Goldfish
are very popular pets and most people think of goldfish when they think of pet
fish. Like all other pets goldfish have their own special requirements
depending on their species that must be taken into consideration ensure a
healthy life and greater lifespan.
Tank size
The
size of the tank and the volume of water it holds needs to be determined by the
number and type of goldfish you wish to keep together. You also need to
consider the size of adult fish because if they grow larger than your
expectations you may have to get a bigger tank. Depending on the size of the
species it is recommended to add round 30 gallons for larger ones and almost 20
gallons for smaller ones.
Filters
Goldfish
are notorious for being really messy so it is up to you to ensure clean water
at all times. There are multi-purpose filters available along with other fish supplies at US pet stores or
online websites like www.lovemypets.com.
These filters trap large debris, catch smaller particles and have have
activated carbon for adsorbing dissolved impurities. There are also biological
filters that do a great job of promoting good bacteria and eliminating harmful
bacteria from the aquarium.
Aeration
Goldfish
need plenty of oxygen along with clean water to stay fit and active. They may
come close to the water surface to ingest a floating food particle and gulp in
oxygen but this may make them more buoyant than they should be. It is best to
have a high level of dissolved oxygen by using bubble wands or porous rocks.
Gravel and decoration
Goldfish
are curious eaters and may accidentally ingest smaller gravel so be sure to
layer their aquarium bed with large gravel. They also tend to eat live plants
so it is a better idea to have fake plants only. Also no sharp objects should
be placed within or any cave like openings where they may get stuck.
Temperature and pH
Goldfish
enjoy cold temperatures and are sensitive to abrupt and severe temperature
changes so only 2-3 degrees should be changed every day if required. They are
content with neutral pH but also thrive in slightly alkaline pH as well.
Living with other fish species
They
are not suited to living with tropical fish for a number of reasons like
movement, food and other preferences. There is also no need to introduce bottom
feeders like Plecostomus because goldfish do not leave any food leftovers and
also due to the latter’s love for the goldfish’s slime coating which can kill
the goldfish if attacked badly.
Food types
It
is a good idea to keep a variety of foods in your goldfish’s diet like live food,
pellets, flakes, freeze dried food and fresh or frozen leafy and green
vegetables. A high protein may be required if they are being bred or a high fiber
diet for the older ones. It is important to monitor the density of the food you
put in the tank to ensure that it is not floating which may cause buoyancy
issues as mentioned before.
Health care
The
most common threat to a goldfish’s health is Ich which is a tiny parasite that
attaches to the body, lives off its fluids and reproduces in huge numbers. You
can easily get rid of them by quality medication or adding salt along with a
drastic temperature increase. To prevent this infestation be mindful that the
temperature of water being mixed together matches because Ich develop due to
such temperatures. The swim bladder disease mostly occurs in goldfish who take
in too much air to reach food at the water’s surface. The prevention is simple.
Just try to increase food density by presoaking to ensure it sinks.
