why do i keep killing my fish?

Question

I have bought 6 gold fish and have killed them all within 24 hours of having them. I dont understand what I am doing wrong. I let the water set for a day before putting them into the bowl and fed them. Do you have to put something else in there just to keep the goldfish alive? I thought that you could just put them in the bowl.

Answer 1

No, each goldfish(all species) needs 25-30gallons each and will need proper filtration, and will grow 6-24inches each.

The bowls are useless for all fish to live in.

Answer 2

Gold fish should not be in a bowl, many people don't realize they get very large and need a big tank.You should have 20 gallons for you first gold fish and another 10 gallons for each additional goldfish.Your goldfish may have died from temperature shock as well.if you must keep something in a bowl try a betta they are the only fish that can survive there for a reasonable amount of time.You would really be better off getting even a small tank of 2-5 gallons with a filter if you want to keep fish.

Answer 3

Firstly, it's not healthy to keep goldfish in a bowl. They poop a LOT and need very good filtration. So, you need a tank with a filter and all that good stuff.

Secondly, you cannot keep that many goldfish in even a small tank, let alone a bowl. Like I said, goldfish crap a lot, which causes there to be a lot of ammonia in the tank, and ammonia is poisonous to fish. Having six fish in a bowl, ammonia poisoning could have been the cause. They also grow very large, so you'd need a very big tank for six goldfish.

You also need to use a water conditioner. Letting the water sit for a day will get rid of the chlorine, but not the chloramine, if there is any.

Bowls really aren't healthy for any kind of fish. Bettas are the only ones who can really live in one, but it does shorten their lifespan, so it's not ideal.

Answer 4

lol you sound exactly the way I was when I first started keeping fish!! I can completely relate.
Many fish populations later, I have learned that goldfish should never be just kept in a bowl, since there is not enough surface area on the top of the water.
A good rule of thumb is to have 2 goldfish per 5-6 gallons of fish tank. That way you can make sure the water levels are in good shape.
A 10-gallon tank is fairly cheap to buy and set up, and most of them are available in kits for us fish newbies!
After doing some research, I found out that you have to let the running system sit for at least two weeks before you put in any fish!! It sounds like a long time, but this is so that the good bacteria can build up enough to take care of your fish when they get in the water.
You will also need a testing kit to test levels of certain chemicals in the fish tank. Some things to check are ammonia and the pH level. These chemicals are vital to your fish tank's survival, and so you will need to change your water every time the ammonia level gets high.

Thats about all you really need to know to get things started. Don't get discouraged! You can do it.
Start by hunting down a 10-30 gallon fish tank kit, and go from there!
happy fishing

Answer 5

Goldfish don't survive that well in bowls. If the types your getting are fancies (with a double tail) they'll grow to 8+ inches long, and if they're commons (with a single tail) they'll grow around 18+ inches. They also produce a lot of ammonia in their wastes, and this is toxic to the fish.

To keep a goldfish properly, they should be in a tank with a filter. When young, you may be able to keep them in a smaller tank, but as an adult, one goldfish should have at least 20 gallons of water, with an additional 10 gallons for every fish after.

Answer 6

There's more to it than just sticking fish into a bowl. If you want more than one goldfish (and they do get pretty big), you'll need an aquarium. The aquarium has to mature or cycle before you put fish in it. You can find all sorts of things to treat the water to remove poisonous tap water additives, adjust the Ph, reduce stress, etc. There's lots of great on-line sources for beginners. We just started an aquarium this year and had very few losses other than the neon tetras (they're inbred and fragile nowadays). I read everything I could find on the subject before I got the fish to avoid a body count. Anyway, do a little research and be patient and you'll have more success with your fish. I listed two beginner goldfish links below. Just remember that they are living creatures in a contained bio-system and need your help to stay clean - not just a decoration.
(If you want good beginner tropical fish, try platys. We had red wagtails and gold comets and they are all very hearty and healthy. For them you need a filter and heater, though.)

Answer 7

No! you need to put water treetment in it removes the clorene from the water. It will say on the bottle how much you will need. Also if its a small bowl them 6 goldfish is a hell of alot.
i heard a rumor not sure isf its true but your tipical rounded fish bowl killes fish god know why? my pet shop stoped selling them because of it. But go to your local pet shop and ask there just to be certain.

Answer 8

1) Research 'aquarium cycling' on Google and you will get the answer to why you are killing your fish (poisoning them with an abundance of ammonia)

2) Goldfish are huge, messy creatures, and keeping one in a bowl is poor fish keeping practice. Stuffing 6 into one is nothing less then fishy murder.

Goldfish need proper tanks with filters and room to grow. Any common goldfish will grow to over a foot long given a chance, and live for decades! It's unfortunate they've gained a reputation of bowl adequate. They don't 'grow to their environment', they get stunted and die.

Bowls are for soup, not fish.

Answer 9

Use Chlorine removers. Goldfish + Chrlorine in tap water = death.

Answer 10

the fish may already be sick depending on where you are getting them, the water may have to much chlorine in it or it may be the wrong temperature.