Taking care of a goldfish?

Okay:

- One goldfish needs twenty gallons, no matter what.

- A goldfish needs a filter.

- No heater.

- I would feed him pellets if he can't eat the flakes. Or hold the flakes under the water before feeding to him for a few seconds.

- Feed him peas. Cook some peas, peel off the outer edge and drop in a couple.

- Keep the light in the tank on for about six hours a day.

- Use water conditioner whenever you do a water change.

- Do a water change at least once a week if you have a twenty gallon, every other day for anything less then five gallons, every day for a bowl.

- Once a month, siphon the gravel using a gravel vac sold at pet stores.

- Test the water once a week when you do the water changes. Water test kits sold at pet stores. If your levels are high or low, treatments are sold at pet stores.

- Ailments:

Ich- white spots on fish.

Fungi- fluffy spots on fish.

Swim Bladder Disease- fish swimming upside down or sideways.

Hole In the Head Disease- holes in the head.

Constipation- Long stringy poop.

Black Spot Disease- Tiny black spots all over fish.

Velvet- A very, velvety, slime all over fish.

There are so many more.

Most of these are treated with Parasite Clear, Fungus Guard, Water changes, increased temperature or/and cooked peas.

- Temperature should be about sixty eight degrees Fahrenheit.

- Plants are best when they are silk or live, as fake plants can damage their fins.

- Air pump: Yes! Get one and an air stone!

- Other food: Brine shrimp. They are sold Freeze Dried or you can raise them from eggs.

- Gravel. A must have.

- Love. Yes, goldfish are a pet, not a decoration. Just like a dog, they need to be loved. If you have your goldfish in with other fish, set up a hospital tank. It can be any number of gallons, preferably five gallons or so. When your fish is sick, bring it over there. I have an angelfish in the hospital tank right now, treating for Swim Bladder Disease.

Good luck!!!

Hi Michelle, if your fish is in anything less than a 10 gallon tank with a fitted lid & a filter rated for about twice the tank capacity then you are going to have problems. If you already have suitable equipment & volume of water then the problem is your water-poor water quality is responsible for about 99% of all new fish keepers problems. The link below has some excellent advice on good Goldfish care. If you cannot provide the minimum care & equipment I would recommend returning him to the store until you have both the knowledge & resources to keep Goldfish properly.

Hey how big is ur fish. I hope the size of food is not too large. If ur fish is new it will take time to adjust to the environment. Goldfishes are known to hog on to food. If ur feeding the fish with dry food it at time takes for the fish to adjust to it. Feed him with some bloodworms and it will eat them quickly. It is just like giving them their natural food, imagine urself eating something which u don't like but it is the only food left on earth even u will require time to adjust. Don't think so much about ur fish just follow the basics like cleaning the tank regularly, and most important keeping the air filter on.

A goldfish requires a minimum of a 20 gallon tank with extra filtration. They are huge waste producers and will foul a small tank quickly and they also grow to be up to a foot long if kept in good conditions. If they are kept in small bowls or tanks the water becomes toxic and the fish isn't able to grow properly which causes organ failure and death.

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he probably doesn't like the food and a tip is to have 10 gallons per goldfish. my goldfish just died :(