Resources
Articles Fish Goldfish FAQ
Articles
The following articles are written by a variety of UniQuaria members over the years. If you have written an article and would like to have us post it, or have a suggestion for a future article, we would love to hear from you!
| Goldfish FAQ |
 |
 |
 |
| Written by Rhonda Williams | ||||
What size tank does a goldfish need? The general rule is 10 gallons per goldfish, although larger goldies would benefit from as much as 20 gallons per fish. Common goldies originate from Carp and can grow to sizes over 8 inches in length and all goldfish produce copious amounts of waste. 3 goldfish crammed in a 10 gallon tank, for example, would be difficult to keep clean and could eventually lead to waste levels that are lethal to the fish. >>Top
Can I keep my goldfish in a bowl? Goldfish bowls can be lethal to an otherwise healthy, potentially beautiful pet - not enough aeration, not enough water, not enough filtration. Best to buy a tank, minimum 10 gallons. Increase the tank size as your fish grows. >>Top What is the best filtration for a goldfish tank? Goldfish produce a lot of waste, so filtration is important. A Whisper #3 or Aquamaster 400 is reliable for a 20 gallon. An Eclipse tank system is fine 20 gallon, but change the filter pad weekly. Dual Whispers or canister filtration would be best for a larger tank. Under-Gravel filtration is fine if you are diligent about siphoning off waste and excess, rotting food particles. Key note: clean water = healthy fish. >>Top
Do I need an airstone in my goldfish tank? An airstone is recommended for goldfish. One airstone per 20 gallons. It improves oxygen levels and aids the bio-filtration with breakdown of toxic waste. >>Top
What is the difference between a common goldfish and a fancy goldfish? Common goldfish are orange/red, pale yellow or calico and have a *single fin* at the tail. This would include the common "feeder", Comet, and the Shubunkin. Fancy goldfish have been bred to display certain physical traits, come in a wide variety of colors, and have a *double-finned tail*. Examples of fancy goldies include Ranchu, Oranda, Lionhead, Ryukin and Bubble-eye. >>Top
What is a good pH for a goldfish? Goldfish can tolerate PH anywhere from 6.8 to 8.0 but the ideal range would be 7.0 to 7.6. >>Top
What do I do with the fish while on vacation? If you are going to be gone less than a week, the fish can 'fast' during that time, if they have been previously well-fed and are not young fish. If you have someone come in to your home to feed during longer periods of absence, measure daily quantities in small bags or film cases, label them, and hide any other food to prevent your care giver from over-feeding. Reduce the over-all amount you normally would feed to make-up for the lack of water changes during your absence. >>Top
What kind of substrate is good for goldfish? Gravel, the most commonly used substrate for tanks, is considered a no-no for goldfish. Goldfish are notorious bottom diggers and will hunt/play in whatever is on the bottom of a tank. This can cause choking and even death, should a gravel piece become lodged in their mouth. Gravel can also be swallowed which could pose a hazard to their digestive system when the stone is passed. Choose larger gravel types or smooth river stones. Some advocate leaving the tank bottom free of any substrate. >>Top
Should I quarantine my new goldfish? Yes, yes, yes. Never introduce a new goldfish to an already existing, healthy, tank-full of goldies. It is a sure-fire way to bring in disease, and even death, to your pets. Goldfish can carry a variety of diseases or parasites, most commonly Ich, and this will immediately transfer to your other fish. >>Top
What kind of plants can I put in my new goldfish tank? Generally plants and goldies are not a good mix - goldies love to eat plants, especially duckweed. Vals, swords, watersprite or javafern are good choices. Also potted dracena. >>Top
How much do I feed my goldfish? Feed small amounts twice a day no more than what they can eat in 3-5 minutes. Excess food creates more waste and uneaten food fouls the water. Never over-feed! It can kill. Remember that goldfish always act as if they are starving. Resist the temptation to feed "just a little more" or "just one more time" if they have already been fed an adequate amount. In fact, you can even skip a day of feeding all-together. A previously well-fed goldfish can go several days without a meal. >>Top
What kind of food is best for my goldfish? There are a variety of commercial goldfish food products available on the market. Flakes, small pellets, large pellets, floating pellets and sinking pellets. The kind you use depends on your goldfish type. The larger bodied, more stream-lined commons can tolerate flake foods better than the shorter, round-bellied fancies. Any goldfish can develop swim-bladder problems when their food is gulped, especially at the surface. Dry foods can absorb water from within the fish, also causing the swim-bladder to be affected. Feed your goldfish small amounts, no more than what they can eat in 3-5 minutes. Soak pellets and squeeze out the air if your fish has floatation problems after a feeding. >>Top
What else can my goldfish eat besides flakes and pellets? Goldfish love vegetables. Buy a veggie clip from your LFS and watch them enjoy romaine lettuce, cucumber or zucchini strips. Small green peas are a favorite, but remove the outer hull. Peas are also a good cure for constipation. Other foods you can try are alfalfa sprouts, kale, brine shrimp, frozen or dried bloodworms and pre-cooked, minced cocktail shrimp. Remember to wash all veggies in fresh water before serving! >>Top
Does my goldfish tank need a heater? Goldfish are cold-water fish but they do require a steady temperature to remain healthy. Heat and air-conditioning can affect the water temp as can turning on and off the aquarium light. Shifts in temperature of 2-3 degrees a day can lead to bacterial infections. Fancy goldfish, such as the Oranda and Bubble-eye benefit from water as warm as 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit. The more common varieties do well at temps between 65-75 degrees F. but again, keep the temp steady. A heater is useful for this purpose. >>Top
Can I put my goldfish in my tropical fish tank? Yes, you can, but it could lead to disaster. It really depends on the kind of tropicals, the kind of goldfish, and the size of the tank. Slower growing, slower-moving goldies, in a large tank with docile tropicals, might fair okay. Keep in mind the differences required for the two types - pH and temperature vary greatly. Generally, mixing the two is not recommended. *Never* put a Pleco or other sucker-mouthed fish in with a goldie - they can attach themselves to the goldie and suck off the slime, injuring or even killing your goldfish. >>Top
I've heard that salt is good for a goldfish tank. What kind of salt and how much? Both Solar salt *with no additives* or aquarium salt sold at your LFS are fine. Never use iodized table salt! 1-3 *teaspoons* of salt per 10 gallons is recommended. This low solution of salt will stimulate the slime coating and reduce stress, making the fish less susceptible to illness. >>Top
When would a salt dip be necessary? A salt dip is beneficial under 2 circumstances: when you purchase a new goldfish or when a goldfish is not responding to traditional medication treatments for bacterial skin infections or parasites. Goldfish are covered with a natural slime coating that provides them protection against most parasites. During shipping and handling, especially netting, this slimy 'shield' can be disturbed, providing pathogens easy access to the body of the fish. Also, poor water conditions and over-crowding, as found in some fish stores, can inhibit the goldfish's ability to produce this slime coating. If you are adding a new goldfish to an existing tank, a salt dip would be recommended, followed by a quarantine period. The dip will strip off the slime coat and any parasites that have hitch-hiked their way onto your fish. If your fish is already in an established tank and is not responding to treatment, a dip will remove the slime coating so that the medication can gain better access to the parasites and their resulting bacterial wounds. >>Top
I think my goldfish has Ich. What do I do? Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis) resembles small grains of salt stuck to the fishes body and is caused by poor water conditions or rapid shifts in temperature. Treat with Quick Cure, or other commercial product made for treatment of Ich, add a heater to regulate water temp and check water parameters. Increase water changes to improve water quality and make sure temp remains steady. >>Top
There are black spots on my goldfish. What is it? Most commonly, black spots on goldfish are actually burn wounds from ammonia spikes. Over-crowding, poor water conditions and over-feeding can lead to ammonia burns and persistent ammonia spikes are lethal to the fish. There is also a "black-spot disease" caused by snails. This is more common in ponds but if you purchase your goldie from a fish store where snail infestations are prominent, this could be the source of your problem. A salt dip is recommended and frequent water changes necessary. There is no over-the-counter medication for this disease. >>Top
My goldfish has flipped over and is floating upside-down. What happened? If your goldfish flipped and floated after feeding, it is most likely suffering from a from a swim bladder disorder, usually caused from feeding floating pellets or flakes or from feeding too much at one time. The swim-bladder gets bloated, resulting in the inability of the fish to dive and swim properly. The best remedy is not to feed for 3 days, then resume feeding by first soaking the food and squeezing out the air. Or, switch to a high quality sinking pellet. Fancy goldfish are usually the most susceptible to the disorder. If the floating occurred at any other time, your fish could be constipated or suffering from an internal parasitic or bacterial infection. See the below websites for helpful instructions on how to care for constipation and how to identify infections. >>Top
For information on other illnesses and treatments, links about breeding, pond fish, etc....see the following links:
|
||||