| Determining what proper goldfish tanks should be like | | | | however, so plan on having to replace plants fairly |
| is every bit as important as determining what proper | | | | often. |
| tropical fish tanks should be like. We often think of | | | | To keep the water at a sufficient quality you'll want |
| tropical fish as requiring special care, and that's true. | | | | to be changing some out on a weekly basis. Note the |
| It's also true that goldfish, if they are to remain | | | | use of the word "some". You don't need to |
| healthy and live out their normal life spans, require | | | | completely empty and refill goldfish tanks every |
| their own special care. | | | | week. For one thing, that's not particularly good for |
| Goldfish are often thought of as being short-lived fish. | | | | the fish. What you want to be doing is removing as |
| That is simply not true, as a goldfish typically has a | | | | much waste as you can with each water change, |
| life span in excess of 10 years. What is true is that | | | | and taking out and replacing only about a quarter of |
| when placed in something other than a proper tank, | | | | the water volume each time. One problem that can |
| like a goldfish bowl, a goldfish may indeed be short | | | | happen if you change all the water out (besides |
| lived. A goldfish in a small bowl is unlikely to live for 10 | | | | having to remove the fish in the process), is that |
| years. Blame it on the small bowl, or the goldfish's | | | | significant differences in temperature between the |
| owner if you will. For one thing, because of its shape, | | | | old water and the new water can be extremely |
| the goldfish bowl does not provide a large water | | | | stressful to the goldfish. By taking out and replacing |
| surface area, necessary in keeping the oxygen | | | | only a portion of the water at one time, temperature |
| content in the water at a required level. In addition, a | | | | changes are minimized. |
| single goldfish requires quite a bit of water, about 20 | | | | When you do settle upon a tank that is large enough, |
| gallons to be exact. You won't find many 20-gallon | | | | it is obviously going to be very heavy. Twenty-gallon |
| goldfish bowls on the market and, if you have two | | | | tanks when filled, will contain 160 pounds of water. |
| goldfish, you'd better be looking at a 30-gallon bowl. | | | | Add that to the weight of the empty tank, and you |
| An aquarium style container is definitely what you | | | | can see the need to have a very sturdy stand or |
| need, unless of course you are going to keep the | | | | piece of furniture to keep the tank on. The location |
| fish in an outdoor pond. | | | | of the tank is of importance as well. Keep the tank |
| Even inexpensive common goldfish can be extremely | | | | away from heat sources. Goldfish are not tropical |
| attractive to look at, and deserve to be placed in an | | | | fish. And keep the tank out of direct sunlight. Indirect |
| environment where they will thrive. Their availability | | | | light is best. Don't keep the tank and fish in a |
| and low cost should not diminish from their value as | | | | darkened room for long, the goldfish will start to lose |
| pets, and as ornamental fish. Some types, especially | | | | their characteristic colors! A lighted tank where the |
| the more common types, can become quite large | | | | light is on no more than 8 to 10 hours a day is about |
| over time, require plenty of room to roam, plus they | | | | right. Fluorescent lights are often a good choice for |
| will create quite a bit of waste. A 20 gallon tank for | | | | hood or canopy lighting. |
| one fish is really the absolute minimum size that | | | | Goldfish are not simple-minded as some would |
| should be considered. Get a 55 gallon tank and 3 or 4 | | | | believe, but are actually somewhat intelligent, and |
| goldfish, and you can then sit back and enjoy | | | | have a sense of curiosity. You can put plenty of |
| watching them. | | | | things in goldfish tanks that the fish can swim |
| Of course goldfish tanks holding only goldfish and | | | | through, around, or under, adding a little variety to |
| water aren't much to look at, and aren't good for the | | | | their routine. Gravel on the bottom is almost a must, |
| goldfish either. Since the goldfish is a cold water fish, | | | | plus the fact that the fish seem to enjoy nosing |
| you don't usually need to worry about installing a | | | | around in the gravel. Just avoid things which may |
| water heater. You do need to install an air pump to | | | | have sharp edges which could cause injuries to the |
| provide oxygen, and a filter to keep the water clean | | | | fish. |
| enough for the fish. You should also consider plenty | | | | While it may seem to be quite a huge enterprise for |
| of plant life, not only for appearance, and as a | | | | a few fish, large goldfish tanks are the price that |
| secondary though minor source of fish food, but also | | | | must be paid if you plan on having healthy fish for a |
| because plants can also assist in the filtering process. | | | | number of years. |
| Goldfish are usually very fond of eating plants | | | | |