how come my goldfish died?

Question

yesterday i bought a gold fish as a gift for my little sister. it was this kind . http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/292115/2/istockphoto_292115_goldfish.jpg

we put it in a bowl but this morning i found it dead. im thinking because the water was too cold? because it was just a normal bowl and i gave it flakes so it could eat? or maybe because right away when we bought and came home weput it inside th bowl?

i used water from the filter, so it wasnt tap water..

Answer 1

Well, that is very simple
A goldfish in a bowl is the biggest myth lived since years, and it doesn't work

You need at least a 10 gallon tank whith filter that your goldfish can get oxygen
Without oxygen it dies, and the colder the water, the more oxygen it has
Goldfish feel comfy in temp around 68-72

Also water coming from the tap, or even bottled water needs to be conditioned, to make it safe for fish to live in

once you have a tank, you need to let it cycle, before actually bying a fish for it

Also, only feed a goldfish twice a day, as much as they will eat in under 2 min, i also fast all my fish once a week for a whole day to prevent constipation

In a bowl, the water needs to be changed every other day of at least 50% since you have nowhere a place for good bacteria to grow and convert the ammonia which is produced through waste and food
The following article talks about the needs and right habitat of a goldfish
http://www.fishlesscycling.com/articles/caring_for_your_goldfish.html



Hope that helps
Good luck



EB

Answer 2

This question comes up daily on this forum. The problem is the bowl, goldfish can't live in bowls at all. They get BIG like a foot or more. Each goldfish need 10 gallons. The pet store sold you this because if they told you what you really needed you would think that was insane for a 50 cent fish and not bought a thing. Goldfish are exotic pets and you really need to buy some reading material on them before you begin or you will just kill them over and over and over again. Bowls are death traps for goldfish, sadly the pet store you purchased this stuff from knows this as well. I wouldn't vend with a store that is cruel to animals even the humble goldfish.

Answer 3

When you say you used water from the filter, do you mean a filter for tapwater used in refridgerators and faucets? If so then it was still tapwater and it does still contain chlorine and other harmful metals and salts that might be harmful to your fish.

You should really get some de-chlor/water conditioner and use about three drops per gallon of water.

Also, most places that sell fish will refund your money if you bring back a receipt and a sample of water if you fish has died within 10 days. The water sample should help the store figure out why the fish died.

It is true that goldfish are very dirty and do need filtration in their habitats, but since it was in the tank for less than 24 hours, that shouldn't have been what killed your fish.

Answer 4

It is sad, both for the fishkeeper as well as the fish, that we have been misled for decades about goldfish and that they are such an easy fish to keep when, in fact, they are one of the most difficult fish to keep; right up there with saltwater fish. I think a large majority of us realize that we would never just jump into keeping saltwater fish so, somehow, we need to get the word out that goldfish should be approached with that same attitude. Because of the difficulty in successfully keeping goldfish, the word is slowly spreading that goldfish should only be attempted by advanced aquarists. Goldfish are a very sensitive fish and are not particularly hardy in general and it doesn't help that they produce massive quantities of waste which results in high ammonia levels producing toxic water quality. The difficulty in keeping these fish is also compounded by the fact that goldfish have no stomach and need to be fed very carefully. And the final problem that results in the death of thousands of goldfish every year is the highly improper myth that goldfish can be kept in bowls. Of any other fish alive, goldfish should be the last fish that should ever be put in a bowl, if any fish should in the first place, which they should not. So, here's the deal. Please don't get another goldfish until you've learned all that is required to successfully keep one alive; which is a lot. First, get rid of the bowl and, if you want to keep goldfish, you MUST get at least a 10 gallon tank and preferably larger because, as your fish grows, you will need, ultimately, a 20-40 gallon tank just for one goldfish and this is if it's a fancy goldfish. If you choose slim-bodied goldfish, you could need up to a 100 gallon tank just for one fish. Next, do some research on how to keep goldfish. This link has a bunch of wonderful, informative articles and advice and also has a blog where you can ask any question you may have and many very knowledgeable goldfish keeping veterans will be right there to answer your question. You have a lot to learn if you want to successfully keep goldfish and a full knowledge of what's involved will ensure that, next time, your goldfish lives. Good luck!

Answer 5

It is best to have the tank/bowl prepared at least a day in advance before getting your fish. You need to condition the water and let the temperature stabilize. Then you should 'float' the bag your fish came in from the store in the tank for an hour. Also a common misconception about gold fish is that they don't need airation. They can live without it....but will live much longer with it.

Answer 6

Did you water out of the tap? If you did you have to treat the water in order to get out all the chemicals we humans put in to make it drinkable. The cholrine might have killed it. You can buy the conditioner at the same place they sell the fish. The should replace the fish for you if they didn't tell you this.

Answer 7

If you bought the fish yesterday and you have the receipt just return it back and get a new one and tell them you bought it yesterday and it died this morning they usuall will give you one make sure you have the receipt though soo you can return the dead fish

Answer 8

You washed the fish? Or did you wash the tank? If you washed the fish, its plain to see why they died. Fish dont like gettin washed. That is why they smell all fishy like.

Answer 9

....Did U use tap water b cause if U did that is Y it's dead tap water have to many chemicals in it...U should have used bottled water...My Dear...