Focus On: Goldfish Q&A

Things to know before getting a Goldfish

A goldfish is a beautiful creature and when placed anywhere, ends up being the center of attraction. It’s no wonder some people like to keep them as pets. Goldfishes have a special ambiance and can bring life and color into your home. Like all pets, a goldfish requires special care to remain healthy and active. Goldfishes make great pets for first-time owners, they are easy to maintain, are resilient, and can live for a long time if properly taken care of.

If you’ve decided on getting a goldfish as a pet or to breed and you’re looking for pointers on where to begin, here are the things you ought to know on how to keep your fish healthy for years to come.

The perfect Home – Bowl or Tank?

A goldfish can be housed in bowls but studies show that bowls are not the ideal housing for a goldfish as they would outgrow it. A goldfish bowl restricts the fish’s movement and prevents it from getting enough energy; it can also lead to ammonia build-up which is fatal for your fish.

Getting a tank is the best option. Your goldfish needs the space to swim around in. you should bear in mind that in creating the perfect home for your fish, you need to accessorize it just like you would your home. 

Accessorizing your Tank

The most important accessory you need for your tank is a hood. A hood prevents dust from settling in and your fish from jumping out. 

Pea gravel is ideal for lining up the floor of the tank; it is large enough to prevent your fish from choking on it and is a great breeding ground for the good bacteria your fish requires to remain healthy. 

Goldfish are energetic and lively animals, when selecting a décor, you need one that they can swim freely around and hide in. Ensure not to buy any sharp object that could cause harm to your fish.

In order to make it even more decorative you may need to buy colorful stones and artificial plants but do this minimally so your fish can have enough room to grow and swim around. Live plants can also be added to the tank as it helps the goldfish in digesting its food properly.

Other accessories that you may need include; a pump that keeps the water oxygenated by providing bubbles, a water filter for removing harmful toxins and waste from the water. Water purity is very important for your fish, the absence of a filter would make toxins build up and make your fish ill.

Preparing the tank for your Goldfish

At this point, your tank is sitting pretty and waiting for its prettier owner to move in. There’s just one thing delaying its arrival. Can you guess what it is? The water of course! What sort of water is ideal for a goldfish? Distilled water or tap water that has been treated is the best choice. Untreated tap water contains chemicals that are potentially harmful to your fish.

Feeding your Goldfish

Do you know that a goldfish can die from overeating? Like they literally eat until they die. It’s crazy! Goldfish have been known to be a glutton; they never get tired of eating so you need to feed them sparingly.

 Generally, goldfish should be fed two times a day. You can get the flakes they eat from the pet store nearest to you. Only feed them with small portions at a time and if they’re excess food in the tank after minutes of feeding, a net can be used to remove them. No matter how little you feed them, Goldfishes are messy animals; they poop every other minute soiling their environment.

Cleaning the Tank

The fish tank must be cleaned regularly in order to prevent waste products and toxins from building up and making your fish sick.

The cleaning of excess food can serve as a daily cleanup; however, you need to thoroughly clean the tank weekly. The water gets dirty from poop, food, and ammonia. Unless stated by your vet, 20% of the water should be removed from the tank and replaced with treated water. Clean thoroughly any particles or green algae growing inside the tank.

The water in your tank may change color, don’t panic. This is just an obvious call to clean it. Each color signifies a different problem. It may be as a result of bacteria, decaying plants or food, or even algae. With a water change and thorough cleaning, your fish should be fine.

Health and wellbeing of your Fish

As a goldfish owner, you should always be alert and watch your fish for any signs that they might be in trouble. They are several signs that indicate that your fish might be in distress. When you see your fish gasping at the surface, or you see it rubbing itself against the sides of the tank, or you see it looking all tired and lethargic, or it’s not feeding properly or it’s not swimming in the usual way. All these are signs that your fish might be sick and should be taken to the vet for treatment.

Other symptoms may include; the color of your fish changing lumps or ulcers on its body, any growth that is out of the ordinary usually cotton-like, damaged fins, bruised body, etc.

Any of these are a sign of illness and should be treated as soon as possible because of their fragility. Your vet should be able to make the problem go away. 

If you are a first-time goldfish owner and you follow these tips that have been stated above, your goldfish is guaranteed to live a long, healthy life. Never forget that your goldfish should be watched constantly to ensure that it is in good health.