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Keeping Goldfish

Although goldfish are considered to be the ideal fish for beginners, this is actually not the case.

Although goldfish are considered to be the ideal fish for beginners, this is actually not the case. Goldfish are coolwater fish that need lots of space and high concentrations of dissolved oxygen in their water. Compared to many types of tropical fish, goldfish are large fish, with greater body size for their length. Maintaining good water quality for goldfish means dealing with the increased amount of waste products these larger fish produce, and making sure the water is well-aerated and not too warm, so they have sufficient oxygen in the water. Fancy goldfish have the same requirements, but should not be kept in water cooler than 60 degrees Fahrenheit. To avoid overstocking a goldfish aquarium, there should be approximately 20 gallons of water, or more, for each adult fish - regular goldfish can grow to almost a foot, and fancy goldfish can attain a length of 6 inches and more. Goldfish need a lot of vegetable matter in their diet - cooked, slightly mashed peas are an excellent supplement to high-quality goldfish foods.


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Reader Comments
Hmmmm. Not very convincing. I know the whole "goldfish are very big fish" thing and the bowl thing (kudos to the Tippits on 'Bowled Over') but what about, say, keeping them in a pond? I wouldn't know much cause I never kept them- my mom saved me from a then-attractive tiny bowl containing 6 Shubunkins at age 9 and I went into tropicals 2 years later. This was with a 10-gallon tank given from a friend because he was upgrading to a larger for you guessed it- goldfish. (That time I was deterred by Petco's utter lack of healthy "common" goldfish and the fact the tank has a heater. I'm sorry but bubbleheads are just creepy!!!
Goldie, Eureka, CA
Posted: 7/22/2009 6:19:33 PM
I personelly started out with a goldfish I won at a fair when I was 5. I took good care of it and only because of a birth defect did it die a year later (typical for that breed). I find with the right direction that GOLDFISH are one of the easiest fish to care for. just get the right filter and right tank. now see I take good care of my fish, and becuause there previous 20 gal tank broke I have 24 goldfish in a 10 gal tank, and some are imbetween 1-3 inches and 1-6 in. But because I change the filter and change the water the fish act normal and are happy. so if taken care of properly the fish are easy to take care of. Betta's I would say are the easiest though. again though with some direction is needed before every purchaseing a fish. And don't get a super pretty one, basically meaning the prettier the more expensive and also the harder to take care of. (not in the case of betta's though).
Hannah, Molalla, OR
Posted: 3/20/2009 8:32:35 PM
While I applaud (HEAVILY) the idea behind this article, I believe that more information would have been helpful to people considering keeping goldfish. Something more than just, "how goldfish are challenging and that's why you shouldn't have them", because with so little info, that's how it comes off. Sometimes the best way to make people realize that goldfish can be challenging is to actually present all of those challenges. Things to include in future article that I would like to see possibly included: Appropriate filtration as compared to tropical fish, and how much more expensive it can be; their complex diet requirements, and how a lack thereof can lead to chronic constipation, especially in fancies; pointing out that keeping fancies and commons together is often not a good idea, due to the differences in the breeds requirements and food competition problems; fancies and "feeders" with their tendencies toward disease. . . It would also be nice to maybe summarize such an article about the positives of keeping goldfish in their proper environment, and how rewarding they can really be, but only if you have the money, the time, and the dedication.
Julie, Portland, OR
Posted: 3/12/2009 9:06:09 AM
Great advice for goldfish keepers!
Brian, Greer, SC
Posted: 3/31/2008 5:24:34 PM
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