Tips on caring for.... Goldfish?

Question

My daughters three and we've hit the, "I want a pet" stage. I've got the tank and the gravel, filled it with water. The pump is on and I've put some liquid in to "de-stress" the fish and de-chlorinate the water. Rosie and Jim are coming tomorrow. Any tips for keeping them alive and my daughter happy? lol.

Answer 1

TIPS:
1. Feed them everyday.
2. Be aware of diseases common in goldfish and act immediately to prevent death.
3. Don't let the water become too hot or too cold.
4. Keep the tank clean.

There you go. (Also, Rosie and Jim like the ragdolls?)

Answer 2

Goldfish are very messy fish and can grow very big which means they need a minimum of 10 gallons each, so hopefully the tank you got is the right size. And since they are so messy having filter that can handle all their mess is a must. The rule of thumb for the right size filter is one that does 10x turn over rate, if you have a 20 gallon tank then the filter needs to push 200 gph minimum.

You said they are coming tomorrow then I guess you ordered them from somewhere and you have no other place for them but the new tank. Its best to cycle the tank without any fish but I dont think that is possible now. If you can go out and buy some Cycle or another product that helps a cycle begin. You will also need a test kit to keep an eye on the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH. Once the levels are all good and the tank is cycled, which can take over a month, you will then have to keep up with water changes. Once a week should be enough but only take out 50% max. The best way I find to do it is with a gravel vac, you clean all the crap out of the gravel and you take the water out without having to get your hands too wet.

Also before you put any new water into the tank make sure it is de chlorinated and the temp is the same so you dont stress the fish.

There is still so much to learn but once you get used to it it all becomes very easy and you and your daughter will enjoy it so much more. Check out the site below to learn everything you need to know about goldfish and meet a bunch of really nice people who will help you every step of the way.

Answer 3

As i have got many fish the best thing to do is check that the fish are healthy, Just check for white spot/ cuts/ or fins or scales missing. If you notice any of these tomorrow take them back to the shop you got em from. I would also make sure not do use to much of the liquid in as to much liquid will kill your fish basically as soon as you get them. We don't put anything in the water as we have lost many fish in doing this, i know you put the exact amout in it tells you to but a drop is exactly how big even a little is to much. But it is up to you if you choose to use the liquid, i would also recommend you use a fish food that does not cloud the water up, aquarium gold fish is the best, and feed them twice a day, a pinch or so for each fish. When cleaning the tank do not use soap as any traces could kill you fish instantly, Just clean it with a cloth, Also don't put your fish striaght back into the tank full of freezing cold water make sure it is luke warm / tepid, similar to how it was when before you cleaned the tank. Hope this info helps, GOOD LUCK.

Answer 4

How big is the tank? I think the recommended size is a 10 gallon tank for 1 goldfish. ( but for 2 fish I think a 10 gallon is okay )

I've unsuccessfully had 3 goldfish, they lasted for about a month. And I found out that my tank was too small after they became sick. I had a 1 gallon tank, and the salesman told me that it was okay.

Note: If you are going to buy your fish at Walmart, make sure the fish look absolutely healthy. One of the goldfish I bought, was very dull, swimming slowly and did not look healthy. It died a few days later. I think it was two days later.

Another useful tip. I found that goldfish get easily constipated. You can tell that they are constipated, if their stomachs look like they're protruding or bulging. The tip is to boil a pea, peel it , and feed the fish an extremely small portion of it,( about the size of the tip of a needle to each fish ).

And remember, never never overfeed them. About a flake a fish is more than enough. ( You don't have to make sure that each fish eats, because that way you end up adding more ).I think its better to underfeed them than to overfeed.

( if the fish look jumpy, or look like they're sick, its good to keep some aquarium salt handy. I think you could also use some non-iodized table salt , but I am not sure. I think there is a measurement of 1 teaspoon per 10 gallons of water for the aquarium salt. I am not sure. Would have to look up the measurement again.) ( But the salt tends to accumulate in the tank, so do not add salt unless the fish look sick. )

Another Note: They use the measurements tablespoon, and teaspoon, and it makes a big difference depending on which spoon you use. A teaspoon is smaller than a tablespoon. And again don't use the aquarium salt/tablesalt unless it is absolutely necessary.

Answer 5

Read the "biological Cycle of aquariums" you can search this online.this is also called the nitrogen cycle. this will explain what your tank will go through during the next month. It is alot to type out and explain, sorry. other facts about Goldfish. They are a cold water species(60-62 degrees), although they can live at room temp the warmer the water is the more prone they are to getting fungal infections especially in the fancytailed varietys. They are also omnivores and do best with a 50/50 diet of flake/pellet and fresh or frozen veggies and live plants. Goldfish are prone to having swimbladder problems where they either due to wrong diet get a internal bacterial digestive problem or swallow to much air during feeding. Swimbladdeer will cause the fish to float upside down or sideways, to avoid this feed proper diet and use sinking pellets or pre-soak all flake and or pellet foods to cause them to sink. Goldfish do NOT have a internal mechanizem that tells them they are Full. They will contiue to eat... I recomend feeding of flake/pellet every other day, while providing at least one veggie on the alternate days unless you have a live plant. Goldfish are extremley messy as far as they produce more waste therefore more ammonia than other fish. You will need enough water mass to support this waste, or the tank will eventually crash chemistry wise.How you tell how much water a goldfish needs is by giving them 2-3 gallons of water per every inch of their body size measuring from head to tail. most basic Comet goldfish will reach a max size of 6-8 inches and the fancytailed varietys reach max of around 10 inches. Gold fish can be stunted slightly in growth by a tank that is overcrowded or to small water wise, this does not mean they quit growing they will just grow slower and compromise health and lifespan. Lifespan of Goldfish.. if properly maintained a gold fish can live 8-15 years.

Answer 6

Personally, we've had quite a few goldfish. They don't really require too much attention, as long as they get fed every day and the tank cleaned regularly. One thing I would say is get a tank with a lid. Most of our dead goldfish met their ends by jumping out of the tank and drying out on the carpet! More recently, I bought tank, pump, gravel and two goldfish for my niece. For some reason, both fish died the same night. I bought two more, and the same happened. We don't know why, but the latest two, Grim and Reaper (we had to, didn't we?), are still alive and flipping after ten days.
Good luck.

Answer 7

The most common cause of death is water problems (obviously). Change some of the water (about 10%) every week and make sure that you never change it all. It takes a while, typically a week or two for a tank to run through a cycle and begin to build up enough bacteria int eh water and filter to be able to deal with the fish waste.

Answer 8

Goldfish are very messy fish and would enhance very great this suggests that they choose a minimum of 10 gallons each, so with a bit of luck the tank you purchased is the properly suited length. And once you communicate approximately that they are so messy having clear out that would administration all their mess is a would desire to. the guideline of thumb for the properly suited length clear out is one that does 10x turn over fee, you likely have a 20 gallon tank then the clear out needs to push two hundred gph minimum. You pronounced they're coming the next day to return then i think you ordered them from someplace and you do not have the different place for them in spite of the undeniable fact that the recent tank. Its severe-high quality to cycle the tank with none fish yet I dont think that is conceivable now. If which you will go out and purchase some Cycle or an extra product that facilitates a cycle . you are going to additionally desire a test kit to maintain an eye fixed on the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH. as quickly as the stages are all outstanding and the tank is cycled, which could take over a month, you are going to then would desire to save up with water variations. as quickly as a week will would desire to be sufficient yet least difficult take out 50% max. The high quality technique i come across to try this is with a gravel vac, you sparkling each and all the crap out of the gravel and you're taking the water out on a similar time as no longer having to get your palms too moist. additionally till now than you place any new water into the tank verify that is de chlorinated and the temp is a similar so which you dont rigidity the fish. there continues to be a lot to earnings expertise of yet whenever you get used to it all of it will become very reachable and you and your daughter will experience it a lot extra. look at out the information superhighway website below to earnings expertise of each little thing you would be able to desire to correctly known approximately goldfish and meet a team of rather high quality human beings who will enable you to each and each step of the suited way.

Answer 9

i'd rather you get something else. they are
living poop machines. try bamboo shrimps, they are
amazing, they change colors, patterns, and they have
cool fans instead of pincers to filter the water. all you need for
them is gravel and water flow(done with water filters) and for their comfort, one of those lava rocks with hole in center, and
maybe plants. if you sprinkle some crushed fish flakes, it will
flow down with the water, and feed the shrimp. or even better, the bamboo shrimps can even live with the goldfish, since some of their preferred temperatures overlap. i have 2 shrimps with goldfish, and they get along well,except sometimes the goldfish steals food from the shrimps. just make a corner where the shrimp can hide. they are best as 2or more. the goldfish need lots of space- be sure to give them enough room. how would you like being stuck in your closet all day?
just a tip- if you sprinkle just a tiny bit of salt in the tank when the fish are down, you can perk them up. also, buy tank with lid
if you don't want your favorite fish becoming
fuzzy fish jerky behind the sofa.

Answer 10

I've had my fish for over seven years. The advice I can give you is to not overfeed (I put in a pinch once a day), to clean the water every one or two weeks, set the water in a seperate contanier on the counter overnight before putting it in your fish's tank (the chlorine can be very bad for the fish), and to get a light. My fish is happier in warm (not too hot), water. Also, if you keep losing one fish, but one stays alive, your tank might be too small to support two or more fish. Hope that helps! ;-)

Answer 11

Don't over feed them, depending on the size, a pinch of goldfish flakes once or twice a day. Goldfish are beautiful but the dirtiest fish we ever had when my kids were at that stage. You have to clean the tank often. They are disgusting! Don't heat the water. Properly cared for, a goldfish can live over 20 years! Thought I would have to put my in my will, but then one day . . . .