Question about goldfish care

[Colleen A.]

My girls bought themselves a goldfish yesterday. I haven't had any goldfish since I was a kid (they always died - I now know you can not leave a fishbowl ON TOP of a console tv - it cooks them! ) Petsmart told us a 1 gallon fishbowl is good for 1 fish. That's what the girls got. This morning, I went in and it looked like the fish was gasping for air at the top of the tank! I took him out of the tank, changed the water and put him back in. He looks happy now...swimming all around. I was just checking out some goldfish websites and they recommend 10 gals per fish!! They also say fishbowls are a no-no. Anyone here raising goldfish?? The girls would be crushed if something happened to "Hershey"!

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

We always kept our goldfish in those fish bowls . . .I had one live for over 2 years one time . . .

I guess the secret to goldfish is definately don't over feed them. 1 - 2 flakes per day . . .Also, make sure you don't use soap to clean the bowl . . .sometimes it doesn't rinse properly . . .I always just used a plain paper towel and water to clean it . . . Make sure the water isn't too cold or too warm . . .

Good luck!

 

[pumba]

seriously ...some people have gold fish that lasts forever and other fish croak on the first week.....now betas last a little longer..... and I think would give the kids more of a chance...so if anything happens to hershey....tell them a male beta in individual little houses are alot happier.......good luck.....and to much heat in a gold fish holder makes them gasp more and there fore they poop more and foul up their tanks.....

 

[helenabear]

I never used a 1 gallon tank for mine at all... we had a 2 gallon when he was a baby feeder fish (and that is honestly all he was) but when he became a "full sized" gold fish, I did put him in a 10 gallon tank with the filters and all. It make cleaning much easier and less frequent. I got one of those suction cleaners that would empty some of the water out while getting the dirt that is at the bottom of the little rocks. We'd do that about every 3 or so months and changed the filters per however long they recommended that. He lived for over 2 years... the only reason why he died was when we moved, the a/c broke or stopped working or something and we didn't notice... his water got too hot for the breed we figured him to be I will say that 10 gallon tanks aren't that expensive at all and it was worth it to see him swim freely

 

[Colleen A.]

Do you think maybe the morning sun shining in on the bowl might of warmed it up too much? It was only 7:30, so I can't see it making it overly hot. The water was very cloudy as well. When my DD checked Hershey before she left for school at 7, she said all was well. I always thought the fish got the oxygen from the water...never imagined the fish getting the oxygen from the surface of the tank. The girls had put 2 branches from the plants they have in the tropical tank. I thought they would of helped with the oxygen situation.

I never imagined goldfish getting that big. Hershey isn't a "gold" fish...he is more of a chocolate brown (hence, the name! ). He has big bulgey eyes and "fancy fins". Cute little guy!

 

[ChiTownZee]

I did my research after we brought home carnival fish There were 5, 3 died the first night. Yes, 10 gallon is recommended, with a filter and an air pump. Goldfish are one of the highest waste producing fish and they will die from the amonia their waste produces if they are in too small of a tank. I got a 10 gallon kit from wal-mart for about 30 bucks, if I remember correctly, that included a filter and hood. Also got an air pump, stone, tubing and little hook up thing, I'm guessing around 20 bucks for all of that, maybe more. Gravel, a couple of plants (they like places to hide and be sheltered). The air pump keeps the oxygen flowing well and circulated, and ours have always enjoyed playing in the bubbles. The hard part is waiting for the tank to "cycle", I did partial water changes once or twice a day until the amonia levels dropped. (normally you are supposed to cycle the tank before you put the fish in, but we had them so I couldn't wait.)
Our goldfish is now almost 4 years old and about 5 inches long.

 

[ChiTownZee]

and don't use tap water! the chlorine will kill them, we have a filtered faucet that takes out chlorine, or I think you can set water out for a certain time too.

 

[wdwoldtimer]

Goldfish are notoriously "dirty" fish and require frequent water changes if there is no filtering. And yes, temperature is important. Such a small bowl sitting in the sun can get too warm for it.
It sounds like your fish might be happier in a small tank with a filter and aerator....then you can get it a friend! There are additives for making tapwater suitable.

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

The easiest rule to follow for most fish (this works for goldfish, but not bettas) is one gallon of water per inch of fish. So if Hershey is two inches long, he would be happiest in at least two gallons of water.

Do you have a thermometer on his bowl? You can buy ones that stick to the side for about 75 cents in the fish supply section- goldfish like their water to be about 70 degrees.

Good luck! Keep us updated!

 

[Colleen A.]

We have a 10 gal tank for our tropical fish. The girls wanted to keep the fish in their room (the other is in my DS room). There is no room for another larger tank in the house. The kids did have 2 full gallons of water sitting in the room (to let the CHL out) but since I wasn't sure how long it was sitting there (it takes 24 hrs.) and I couldn't find the drops to remove the cholorine, I just grabbed a gal of spring water!! That seemed to make him happy!

 

[ChiTownZee]

Be sure to not put all fresh water in their tank (i.e. leave a little of the dirty water in there) they need some of the bacteria in there (has to do with the initial cycling)

 

[peg2001]

I suggest reading the care instructions at www.kokosgoldfish.com

They are a bit over-the-top goldfish-fan-wise but the website provides great basic care information.

Goldfish can live 20 years or more if they are properly cared for. They can not live long in a bowl.

I currently have 2 goldfish in a 75 gallon tank. We plan to get more but just haven't gotten around to it. They look VERY happy in their big tank!! One is about 7 inches long and the other is 4 inches long.

Peggy

 

[Colleen A.]

20 years.....7 inches!!! Yikes!!!!!! Mine never lived that long!! As I said, console tv = cooked goldfish!

 

[sha_lyn]

you can get an undergravel filter that fits a bowl. I'd try one fo those first, if you don't want to get a larger tank right now. Teh reason the fish was "breathing" was it souldn't get wnough oxygen from the water. That is probably from it getting too warm, but could be from amonia too.
There are pleny of water treatments that remove clorine and add need electrolytes. I like stress coat the best. I have seen gold fish starter kits that contain stress coat and other needed treatments (amonia lock in one I believe). Personally a bowl or small tank is too much trouble. Give me a 30gallon tank any day.
small tanks/bowls have temp flucuations, not enough gravel to get a "good bacteria" natural filter going etc.

 

[Colleen A.]

According to the book DD brought home from the school library today, the type of goldfish we have is called a Blackamoor. It also says that it "does well in a small bowl" and "one of the few types of goldfish to do so". It recommended only having the bowl about 1/2 filled so there is more "surface air". We took care of this right away and I have made sure the tank is in a place so it won't get any direct sunlight like it did this morning. Any other suggestions?

 

[musicalSaranader]

I did some research too, I won Fred at a carnival in my dorm this past weekend. Tap water is OK...but let it sit out for 24 hours so the chlorine evaporates. And only change about 30 percent of the water at a time; it may not be good to periodicaly put the fish in brand new environments.

 

[Colleen A.]

Well, Hershey continued to look as if I was going to need to give him mouth to mouth. I needed to exchange a vacuum I purchased from Petsmart on Sunday so we went up this afternoon. Hershey is now the proud owner of a larger tank, complete with an airator and a playmate!!! It's an octagon shaped tank with the lid and light. Looks really nice! He hasn't been near the top hardly at all! His companion is a Calico Telescope. We tried to get one close to the same size. DH, who left work early not feeling well, was with me and since he picked out the fish, he had the honors of naming it. Hershey and Nemo and quite happy together....here's hoping they're not TOO happy!!

 

[Jomrog]

Unfortunately, I can't help. I have trouble keeping Sea Monkeys alive.

Good luck!

 

[wdwoldtimer]

Alright Hershey and Nemo! Congrats on the new digs!