help with gold fish?

Question

Okay, I just got this goldfish today, for my science class. I named him George, but the thing is, I haven't had a fish in so long... I have no clue how to care for him. I want to keep him. But like how do I care for him, other than feeding him. How often should I clean the tank? How do I tell if he's sick or not? And what's with the stuff the store gave me to like get ride of the clorine in the water? Is the clorine in the water at my house? I didnt know if it was so to be on the safe side tonight when i cleaned his cage, because i got him a big tank, instead of making him swim in a two liter bottle, I added just a few drops. And anything important about like water tempetures I should know? like not to put them in cold water or what?

He is in a SMALL tank, because I don't have alot of room for him. Have you ever seen one of those hermit crab cages? The ones that are all plastic and have like a square opening at the top for food, and a handle on top, and usually have like different colored tops? well thats the kind he's in. I don't want to get a glass one just yet. I'm still trying to figure out how to make sure he is okay. He seems happy, and is happy with just swimming around in the water...

He is in a SMALL tank, because I don't have alot of room for him. Have you ever seen one of those hermit crab cages? The ones that are all plastic and have like a square opening at the top for food, and a handle on top, and usually have like different colored tops? well thats the kind he's in. I don't want to get a glass one just yet. I'm still trying to figure out how to make sure he is okay. He seems happy, and is happy with just swimming around in the water...

Answer 1

Clean the tank when it starts getting dirty.Do not over feed him.Goldfish live in cold water.If he starts getting white spots it's probally ick theres stuff for that you can put in the tank water.If you are on a well then you probally have no chlorine in your water, but if you have city water or a water company then you probally have chlorine in your water.Hope this helped somewhat.Good luck with your new fish.

Answer 2

That is great you got a gold fish and are looking to care for him the right way. I realize your tank is small so we will work with that.
you should change 50% of George's water every other to every three days. You will find he will dirty it and since you do not have a filter and it is a small ank this will help to keep him healthy. Watch your fish every day to get to know him. you will soon be acustome to his behaviors and you will just KNOW when he is sick. The "stuff" the store gave you is a dechlor. The bottle should tell you how much to use for your fish. I would suggest running cold tap water into a pitcher and adding the dechlor. Do not just use tap water into his tank and add dechlor. There is chlorine in the tap water that is one chemical they use to process the water supply, along with a few others. The dechlor/conditioner the store gave you will remove all the harmfull things in the water.

Room temperature is fine for gold fish. Anywhere below 70 is fine. If you find the water warming up beyond 70, stick him in the frig for about an hour to cool him down. Yes this works well and won't harm your fish in the least. you don't want to add ice since ice contains the chemicals from your tap water.

Gold fish are very hearty and can withstand a lot. The one thing your fish needs is dissolved oxygen. this can only enter the water with a filter, waterfall, waves etc. This is why since he is in a smaller home a water change every other to every three days will add back the dissolved Oxygen.

If you need more info on George, feel free to email me.

Answer 3

George will be fine in the tank you have, but don't add any more fish for that size tank. IF you have "city" water, you no doubt have chlorine. Follow the instructions on the additive. Don't over feed, it makes the water cloudy. Clean the tank when it looks like it needs to be cleaned. Gold fish are pretty hardy fish & easy to care for. I have male Bettas & keep a gallon jug of water & let it get to room temp. This way I KNOW the temp. of the water will be the same as they are in when I change their water. Try doing that. You'll know when he's sick, believe me!!! Good luck, you'll do fine...

Answer 4

First, the dechlorinator should have directions on the bottle - a certain amount or number of drops per gallon of water - so check to be sure you put in the correct amount. What is used to decontaminate water in your area I couldn't say, but it would most likely be chlorine or chloramine - you can call your local water company tomorrow and ask. Some dechlorinators treat both, but the dosage is different. And he thanks you for the big tank!

Goldfish are happy in water that is around room temperature - 65-75o. When you do water changes, only change about 20-30% of the tank volume at a time and replace the tank water with new water that is close to the same temperature (with the dechlorinator added).

Here are some websites I think you'll find helpful - tips on care, maintenance, feeding, health and diseases, etc. Since yours is a new tank, you'll soon be getting cloudy water - see the last link on cloudy water and read the link within the article on the nitrogen cycle as well - it will get you through the cycling process:

http://thegab.org/Articles/
http://www.goldfishinfo.com/
http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/
http://www.fishlore.com/CloudyWater.htm

Answer 5

Oh boy....first off, read EVERYTHING you can on the internet that talks about goldfish. You need to learn how to cycle your tank properly!! This allows beneficial bacteria to grow, which will keep your nitrate and nitrite levels manageable. You should replace about 25-50% of the water in your tank every week...DON'T replace all of it--all those beneficial bacteria you will have worked so hard for when you cycled the tank will be gone and you'll have to start from scratch. Get some test kits that will test the nitrate and nitrite levels in your tank--if they are high, you will need to possibly do a 75% water change. If he is sick, he will probably sit near the bottom of the tank, pull his fins in by his body and he won't move much. If you keep the water quality good, feed him the correct amount (what he can eat in a couple minutes), and watch him every day for signs of illness, he'll probably be fine. Goldfish are hardy--Mine lived for 10 years. You will definitely want to use the chlorine remover (unless you live where I'm from where we get our water from a well and there is no chlorine added)...most places will have chlorine added, so make sure that you follow the directions, because too much can be bad, but if you don't get all the chlorine out, your fish will get sick. There are test strips for chlorine also. What is the size of your tank? Goldfish don't need heaters, so room temperature is fine as long as it's not extreme temps (such as 50 degrees or like 90 degrees). Good luck with your fish and you can email me if you need any more help!

Answer 6

How big of a tank is it in? Does it have a filter on it? Preferably it should be in a 5-10 gallon tank w/ a filter. If its in a bowl or w/o a filter you won't know how long he will live. Filters are essential in controlling the biological filatrion of the water. Try to find more info about "how to cycle your new tank".

They need cold-water preferably 68-72 degrees F. Which might be room temp. depending on where you live. Thay can sustain colder temp, but if its in hotter water, invest in a an air pump. Definitely use the dechlorinator, anytime you add water.

Answer 7

Awesome that you got a tank instead of the bowl, I applaud you! He could get very pretty and big, and be very healthy. You need at least a 10 gallon tank, preferably bigger. Do about 20 percent water changes every week, and buy one of those suction sweepers to clean food out of the gravel. If you have a tank and filter, he will stay cleaner -- never totally replace the water or you will throw off the cycle and could kill him. You can tell by his behaviour whether he is sick, and they sell meds based on teh symptoms: White spots or growths, laying on the floor, etc. Goldfish eat pellets or flakes, and its better to soak them in water first so that they are soft. You can also feed them lettuce, zuccini, and orange or lemon slices once in a while to keep them healthy. Make sure you use that dechlorinator in y our water -- all drinking water has chlorine, and you never want to use distilled water with fish. They like cold water, but they are usually pretty tolerant of many temperatures. You may want to get a test kit to keep an eye on ammonia and other levels that can get high from fish waste. Good luck with your new pet!

Answer 8

You have to change his tank once a week since you don't have a filter. You should feed him every other day but do not over feed. The dechlorineator is to make sure you don't have any chlorine. You should also get him a bigger tank soon. Here is a website to help you.

A$H!

Answer 9

all tap water will have chlorine. add about a finger tip for every 500ml or 1ml per 10L.make sure that the water temp. is not too warm cause goldies live in coldwater(4-25degrees c.) have a 20 %water change every 1or2 weeks.do not place him in direct sunlight. they hate it.when having a water change, use the de-chlorinater on the new water. if you don't have a filter, have a 100%water change every8months.

Answer 10

Keep the water clean and feed him every day and he'll live a long life.