Linzi's blog

I currently have a 21 litre tank which houses 6 White Cloud Mountain Minnows (Tanichthys albonubes). They are extremely well cared for, with a heater to maintain the water temperature, a filter which is powerful enough to replicate the conditions they would live in in the wild, an air pump on almost full flow to provide the right amount of oxygen, a plant to keep the nitrate levels in check (the filter looks after the ammonia and nitrite levels) and to provide shelter for them, plenty of light for the plant and them, and plenty of variety in their diet.

Very soon they will be re-housed in a tank between 60 and 120 litres with the conditions they are used to replicated, with the addition of some more plants and some new fish added.

You may wonder what I'm getting at with my post title.

Well, when I bought my tank, I was told a few lies which I will now list:

1. 21 litre tanks are suitible for 2 goldfish.

2. The fish will adapt to the tank.

3. You don't need to vary the diet of any fish.

These lies are told by a number of shops which sell these tanks and ones even smaller to unsuspecting people.

21 litre tanks are nowhere near large enough for 1 goldfish, never mind 2. Do not be fooled by this lie. The comet variety of goldfish, given as prizes on funfairs and the cheapest to buy, needs at least 80 litres of water to live in. That's a 160 litre tank for 2 at minimum. The smaller fancy varieties need at least 40 litres of water.

Yes, it may look like the fish you buy only grow to the size tank they are in. However, inside, their internal organs are still growing. That's why most only last a few years. In the wild the comet, which is from the carp family (that's what goldfish are - carps) can live for about 20-30 years. The fancy varieties should live about half that because they are more prone to problems due to the way they have been bred - short, round bodies, which cause swimbladder problems and make it hard to swim.

Variety in diet is important, and doesn't need to be expensive. My White clouds get a small pinch of fish flakes each day, but they also get Daphnia (a small planktonic crustacean which would be found naturally in the natural habitat of most tank fish) and brineshrimp (Artemia) once or twice a week. I am also looking at buying bloodworm for them. Most Goldfish species will eat fruit, crushed frozen peas, and cucumber in addition to their usual diet of flake or pellet food.

There is absolutely no reason to keep goldfish in cramped conditions. If you don't have room for the size tank they need, look at tropical fish instead. A small heater costs around £20 and light can easily be provided by placing a table lamp nearby. Tropical fish aren't even expensive unless you are looking at the larger fish. Most shops will sell you a shoal of 6 neon tetras, which look similar to the White Clouds for around £5-6. My own White Clouds cost £5.

They are lovely fish to watch, much more interesting to look at than goldfish and a lot easier to keep. This is a pic of 3 of mine. The one nearest the plant is called Andre.

Well, if the FEI sorts it's brain out enough to be able to tell it's arse from it's elbow and get the guts to upset the likes of Anky.
OK, time for definition: I normally use Rollkur when referring to slightly behind the verticle work that I do occasionally with Gypsy, although he has really calmed down now and no longer needs nor is worked in this outline.
In this post, Rollkur is defining the position where the horse's head is held a long way behind the verticle, in some cases against the chest. Today, we are referring to this extreme form of flexion.
Dr Uta von Borstel, of the University of Guelph in Ontario has been spending a lot of time researching the effects of Rollkur on horses, physically and mentally.
The findings show that Rollkur actually causes horses distress.
For the investigation, Dr von Borstel and her team took 15 horses and rode them in both the extremely hyperflexed position and the normal poll flexion position, using a seperate arena for each position. The horses learned to associate the differing techniques with the corresponding arenas.
The horses were then allowed to choose which arena to go into and 14 chose the non-rollkur ring.
The investigation also found that when the horses were ridden rollkur they had higher heart rates and reacted more markedly to frightening stimuli.
Last April the FEI issued a statement about rollkur which read:
"There are no known clinical side effects specifically arising from the use of hyperflexion (rollkur). However, there are serious concerns for a horse's wellbeing if the technique is not being practised correctly.
"The FEI condemns hyperflexion in any equestrian sport as an example of mental abuse. The FEI states that it does not support the practise."
Despite this, the FEI are said to be still considering whether or not to discipline riders using rollkur at FEI events. They are not currently, and unless the FEI gets off the fence and decides one way or another, they never will.
I'm sorry, but, I know that I sit a bit on the fence over this subject, leaning more toward the anti- brigade over the extreme form, but the FEI cannot have it both ways. They can not openly condemn rollkur and then say to the riders: "but don't worry, if we catch you using it, we won't do anything."
It just doesn't work.
Of course, the FEI don't want the likes of Anky van Grunsven, Isabelle Werth, and some prominent showjumping riders to up and leave the sport by cracking down on their training methods. But at the same time they can't say one thing and mean another.
If these riders are going to walk out on their sport just because the FEi decides to discipline them for using rollkur at an FEI event then do we really want them in the sport? Are they any better than the footballer who kisses the badge of his club after scoring a goal and then, as soon as a big club show an interest in him, demands a transfer?
As for me? Well, with Gypsy now much calmer in his work and happy to work collected movement, I can work him in the frame I want - uphill, elevated and flowing through from his hindlegs. Something I couldn't do with him without hystronics over the loss of ability to go 100mph last year.
Yes, he still gets a tad excited in canter work, but only to extent where I can get away with just bringing him back to walk on a circle line, and using the excitement to produce a more elevated walk. Last year I wouldn't have been able to get him to that stage and never envisioned it happening.