I have a 6" gold Oranda and have just purchased 3 smaller, a red-cap, a chocolate and a blue. They live in a 20gallon right now and I'm sure I'll need a bigger tank soon. I need advice on the best cleaning/maintenace schedule and procedure, and anyother advice would be great as I'm really wanting to improve my fish keeping, Thanks very much!
2007-04-17 11:20:11 · 6 answers · asked by digby_by 4 in Pets ➔ Fish
Ok you're a little over stocked. The 6 inch or the 3 smaller ones fill the aquarium alone. Since its temporary, I'd change 50% of the water at least once a week but I'm thinking twice a week would be better. Keep good fresh food around. Find a food that is rich in seafood and / or spirolina. Food that contains corn (labled as corn gluten meal, or gluten meal) is a warning that you are getting extremly low quality food. You want about 30% protien and 10% fat content as well. Keep all water perameters consistant. Ph always the same. Ammonia and nitrite at zero. Nitrates should always be under 20 ppm. When Nitrates get 20 ppm change 50% of the water. That's the indicator that I base my water changes on. I have 4 big goldfish in a 55 gallon and I change 50% of the water weekly. They thrive with a heater in the tank. You need to keep the temperature of the water the same always too. Goldfish are "coldwater" fish, and its often said they don't require a heater, but that is totally untrue. What coldwater fish means is that the fish can tolerate coldwater with out dieing, unlike tropicals. However goldfish really prefer warmer water like tropicals. I have kept my tank heated to 78 consistantly for years, on the advice of show goldfish dealers. Those prized beauties you see in books and mags would never be kept in cold water. Don't always trust what people tell you, even in the petstore, especially in the pet store. Do your own research. Research water. Get a water report from your local source and find out just what is in that water from the tap. Learn about alkalinity, its different from ph. Learn only from the best and those who genuinely care for the goldfish hobby.
www.goldfishconnection.com is a great place to start.
www.kokosgoldfishworld.com is another good site.
Hope this gives you a start. Goldfish are facinating. They are not the easy to keep beginner fish, they are actually more difficult to keep than many species, simply because they are a big fish that love to eat. You must always keep up with your water changes or you will have problems.
2007-04-17 15:05:05 · answer #1 · answered by Sunday P 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd do 25% water changes twice a week with a gravel vacuum or turkey baster since you tank is kind of over stocked. I hope you're looking into at least a 50gallon. once you get a larger tank I'd cut back to 25% water changes once a week.
if you don't already try adding orange slices and peas to their diet. once a week soak a frozen pea in hot water until room temp. peel off the skin and feed the insides to your fish. this helps prevent constipation and makes for a nice treat. once or twice a month slice and orange and tie a string through one slice. float this on top of the water, provides many needed vitamins, plus most goldfish love oranges.
hope that helps, I love goldies, so if you have any other questions feel free to email me,
2007-04-17 11:46:26 · answer #2 · answered by Kylie Anne 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Well the tank was not cycled unless you added some source of ammonia in the first 2 weeks. Just running a tank empty does nothing to cycle it. So the cycling actually started when you added the fish. Do some large partial water changes (50%) to freshen up the water and reduce the ammonia level untill things settle down. Ian
2016-04-01 06:13:58 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, you do need a bigger aquarium, if you want your fish to live/get to full size. orandas grow to 8 inches. so you'll have four 8 inch orandas in there. so buy an aquarium that you think is the right size. good luck :^)
2007-04-17 12:15:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't over feed, don't over feed, don't not feed, replace half of the water once or twice a month if it poohs a lot maybe three times, goldfish are very sensitive to cholorine so be careful to put enough dechlorinator, and thats about it. Good luck w/ ur fish! :)
2007-04-17 11:30:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You just got great advice from one of the best goldfish people here, Kylie. Take her advice and you are certain to be successful.
MM
2007-04-17 12:01:53 · answer #6 · answered by magicman116 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋