Fishy Facts
Goldfish are a colourful and inexpensive way to brighten up any room. Not only are they relaxing to watch, but compared to other pets they are relatively low maintenance. The humble goldfish makes a great pet for children and adults alike and these days there are more than 100 varieties from which to choose.
The most common mistake that people make is putting goldfish in those pretty little goldfish bowls and wondering why they die within a couple of months. These bowls do not have a big enough surface area for the fish to obtain adequate oxygen. Goldfish require large amounts of oxygen and the best way for you to provide this is to have a large, rectangular tank that’s fitted with a filter. This not only aerates the water but keeps the tank clean as well.
‘New Tank Syndrome’ is when you rush out and buy everything you need, set the tank up and pop the fish in… but they soon get sick and die. You should really leave a tank for about two weeks before you add your fish. This allows time for the water to settle, bacteria to establish and the level of nitrate and ammonia to drop to a safe level. So be patient, wait two weeks and then gradually add your fish.
Tips
- Add fish slowly. Don’t place them straight in the tank but rather float them in the bag they came in to allow them to gradually adjust to the water temperature of your aquarium or tank. After 20 minutes or so, undo the bag and gently allow the fish to swim into the aquarium.
- When feeding your goldfish, understand that they only need a tiny amount of food. Many people make the mistake of overfeeding which only serves to pollute the tank. Ideally, fish should be fed twice a day and never more than is eaten within a couple of minutes.
- Another common mistake is overcrowding. The general rule is “1cm of fish to every 2 litres of water”. For example, an 80 litre tank should only accommodate around six medium-sized fish.
- To maintain a healthy aquarium you need to exchange about a third of the water every couple of weeks. Do this using a siphon hose, which will also remove solid wastes as you extract water.
- When adding fresh water, remember to add water conditioner
Did you know…
Goldfish were first domesticated in China in 960AD from a species of native carp. These days there are over 100 varieties of goldfish and if kept properly they can live for up to 20 years!
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