood irrigation.

 

[Gormers]

Thanks for the replies, think am going to try some. No point in waiting while Hull Fair arrives it will be too late, anyway i buggered my bowling arm up 25 years ago wrestling with a wayward stirk. Cant hit barn door at 10yards never mind winning goldfish at a coconut shy.
What do i ask for in the shop, (only ever asked for cod before), is there a particular type which is more suited?
Thanks once again,
Gormers

 

[Welsh Farmer]

I stand amazed Something new learnt every day on here. I'd never heard of this goldfish / trough thingy, how interesting

 

[multi power]

Defiantly work. Just they will breed.... You've been warned! Went to a finishing unit in derby, 1400 cattle in yard, water troughs sparkling clean. But thousands of baby goldfish in troughs. Suppose as a sideline you could take em to the fair and give em away.

We had a few in a tank in the house. We were moving away and didn't want to bring them so put them in a big pool where stone had been quarried from. A couple of years later there were hundreds of them