Goldfish care sheet | PetMD

Overview of Goldfish Types

Goldfish are one of the most popular types of fish to keep as pets, and this care guide will teach you the basics you need to know about caring for different types of goldfish.

It’s a common misconception that goldfish “grow to the size of their tank.” However, goldfish continue to grow throughout their lives and can get quite large if properly cared for. Here are some other interesting facts about goldfish:

• Goldfish produce more waste than other fish of their size, so they need a tank with strong filtration.

• Goldfish are very social animals and will come to recognize their owners over time.

• Goldfish are slow swimmers and prefer calm, slow-moving water.

• Over time, your goldfish will happily learn to feed from your hand.

Characteristics of Goldfish

Goldfish Supplies

To care for your goldfish, you will need the following basic supplies:

Goldfish tank

Goldfish can be kept in aquariums or ponds, and at the very least, one fingerling goldfish will require at least 20 gallons of space.

As your goldfish grows, you will need to increase the size of their tank. As a rule of thumb, goldfish require at least 5 gallons of tank space for every inch of body length.

All goldfish tanks should have secure lids that close tightly to prevent escapes. Always provide the largest habitat possible, as small tanks will not provide consistent water quality.

What other fish can live with goldfish?

Goldfish can be kept alone or in groups in a large enough tank or pond. The size and number of fish you want to keep in your tank will determine the size of your tank.

Goldfish can also be kept in the same tank as cold-water fish that can tolerate low temperatures, such as white cloud minnows, zebrafish, and other goldfish.

New fish should be introduced to the aquarium gradually, and pet owners should remember that introducing new fish will change the aquarium’s ammonia, pH and nitrate levels, so these parameters should be closely monitored after adding new fish.

Fish should not be kept in overcrowded tanks, as this situation often leads to stress and disease in the tank.

Goldfish tank filtration

a Filter System A filter is an essential part of any aquatic habitat. In addition to keeping your aquarium clean, a filter removes harmful toxins, such as ammonia, from your aquarium water and adds oxygen to the water so your fish can breathe.

Power filters (also called “hanging back” filters) and external canister filters are recommended as they provide effective mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration and take up little space in the aquarium. Generally, goldfish prefer water with slow to moderate circulation.

Tip: Aquarium filters should be powerful enough to process all the water in your tank at least four times an hour. For example, an aquarium filter with a flow rate of at least 80 gallons per hour (GPH) is ideal for a 20-gallon aquarium. If the only options are 50 or 100 GPH filters, pet owners should always size up and purchase the 100 GPH option.

Goldfish Water Health

Test your aquarium water regularly to ensure temperature, pH, ammonia, nitrate and nitrite levels are stable and within safe ranges. Aquarium Test Kit It can be used to quickly and accurately measure key water quality parameters.

Goldfish water temperature

Goldfish should be kept in water temperatures between 65-75 F. Goldfish thrive in cool environments, so tropical aquariums are not suitable. Goldfish water temperature should not fluctuate more than +/- 2 degrees in a 24-hour period.

Do goldfish need a heater?

install Submersible heater A thermostat can help control the water temperature and keep it within an ideal range, especially if you live in a cold climate or experience cold seasons.

You should use an aquarium thermometer to check the water temperature in your aquarium every day.

When choosing a heater for goldfish, owners should keep a few things in mind.

Larger tanks, those with a tank capacity of over 50 gallons, should have two small heaters installed on opposite sides of the tank to prevent cold spots in the water.

Goldfish tank decoration

NoteGoldfish are slow-moving fish and don’t move around much, so make sure you don’t overcrowd the tank with decorations and that there is enough space for them to swim.

substrate

The bottom of your goldfish tank should be filled with 1-2 inches of freshwater sand, gravel, or pebbles. Be sure to rinse the gravel under clean running water before placing it in the tank. Avoid using gravel that is small enough for fish to swallow.

Goldfish can live in “bare bottom” tanks without a substrate, but substrate helps enrich the fish’s environment and provides more surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow.

Aquariums require about 1.5 pounds of substrate for every gallon of water in the tank. For example, a 10 gallon tank will require about 15 pounds of substrate to create a 1-2 inch layer.

Hide decorations

There should be plenty of hiding places in the tank for your goldfish to feel safe and secure in. Make sure to rinse all goldfish decorations thoroughly before placing them in the tank.

plants to plant in goldfish tank

Plants for your goldfish tank should include live and artificial plants that also create hiding places in their habitat.

Goldfish are known to eat any plant in their habitat, so look for hardy plants like anubias, java fern, and hornwort.

The plants should be secured firmly to the bottom of the tank so they don’t fall over and injure the fish.

How to clean a goldfish tank

Pet owners can keep their goldfish tanks well-maintained by performing regular water changes (no more than 10-25% of the tank’s total water volume) every 2-4 weeks.

When cleaning a goldfish tank, any newly added water should be conditioned to be the same temperature and the same salinity (salt concentration) as the existing water in the tank.

Uneaten food should be removed from the tank daily using a fine mesh net.

Do not drain and replace all of the water in the tank as this will remove the beneficial bacteria in the tank that keeps the habitat ecosystem healthy.

Most aquariums will require a thorough cleaning once a month, depending on the number of fish and invertebrates in the tank.

Goldfish Food

Feed your goldfish a mix of flakes, pellets, frozen, and freeze-dried foods. Look for foods that are specially formulated for goldfish, as they require more carbohydrates than other species.

Goldfish need variety in their diet to stay healthy and should not be fed the same food every day.

How often do you feed your goldfish?

Goldfish should be fed a small amount once a day depending on their size and species, and should never be given more food than they can eat within a minute or two.

When goldfish are offered food, they will eat, even if it means overeating to their detriment. Overeating can cause serious health problems, increase waste and lead to high ammonia levels in the tank.

“Sinking” food helps prevent your goldfish from swallowing too much air while eating, which can cause bloating and buoyancy problems. Sinking pellets are hard pellets that will gradually sink and settle to the bottom of the tank if not eaten.

Goldfish Care Tips

To keep your goldfish healthy, keep these habitat tips in mind:

After adding any new fish or new equipment to your goldfish tank, it is important to test the tank water quality once a week for at least two months to ensure that pH, nitrite, ammonia, nitrate, carbonate and general hardness levels are in the ideal range.

If test results after two months are safe and consistent, pet owners can reduce water testing to once a month. Water test kits have an expiration date and should be replaced annually.

Pet owners should monitor their goldfish tanks and refill the water as needed. Before adding new water to the tank, Water Conditioner Removes toxic chemicals such as chlorine, chloramines and heavy metals.

The filter, water temperature and other equipment in your goldfish tank should be checked daily for proper functioning. Depending on the water conditions and the number of fish in the tank, the filter should be changed monthly or simply rinsed out with old tank water during a water change.

Pet owners should follow the use, care, and maintenance instructions provided by the filter system manufacturer.

When rinsing the filter media, do not use hot water, bleach or chemicals as these will kill the beneficial bacteria that keep your aquatic habitat safe, clean and stable.

Do not replace all the filters in your tank at the same time as this may remove beneficial bacteria from the tank. Uneaten food should be removed from the tank daily. Food can be removed with a fine mesh fish net or a siphon vacuum cleaner.

Veterinary Care for Goldfish

Yearly Care

If you have a properly sized tank and are maintaining it properly, changing the water every week or two, and testing the water every other week or month, then it’s okay to only call in the vet if there’s a problem with your goldfish.

However, once or twice a year checkups with a certified aquatic animal veterinarian are most ideal, and some aquatic animal veterinarians offer telemedicine video consultations.

You can transport your goldfish to a vet, but we recommend finding an aquatic animal vet who will come to your home to avoid the stress of transport.

When to call the vet

• Loss of appetite

• Increased lethargy

• Fin tears or lacerations

• Unusual swelling, tumors, or white/red spots

• Pale or discolored gills

• Buoyancy issues

• Distended abdomen

• Increased breathing rate

Common goldfish diseases

• Buoyancy disorder

• Polycystic kidney disease

• Neurofibroma, also known as warts

• Parasites such as white spot disease (also known as white spot disease)

• Fin rot

• Fungal infection