Secrets To Keeping Goldfish
February 2, 2021
Goldfish make delightful pets and are often the first pet that most people get, but why are they hard to keep alive? We’ll look at some common mistakes and offer helpful tips for improving the quality of your goldfish’s life.
The goldfish is a freshwater fish from the carp family that was first raised in captivity more than a thousand years ago in ancient China as fish food. Known as the Asian Carp, the goldfish was enjoyed by Asian nobility, often being raised in outdoor ponds and aquariums.
During this time, the goldfish went through a change from being silver to the deep orange hue we know and love today. As a result of a genetic defect, the orange colour was adopted into breeding and today we can enjoy many varieties of all shapes and sizes in a whole spectrum of different colours, including white, yellow, orange, red, brown and black.
When a goldfish is healthy and happy, it can live up to 10 to 20 years. So why do so many of us lose our fishy friends after just days? Here are a few of the most common mistakes novice fish keepers make:
1. Ditch the fish bowl for a tank
There are two problems with using a fish bowl. One, the curved sides of a fish bowl limits the oxygenation of the water, thus providing a less-than-ideal living environment for your fish. The more surface area, the more oxygen. Two, most fish bowls do not include an aerator or pump, which results in stagnant water very quickly.
A fish tank is often bigger and better equipped with air and water filters and lights to keep your fish healthy and their liquid living quarters clean.
2. Do not use tap water
Tap water contains more chemicals than your goldfish can stand, particularly chlorine. You can still use tap water but you need to dechlorinate it first. You can easily do this by letting the water sit for a few days before adding it to the fish tank or using additives to remove the chlorine and other harmful chemicals. Your fish cannot survive long in regular tap water.
3. Follow the feeding instructions
It’s incredible how little a goldfish needs to sustain himself and it sure doesn’t take much to overfeed them. Not only is this bad for your goldfish, but too much food in the water will cause contamination. So make sure you follow the feeding instructions and give your goldfish only enough food necessary to keep them healthy.
4. Clean your fish tank regularly
A clean fish tank is a happy place for your goldfish to grow and thrive. So how often should you clean it? It all depends on the size of your tank and your goldfish, and also how much they poop (usually a lot!) Every couple of days, you want to check the tank and clean surfaces and pebbles so the water doesn’t get contaminated.
5. Use an air pump
Using an air pump and water filter will help to keep your tank oxygenated and free of contamination. An aerator also helps to circulate the water and creates a healthy environment so your goldfish can thrive.
6. Keep your goldfish happy
Yes, even goldfish can get bored, lonely and depressed so why not add some embellishment to your tank to keep them entertained. Use plants, ornaments, places to hide and mirrors to keep your goldfish happy and entertained.
With these six simple steps to keeping your goldfish healthy and happy, you’ll be sure to keep your fishy friends for many years to come.
Sources:
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals