Pictures Of the Week (2003)

These are pictures that the members voted on during the weeks. Photos are submitted to me by members of the board. Then posted and everyone votes on the one they like. Theres no rhyme nor reason of which one gets picked.....

	12-29-2003/12-31-2003 She's called Minstrel and I've only had her for a few months although we've been through a lot together. She was the first fish I've ever ordered online and had delivered through the post and it wasn't a good experience for either of us. She arrived after being packed up for 48 hours and was physically shaking with fright. I put her into a dark tank to let her calm down and immediately saw that she was riddled with fish lice so had to pick them all off with tweezers which she really wasn't impressed with. She thrashed about so much to show her annoyance and I had loads of water splashed in my face! We got rid of the lice but she was covered in open sores and looked terrible. Then she got the worst case of ich I've ever seen and was very poorly but pulled through that. Then, I discovered she had gill maggots as well. We are over them now (I hope!) and she is making a great recovery and looking lovely for the first time since I've had her. She still has one open wound near her tail which is being a bit stubborn about healing but hopefully that will be gone soon. Poor old thing she is, but throughout she's been a little fighter and has such a great character as the piccie shows! Ooo I'm so chuffed about this it's unreal! Minstrel's going to get a special treat for supper now as a reward (probably a prawn, her fave) so no doubt will be over the moon too! oo I'm gonna open a bottle of wine to celebrate! lol ~Fishyfan~
	12-22-2003/12-28-2003 Ritz was purchaced at petsmart about 10 month ago. She is a Ruykin Ribbon tail. She does have a habbit of sleeping near the top of the tank instead of down on the bottom like the rest. Sometimes I think that maybe she dont like to get her tail in the rocks and all dirty. I thank you for voting for my pretty goldfish. ~Hidr~
	12-15-2003/12-21-2003 WOW....I am so thrilled!!!! This is Fish with no name. We've had him for about 8 months and he is named som, because as a new fish keeper (knowing NOTHING) every GF we got kept dying. When we got FWNN we vowed not to give him a name for fear of jinxing him! He is now HUGE and a little piggie. He has been ill for a little bit - 8 weeks or so, flashing like crazy and we've treated him a lot - not through choice, more sheer desparation. We're still on the case though!! So wish us luck So Happy to get pic of the week!!!! ~scousersharon30~
	12-08-2003/12-14-2003 This is a picture of Frost, my female lionhead. I have had her since July, 2003 and she is just the sweetest, most placid little fish. She is now about 3" in body length and she shares a tank with Pegasus, the ribbon tail. I first saw Frost at a local fish store, and I really wasn't in the market for a new fish. I went home without her, but I barely slept all that night, just knowing that I had to go the next day and get her. I called the shop to make sure she was still there, then drove the hour each way to make her mine :D I also bought two of her tankmates, Griffin and Granite. Griffin is a blue and white male lionhead and Granite is a blue male lionhead. ~touchofsky~
	12-01-2003/12-07-2003 This is from the bigger side of the pond. Porkchop is my biggest and friendliest Oranda. He never misses a meal!! It doesn't matter where in the pond he is, as soon as he sees me he is up to the top beggin for attention. ~Debi0825~
	11-17-2003/11-23-2003 The red cap oranda with the red stripe down his back is Odie (left). The orange oranda is Garfield (right). I got both of them from Walmart in July 03. The names at first couldn't of fit any better. As soon as they got home they started chasing each other's tail in a circle like a dog does. They have since dropped this act and have taken personalities to match their cartoon names. Odie is very friendly, while Garfield is around for the food. Currently, both reside in the 75 gallon tank, and are about 3" nose to tail tip. Thanks again everyone!! ~pm94~
	11-10-2003/11-16-2003 She was christened Snow White by Erica and Danice. We got her when we went to the GF show in Illinois months back. She's the biggest in the tank but is the least aggresive compared to her two other tankmates, pinky and nemo. ~goldfanatic~
	11-03-2003/11-09-2003 Well, Patches and I say a big THANK YOU for all your votes! He is definetely a big boy(6 inches), and I got him about 3 weeks ago from John Cheung. I couldnt help it, I needed to see some decent goldfish, so I went on a 3 hour drive home, and brought home Patches and his companion, a red/white ryukin. Patches is the crazier one of the two, and the both of them are now entertaining themselves with a calico ryukin girl in a 55 gl tub. I hope I get some offspring off of him, he is a darling. And yes, he comes to the show next year in Orlando, hopefully still a tri color, not a red/white! ~RanchuGirl~
	10-27-2003/11-2-2003 Everyone, meet Wendell!. Wendell is a blue oranda I bought from my LFS when he was about 3 inches. I love watching Wendell swim with his long flowing tail. He is quite a "show off", and a pig as well. Wendell and I would like to thank everyone for their votes, and he send kisses to all the ladies, and a high five to all the men. ~Jed~
	10-20-2003/10-26-2003 For now, I call him a HIM. Thank you very much for voting for my little (4 1/2 - 5") Black Lionhead. His name is Ziggy Stardust. He is a very strong swimmer despite is rather stout appearance. He is also quite the clown - swimming upside down, riding the bubbles from the air diffusers, and very very happy when he is eating (obviously). He lives in a 40g stretch hex tank (in my bedroom) with another Lionhead, a small Ranchu, and a small Peachhead Oranda. They really enjoy each other. We got him from Jo Ann Burke ( formerly Dandy Orandas). He was imported, by Jo Ann, from China back in the Spring and we immediately picked him out from a tank of other Black Lionheads because of his extremely cute "puppy face". ~DivineGf~
	10-13-2003/10-19-2003 Everyone, meet Butterfly! She's a calico oranda from the Goldfish Connection. Butterfly is known as "Ms. Princess" of the tank because she has that attitude about herself. I also love taking pictures of her because she's so photogenic. Butterfly and I would like to thank everyone for their votes and she sends hugs and kisses to you all. ~JED~
	10-06-2003/10-12-2003 Hi everyone, Bara enjoyed having his ego stroked by being voted for "pic of the week"! I've only had him a few months but expect he will be a part of my life for years to come. He and his tankmate Kuro, also a moor, share a 20 gallon oasis between the living and dining rooms. Bara is an outgoing, domineering, in-your-face kind of guy. He is 2 and 3/4 inches long (tail included) but growing fast. He is quite inquisitive and will taste everything in the tank, from the filter intake to the airstone and all the plants/decorations/rocks. He also like to ride the bubblestream up to the surface, to swim dangerously close to the siphon, and beg for food from anyone who glances in the tank! Thanks for picking Bara everyone :-) . ~Melle~
	9-29-2003/10-05-2003 Thank you Everyone that voted for her. This is Fiona, My Blue, Choco Oranda. I found her at a Petsmart that is about an hour drive from my house. She is ment to breed with Pharoh but that is still remains to be seen.....Shes about 6" long from tip to tail tip. Shes a very gental but energetic fish. ~koko~
	9-22-2003/9-28-2003 Everyone, meet Strawberry! She is a ranchu I bought while visiting the Goldfish Connection. I could not pass up that mohawk with those red lips. She is also a spunky little one and a joy to watch as well. Strawberry and I would like to thank everyone for their votes and she sends hugs and kisses to you all. ~JED~
	9-15-2003/9-21-2003 This is a picture of "'Lil Blue", who is SUPPOSED to be a blue butterfly-tail Demekin - however I think he is more silver than blue. He is about 3 years old and about 4-5 inches long. He is a very gentle fellow, and can always be counted upon to eat from anyone's fingers if I want to show off how friendly a fish is. He is a diplomat of goldfish ~Daryl~
	9-08-2003/9-14-2003 Well, it is basically the same fish from my first pic of the week, Memo, but six months older. The Progold made a huge difference... he is now 4.5 inches long with a very nice caudal fin. He spends most of the day sleeping and becomes very active when me and my wife have dinner. I guess he loves our company! ~kingyo~
	9-01-2003/9-07-2003 This is Stripe, due to his tiger striping. He was one of my first fish I got in early Jan. of 03 from Walmart. He is my resident bad boy and my biggest fish, but has mellowed lately. He is only one of two fantails I have.(the rest are all Orandas) He is about 4" nose to base of tail. Currently he is residing in my 75 gal tank. The picture doesn't do his color justice, much more vivid! ~pm94~
	8-25-2003/8-31-2003 This is Mad-Eye Moody. I have only had him for about 3 months. When i went to the fish store to get two new fishies, I saw him in a tank of all 'black moors.' I thought that he was really special because of his eye markings, but he was pretty straggly - really bad torn fins, and a chunk missing out of his dorsal fin. But I decided to get him anyways. After a couple of weeks treating with melafix and treating for tail/fin rot, I am proud to say that he is completely healed, and growing FAST. He is now about four inches.... and a BIG eater. I'm pretty certain that he is partially blind, but as soon as I come up to the tank, he swims to the top and starts doing laps with his mouth open hoping to get food! I love him so much, and feel so lucky to have him to take care of. ~bbqvalefore~
	8-18-2003/8-24-2003 This is Prawnball (actually the name for a kind food that is like fishball, but made of prawn meat). my miniature ranchu. He is abt 3inch in size and I first got him early this year. I bought him as he had the sweetest look on his face while he was swimming in the tank with many other ranchus and pearlscales. One thing really cute about him is that he gets really excited during feeding time and he sort of "lost his balance" in the water! I felt really lucky ever since the day i bought him, 'cos its a small price to pay for a gold nugget like him! e|3nA! ~e|3nA~
	8-4-2003/8-17-2003 First I want to thank everyone for voting for my babies! The first pic is of my ryukin named Plumpy. Ive had her since I set up my 55gal tank which was a few days after Christmas (2002) from Petsmart! So she will soon be 2 years old. When I first got her she was so scared but eventually she warmed up and got used to me. Now she is always following my hand when I syphon the tank and always looking for food! She's really good at taking pics, loves to pose for the camera as you can tell. Next is my blue oranda Sparkles and my choco oranda FroFro. They lived in the 55gal. I got Sparkles right around the time that I got Plumpy and I got FroFro in the summer of 2002. Sparkles was such a sweet little fish. Would always follow you around the tank. FroFro was a really funny fish that always made you laugh not only because of his name but of how he acted! Sadley they both died a few months ago. Sparkles got dropsy and FroFro died just a few days later. So I'm so glad they got voted as pic of the week so they can be remembered. ~fishfaye~
	7-28-2003/8-03-2003 Well, her name is Daisy, and she is a crowned pearlscale. I only have her for a few months now, and was very happy when I saw a tank full of them in a store. The very first crowned ones I ever saw locally. I didnt take her right away, and drove back a few days later to finally give in.. She is a darling, a little shy at first, but came out of hiding after a while, and is now very much with her face right on the glass all the time... She is very honored to make Picture of the week on our new board! ~Ranchugirl~
	7-28-2003/8-03-2003 Thank's everyone for voting for my little 3" Oranda. His name is Fu Manchu. Because of the "eyebrows and moustache" we almost named him Groucho - but Fu Manchu seemed to fit his oriental origin better. It was those markings that instantly made him "jump out us" at our LFS. The eyebrows are almost identical in size/shape and the 'stache just pulls it all together into a rather comical, yet ferocious expression. This photo caught him in his favorite position - mouth wide open. When he is not using that big mouth to scoop up all the food so "nobody else can get some" he is using it to nip my hand as I vacuum the tank ~Divine~
	7-21-2003/7-27-2003 This is Pearl, my large fantail. I got her a year and a half ago. She was 5 inches long then. Now she is a little over 7 inches long. She is the biggest of my adult fish. She has the funniest personality of the group. When I accidently bump the tank, she hides behind the driftwood and peeks out at me with her fins flared and twitching. She like to play a silly game too. I will get in front of the tank with my face at tank level to face her. When I shake my head back and forth real fast, so will she. After a minute or so, she will streak a big circle around the tank and face me again to start all over before doing another lap. What a silly girl! ~lionheadfancier~
	7-14-2003/7-20-2003 Thanks everybody for voting for my pic! Well, her name is Brainy. She is a choco oranda that caught my eye because she looked so tiny and cute at the LFS. She doubled her size in just a couple of months. I discovered that this fish was a female when she spawned at the end of June. She loves Progold pellets and nibbling on plants. ~kingyo88~
	7-7-2003/7-13-2003 Thanks everyone, he's a runt I bought from Rick about a year and a half ago. He has beautiful markings and a nice wen but he's a small fry. He's my favorite though in fact that's his name.When I got him he was all white except for the red markings. Over time he's gotten a brassy tone to his scales. I think it's the pro-gold. ~loub516~
	6-30-2003/7-6-2003 Thanks everyone! My story for him goes this way. Was planning to get a ranchu and luck came when a LFS imported them. In this tank were very healthy big fat ranchus and there was this tiny little fellow that caught my eye. You know, it was so funny so see this adorable little one swimming together with the giants so i couldn't resist to pick him up and bring him home . Was timid at first but now he's a family member. Though he is eating well now, he is still not growing much so I've decided to name him little dot for the patch of red on top of his head. He has really been a bundle of joy for me and will love him always ~BeachSky~
	6-23-2003/6-29-2003 This is Buster, and he is the most aggresive fish I have when I periodically feed earthworms. He will snatch them away from the other fish and then race all over the tank with the entire worm hanging out of his mouth like a rope until he has swallowed it all. On a good night, I got the most hilarious photos of him with this worm, if you would like to see the others I think Koko has posted them under my members pics. It was even funnier because he was so mad at the other fish trying to nip at his worm...If goldfish could, I think he would have growled at them! LOL! Thanks everyone, Love always, Karen ~darkmoondreamer~
	6-16-2003/6-22-2003 An older gentleman could no longer care for his 6 goldfish. He donated them to the local pet store. When I went down to the pet store, only one was left. He had been there for quite some time waiting for someone to take him home. He was the most beautiful thing when I first saw him. Cute bulging eyes with awesome calico coloring on his body. His tail was something I had never seen. Almost the same length as his body, it was completely black with some white stripes in it. I had to have him. I took him home and noticed right away he was different. He did barrel rolls in the tank, rapid circling, running into a lot of things. I thought he was just stressed from having a new home. It was a little later when Emma made a comment about her half blind goldie that I realized mine may be blind as well. The good folks here helped me identify his problem as cloudy eye, and he's being treated for it now. He is the sweetest goldie that has just now taken up to rubbing against my hand and not running from me. I haven't been able to decide on a name yet, but when it comes, I'll let you all know! ~Sapphyra~
	6-9-2003/6-15-2003 This is Dudley, and his personality is a little like Barney Fife! He is alot of fun, and loves to do really elaborate barrel rolls and flips as he swims. He was very shy when I first brought him home from LFS, you may remember I posted a picture of him hiding in one corner all day because I thought he was ill? He is a wonderful and silly fish and gives me alot of enjoyment. He has grown tremendously since I've gotten him, he is now about 8". Thank you everyone! Love always, Karen ~darkmoondreamer~
	6-02-2003/6-08-2003 That is all five of the goldies that I own that are in my 55 gallon. Pictures from left to right are my ryukin, fantail, moor, oranda, and pearlscale. I have had them for the past 7-9 months. The shortest is the pearl at about 5" and the longest is the moor at almost 8" now but by far the largest is the oranda. ~Jetman73~
	6-02-2003/6-08-2003 This is Chester, she is about 2 years old. I found her at Petsmart and thought she was a choco at the time but when I got her home I realized that she was a Green Oranda.....much to my surprise they aren't that common. Oh and she think shes an algae eater, eating all the algae in the tank, lol ~Koko~
	5-26-2003/6-01-2003 This is my female ranchu and her name is Einstein. Originally I thought she might be a male, but I just hatched her very first spawn. I got her a year ago when she was just two inches long. She is about 4 and a half inches long now. She considers herself the queen of the tank and bullies the others when fed sinking food. When I clean the tank she is always nipping at me. ~lionheadfancier~
	5-19-2003/5-25-2003 That is my calico oranda and his name is Groucho. I call him Groucho because of his black mustache and around one eye(the one you can't see) he has a thick black eyebrow. He is the newest addition to my babies and he is a pistol! He is very outgoing and is the first to come eat from my hand. I got him about 3 months ago. He is about 3 inches long and I chose him because of his pretty color. His wen isn't as large as I would have liked, but he is still a little doll. ~lionheadfancier~
	5-12-2003/5-18-2003 When I started caring for goldfish, Tweety was the first fish I got. I thought he was so cute with his white body and yellow and orange/red head. I thought he looked just like a little chicken in the face or like Tweety Bird from the cartoons(hence, his name). He was alone for a month while the tank cycled before he got any roomies. Tweety was a tank bully when his new friends first arrived, but is now the shyest of the bunch. He was around two inches long when I got him a little over a year ago and is now around five inches long. Being new at this, I feel really lucky that he has been so healthy and has thrived. It makes one proud. He is currently trying to make baby Tweeties with my large fantail. I think he will always be my favorite. ~lionheadfancier~
	5-5-2003/5-11-2003 Simeon is my calico ryukin that I bought about a week after I started working at the pet store. Hes from Indonesia. I just saw this fish swimming in a tank of about a hundred other calicoes and just fell in love with him! Hes grown a lot since I got him and seems really happy in my main tank now. Hes holding his own against the big comets! Anyway, thanks again everyone for voting for him! ~jsrtist~
	4-28-2003/5-4-2003 Memo my red telescope. I got him from my local Petsmart two years ago. He was about one and a half inches long and was half black and half red. As time went by he began to loose the black coloring. Today he is about three inches long and the proud father of a bunch of fries that hatched last week ! He is really spoiled 'cause he likes to eat treats from my fingers. I am really fond of this fish. **kingyo88**
	4-21-2003/4-27-2003 That is a picture of my 7" black and gold oranda Pepe. When I got him about 6 months ago he was almost completely black. If he keeps changing this fast I would guess in about 6 more months he will be completely orange and white. **Rob**
	4-14-2003/4-20-2003 Pearl is a Hama Nishiki or crowned pearlscale. She is very sweet and friendly, but her biggest characteristic is her liveliness. She is very busy and happy, swimming madly in bubbles all day. She has one blue eye and two bubbles on her head and a very large tail. I rescued her from poor conditions at a discount pet store, and she has certainly brightened our lives with her cheerful disposition. Best wishes, Kiko
	4-7-2003/4-13-2003 I got Choccie from my lfs 1 month ago with my ryukin! Hes about 3 inches and supposed to be black..but i think is turning brown.. .He(or she??) is very cute!!! Especially during feeding time, he/she will eat from my fingers, and allow me to pet him..hhehehe..he is my favourite baby and will come to greet me all the time!!! shiokk
	3-31-2003/4-6-2003 I've had Right?, my white comet, since about 1995. He was a tiny white "feeder fish" when I got him. I didn't know much about keeping fish at first, but he's a strong fish and has survived. He's now about 9" long, with his flowing tail making up about half that length! He's the sweetest, friendliest fish I've ever seen and follows me around the room and eats from my hand. ~jsrtist~
	3-24-2003/3-30-2003 I had being going freqently to my lfs, wanting to choose my fishy, whilst waiting for my fishless cycle to complete. Then this adorable ryukin would keep following my finger on the glass. i instantly fell in love with him! i would always go to the lfs to check if anyone had bought him yet...but noone had yet...suspensful couple of weeks!!! hehe . his name is Adukin..sounds like ryukin right? hehehehe! shiokk
	3-17-2003/3-23-2003 Ive had Darcy since last summer. He's around 5" now. That pic is abit old though, taken before he started loosing his black so he looks quite different now.He's grown SO much since I had him first though. -Sica
	3-10-2003/3-16-2003 Caesar was my first Rick Hess fish. I won him at one of the GF Connection auctions. I remember checking to see who had the highest bid every morning. I was really bent on getting this fish! Then, five minutes before the auction ended(as was TuffysMommy's advice) I made my first bid and won him! He has turned out to be such a porker. I really do love him in spite of it and he is a wonderful addition to my little golden herd. -Diane
	3-03-2003/3-09-2003 I got Mr.T from a petsmart about 4 months ago. He was a black and orange Oranda about 3" long. Hes now about 6" long and his wen never stops growing. Hes a very mellow fish and loves to play around with his friend Dede. ~Koko~
	1-24-2003/3-02-2003 I adopted Wiggles from PetSmart. He was the first fish we brought home. He lives with Glitter (my wife's fish) and Hailey (my daughter's fish). He was about 2" long, including tail, when we met in December 2002. Now he is about 3" long. Wiggles is one of the family now and greats me with excitement every time he sees me. ~ Grant ~
	1-16-2003/1-23-2003 That was the last fish I got and since I wanted a ryukin I had too drive 30 miles to a petsmart in tampa too get him/her. He is about 4.5" in that photo which was taken over a month ago and now about 5". His/Her name is Saku. I have had him about 4 months now. **Rob**