Everything You Need To Know About
Goldfish
Almost!
What are Goldfish?
Goldfish are an incredibly popular fish - whether you've won one at the fair or searched for the snack in the grocery store, you've probably heard of this classic pet. They are mostly a cold water fish that need a lot of room to grow. There are many species and each one has its own personality and requirements.
Should You Get A Goldfish?
"I only have room for something small."
"I need something easy."
"I have less than a 10 gallon aquarium."
"I want multiple types of fish."
"I have a 10+ gallon aquarium."
"I want a lot of fish!"
Goldfish Species
NAME
DESCRIPTION
EXAMPLE
MAX SIZE
ORANDA
They are characterized by a prominent bubble-like "hood" on the head
6-7"
FANTAIL
They possess an egg-shaped body, a high dorsal fin, a long quadruple caudal fin, and no shoulder hump
8"
COMET
They are "slightly smaller and slimmer, and [...] mainly distinguished by its long deeply forked tail"
12"
TELESCOPE
EYES
4-6"
NAME
DESCRIPTION
MAX SIZE
RYUKIN
They are "a short deep-bodied fancy goldfish with a characteristic hump in the shoulder region"
8"
RANCHU
They have a "longer back and a curved profile. The tail is more erect and they have a long, wide head with a head growth that takes on a rectangular shape"
6-8"
PEARLSCALE
They have "thick, domed scales with pearl-like appearance [...] its body is round and similar to a golf ball. The finnage may be long or short"
4"
LIONHEAD
They have "longer, straighter backs, fuller head-growth all around - including cheeks, and the tail fin is more erect.
6"
They are a type "of fancy goldfish with upward-pointing eyes that are accompanied by two fluid-filled sacs"
- a dorsal-less fish
BUBBLE EYE
3-4"
EXAMPLE
What You Need:
1. Fish Tank
2. Heater
3. Water Conditioner
4. Gravel + Decor
5. Plants
6. Fish Food
7. The FISH!
10 - 55+ Gallon Tank
-
I recommend starting with at least 10 gallons and then upgrading when necessary
-
You can easily purchase a kit that comes with a tank, filter, and an LED equipped lid
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Having a stronger filter is better, goldfish are very messy
-
Goldfish should have a source of lighting on a consistent day/night cycle
Heater
-
Goldfish should be kept in temperatures around 60-72 °F to be happy and healthy
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If their water temperature dips below 60 °F then you should add a programmable heater to keep the temperature consistent
-
Get a thermometer so you always know the temperature
-
Make sure to unplug the heater when you are doing large water changes
1-3 gallon tank =
5 or 7.5 watt heater
3-5 gallon tank =
10 watt heater
5-10 gallon tank = 50 watt heater
Sand and Decor
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I recommend aquarium sand for goldfish because standard aquarium gravel can be a choking hazard for the goldfish
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Always purchase aquarium safe sand and rinse it with hot water to get off any dust or debris
-
Never boil or use soap on your gravel
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I recommend soft decor for goldfish - rounded edges are preferred
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You will need 1 lb of sand for every 1 gallon in a standard tank
Plants
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Real plants produce oxygen and help naturally filter the tank
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I recommend the Anubias species for goldfish because they are hardy and can survive in colder water
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Goldfish will dig up most planted roots so another option is floating plants
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Duckweed is an amazing floating plant that your goldfish can munch on
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If you want fake plants then I recommend silk instead of plastic
Water Conditioner
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It's important to get water conditioner to make your water safe for the goldfish
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You can use tap/sink water in your tank WITH conditioner to neutralize chlorine or any metals that might be present - testing your water parameters is very important
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You can also purchase pre-treated water from pet supply stores or use bottled water - however, the mineral content may vary
-
Don't use local pond/lake/river or rain water
Fish Food
Learn about testing your water parameters!
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There are 5 types of food - flakes, pellets, freeze-dried, live, and frozen
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Pellets with occasional frozen food/bugs/vegetables is the best diet for goldfish
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Protein (shrimp/worms/larvae) should be the first ingredient in the pellets
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Avoid fillers like wheat flour or rice meal
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Always thaw your frozen food before feeding
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Feed 3-5 pieces of food per goldfish twice a day
The GoldFish
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A good "rule of thumb" is 1 goldfish per 10 gallons of water
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Goldfish can only live with goldfish or other cold-water, peaceful fish like minnows
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Goldfish produce a lot of ammonia so it's important to have strong filtration and weekly water changes
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Add your water and turn on your filter before adding your goldfish
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Add startup bacteria at least 1-5 days before adding your goldfish
How To Take Care Of Your Aquarium:
Click Me!
Learn about the nitrogen cycle before adding fish!