December 2004

GFSA Info

Members: Please fill out and submit your surveys! We are still accepting these into, yes, even December! Lost your survey form? For shame! But no problem, just send an email to editor Matt and tell him about your goldfish interests.

The September/October issue of the Report should appear in December. Take a look here for info on upcoming issues of the Goldfish Report and the publication schedule. Editor Matt has put out a number of updates and requests. We will finish up 2004 with the Report publishing schedule nearly back on track.

If you have let your membership lapse or have been thinking about joining the GFSA, now is a great time - here is a form you can print. To submit material for the Goldfish Report to editor Matt Lyon, please see the updated society contact info. Articles and photos in electronic form are particularly appreciated.

The current line-up of people filling the GFSA offices is on the society officers page. 

Interested in joining the GFSA but still not sure? We have two sample Goldfish Reports available to download, to demonstrate that every issue is packed with thought provoking information and pictures available nowhere else. We are also promoting an electronic membership option that significantly lowers the cost of membership.

Seasonal Advice

Many people are traveling away from home this time of year. What to do about the goldfish? Sometimes asking someone to take care of them is more dangerous than just letting them go hungry. Typically well fed adult goldfish will do fine for 1 to 2 weeks without food. A water change before you leave is a good idea, but make sure you do it long enough before you depart to be certain that there are no problems. Imagine realizing two hours into the drive to grandmother's house that you forgot to add dechlor to that tank you were changing before you rushed out the door! If you do have a neighbor who can stop in, you can pre-measure food into a cup and then ask them to stop in mid-week, check that the filters are running and toss the food into the tank ... not too much of an imposition and your fish get at least one feeding before you return. Plants in the tank are also another potential way to leave food for the fish while you are gone. But often it is safest to just let them go hungry for a little while.