i have a regular size fish bowl with two gold fish. i have had them more than a week. this morning small bubbles sort of like foam were around the the top edge of the bowl. are my fish dying?
2007-02-24 10:33:59 · 7 answers · asked by rose 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
The foam is a result of poor water quality. The goldfish you have simply produce too much waste for that size container. A fancy goldfish will reach about 7-8" in length and needs at least a 20 gallon tank, 2 would be fine in a 30 gallon. Comet or common goldfish on the other hand easily reach a foot or more in lenght and are quite active, they need at least a 100 gallon tank or preferably a pond to truely be comfortable.
The only commonly available fish really suited for a bowl is a betta.
I would suggest you consider returning your gold fish and trying out a betta for your bowl. You will really be glad you did.
MM
2007-02-24 10:39:16 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
A regular sized fish bowl is usually a gallon or less. IF that is the case, then the reason there is foam on the top of the bowl is due to waste in the water.
Goldfish put out twice as much waste as other fish which is why they really aren't ment to live in bowls. It's something that people are slowly starting to realize, but many other people still refuse to believe.
With that being said, you need to get them a fish tank with a filter. For right now, a 10-gallon will suffice, but in the future, depending on their body type, two oval/heavy bodied goldfish will need around a 30 gallon tank or two long bodied goldfish will need a 50 gallon tank.
Until you get around to getting them the tank size they need, do a partial water change every two days. Take out around a fourth of the water in the bowl and replace it with dechlorinated water or bottled SPRING water.
2007-02-24 19:56:40 · answer #2 · answered by I<3IGs 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You cannot keep two goldfish in a bowl. You cannot keep any fish in a bowl. Bowls should be outlawed. You must get a 20 gallon tank as soon as possible for your two goldfish if you want them to live. You need to learn about cycling water in your 20 gallon tank first and foremost, but also how to do proper water changes and cleaning, proper filtration, substrates, plants, water testing and diseases. You also need to be able to identify what type of goldfish you have so that you know how large they will grow and what size tank you will ultimately need according to their size. The bubbles are a result of poor water quality. Learning about and implementing these requirements will undoubtedly resolve the bubbles issues.
2007-02-24 18:53:51 · answer #3 · answered by Venice Girl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jenni, if your goldfish lived 5 years, then he managed to live about one sixth of his potential life. Not bad for a fish bowl, but you obviously don't understand their potential and might want to look further into it before making recommendations.
The previous poster MM is bang on - a bowl is not a suitable environment for a goldfish despite the popularity of it.
2007-02-24 18:47:30 · answer #4 · answered by Ghapy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, Your Fish Probably Aren't Dying You May Just need too clean your tank.
I Would recommend Cleaning it Once A Week
Hope I Helped :D
2007-02-24 18:38:01 · answer #5 · answered by cold, but i'm still here ♥ 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
well it is quite a while since i had a goldfish but if i remember rightly, i had the same thing and my goldfish lived for 5 years! so personally i think your fish are fine, just make sure you clean the bowl and change the water enough.
But i'm not vet or anything, this is just my opinion :)
2007-02-24 18:40:40 · answer #6 · answered by Jenni C 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
They WILL die if you don't clean it.
2007-02-24 18:39:22 · answer #7 · answered by redman 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋