every time i buy a goldfish it dies within a week?

Answer 1

Make sure you're not buying a "feeder fish". When you go to the pet store, if the fish is in a large tank with a bazillion other fish (and costs roughly 50 cents), then it's a feeder fish. These are mostly for feeding lizards and other fish. While i've heard of people getting these fish and having them last years, those stories are the exception, not the rule.

Someone else mentioned getting the water tested; i would also recommend this. It may be that there's something in your tap water that is harmful to the fish. If the water is the problem, try bottled water. There are a number of products you can purchase that will help make the water more fish-friendly: things that remove chlorine from the water, things that neutralize the pH balance (to 7.0 pH), things that add a little healthy bacteria to the water (to help the fish keep/develop a healthy coat of protective slime).

Do they all die with the same symptoms? If they're all dying of the Ick, the tank itself may be contaminated and you'll need to get a new one (or spend a lot of time and money cleaning the one you have). If they're all dying with their sides puffed out, they may all be getting overfed and dying from that.

When you get a new fish, put the bag (still closed) into the tank. Let it sit there for an hour or so. This helps the fish gradually adjust to the change in water temperature. After an hour, open the bag and let in a little water from the tank; add a little more water every 15-30 minutes. This will help the fish adjust to the difference in water. When the bag is mostly full, gently scoop the fish out of the bag and into the water. If at all possible, avoid getting water from the bag into the tank: if there were any unhealthy bacteria from the tank at the fish store, you don't want to transfer them to your tank.

If all of the above fails: go to a different pet store. It's entirely possible that the place you're getting them is just carrying unhealthy fish.

Answer 2

Well if u bring the fish home and let it out of the bag that's why. when u bring a fish home the heat of it in the bag has to stay. keep it in the bag for at least 2 hours in the tank with the filter and water. when u set it lose keep the bag in the water and set it loose inside the water. feed it immediate after admission.

Answer 3

r u buying it from the same pet store? if so there may be some kind of disease they are carrying, try another pet store. are you keeping it in a fish bowl? if so try a beta fish they are much prettier and they do not get along with other fish so you don't have to feel bad if it doesn't have a friend.

Answer 4

try taking good care of it like feed it every day but not too much food and if that doesent work try getting a different fish some time its just the fish because gold fish tend to die a lot so mabey its not you

Answer 5

A goldfish should live a very long time,you are doing something very basic that is killing them. PeeTee

Answer 6

you have to have your water sit for a couple of days so it can
adjust to the way the goldfish need it to be.

Answer 7

when you first put it in new water when you get home do you just put it in or do you fill the fish bowl first and put the fish still in the bag into it first so it can get used to it? the fish has to get used to the new water first and is it near the sun or a heating vent in its fish bowl? or it might be too cold

Answer 8

was the tank EVER properly cycled? yea, thats probably the reason...read up on tank cycling.
goldfish are hardy. they can withstand alot-youre undoubtedly going through spikes and shortages of biological bacteria...good luck

Answer 9

Is your water chlorinated? are you feeding it too much? is there too much nitrogen in the water? Try using distilled water and a carbon filter. Also, it could be that your supplier sucks.

Answer 10

You should havea ten gallon tank at least they should live 20 years