Best "starter" goldfish?

Question

What's the best type of goldfish to buy if you've never had a goldfish before? Also, what's the smallest type of goldfish?

Yes, I'm aware that their tank size must be at least 10 gallons. =]

Answer 1

There really is no "small" goldfish, just ones that don't grow as large as others. Even the smallest can get 6+ inches at maturity, and common (single tailed varieties) can get 10+.

If you want one that will stay on the smaller side, look at getting one of the fancy (double-tailed) varieties that doesn't have an excessively large abdomen (this shape can lead to swim bladder problems). A smaller oranda or fantail would be able to live in the 10 gallon for some time, but it would still probably be happier in a 20 gallon by the time it reaches full size. See info and photos of the different varieties that you can find: http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/ftypes.html

Answer 2

Most of the goldfish found in petstores that I've seen all get around the same size (12 inches). I generally recomend a 20, but if you just want one goldfish, and you keep their water clean (and start out with a young/small one) you'll probably be fine.

Fantailed goldfish are popular and are generally reasonably hardy if you get one that's healthy (the travel to the petstore and then the travel home can put stress on the fish)

The comet goldfish are a more elongated goldfish (traditional "fish" shaped rather than so round).

If you've never had goldfish before, I'd recomend going for something reasonably priced (the really fancy ones I'd recommend for tanks that have been established with fish in it for a while...often the first fish in a tank don't make it because the tank has to go through the nitrogin cycle-- which is not good for fish, but nearly impossible to avoid)

If you're willing to be patient, you can get a couple aquatic snails and put them in there for a month or two to help get the water prepared properly before the goldfish arrives (check with your local petstore, they may test your water for free, and you can be sure that it's ready for your fish before you take it home)

When you do your water changes, you don't want to change all of it, only 25 percent or so at a time (with goldfish, this may be once a week or once every other week). Goldfish donot need a heater, and they only need to be fed once a day, just a pinch (they will act like they are starving all the time, no matter how often you feed them. Once is fine, over feedng is a common problem)

Hopefully this helps some, and I'm glad you're taking the time to learn about your fish before just getting it and throwing it in some water.

Answer 3

The tank should be at least 20 gallons never go beneath this with goldfish as they will die quick and feel claustrophobic, the only fish which is fine with slightly smaller tanks is the Betta. The best type of goldfish to start with are the fancy goldfish (orandas, moors, fantails and pearlscales are some examples) because these are smaller and 1-3 can live in a tank of 20 gallons. The bigger ones are normal goldfish, canary goldfish, subunkins and comets which can grow 40 cms, swim fast and therefor need a tank of 400 litres at least. Both can live longer than 8 years.

Answer 4

Goldfish should live longer than a month, if it lives only a month, then it was bought from a bad place. I've had mine nearly 2 years. Any goldfish is o.k as a starter goldfish, but why keep just goldfish? There's lots of other cold water fish you can keep with your goldfish.

Answer 5

Goldfish are generally easy to upkeep and very hearty. I started with Orandas and mine are going on 7 years old.

"Feeder" fish are great too. I had a friend who had a small goldfish he won from a carnival. It was in a 20 gallon tank by itself, and somehow the family inadvertently left the tank outside where it was rained on and exposed to various elements. They had forgotten about it. Two years later they went to clean out and throw out the tank and discovered that the goldfish was still alive- and had grown several inches in size and survived. They felt bad and moved the tank indoors and cleaned the water and tank out for the fish. A week later the fish died from the clean water.

Goldfish are really strong creatures.

Answer 6

Hi, nice to see a prospective fish keeper who knows bowls are a big NO! Well done for that, rather than confuse you with a ton of info, here's a link which will help you & your prospective fishy friends stay happy, by the way-they like to have buddies so you should be looking for at least a 20 gallon home.

Answer 7

all goldfish eventually get big. dont fool yourself when you see a cute 1inch feeder and think aww hes so little and cute(LOL) i just rescued a feeder that was bought very tiny and now is 8 inches long! hes in my pond of course and will be going into a 5,000 gallon in the spring. i bought a regular fantail a few yrs back that has reached 6 inches hes my avatar. so i believe if you can get a tank atleast 20 gallons you will be fine. they all start small and then they become monsters!(LOL) atleast mine do anyways...

Answer 8

I think the smallest wouls be a pearl scale i got mine at petsmart he was about 1/2 in when i got him he's probably like 2-2.5 now they do have a harder time competiting for food i hand feed mine and also you need at least ten gallons with a 20 gallon filter

Answer 9

All goldfish are good to buy if you have never had fish. The best for you would be a fantail and no they will never need 20 gallons of water. Fantails will grow in the area of 6-8". Commons will grow in excess of 3 feet.

A nice fantail would be great to start with, but I will warn you, fish are addicting no one can have just one!

Gold fish are hearty across the board here.

Congrads and welcome to the fish world!

Answer 10

i think guppies live a little longer then goldfish but at petsmart goldfish are 26 cents and they live pretty long (a month or 2 ) the smallest goldfish is 6 cents & they live 1 or 2 weeks

lol good luck with your fish!