Goldfishes are popular among aquarists and they are beautiful and great to keep in an aquarium but I hate to break it to you- goldfish is not for beginners as they’re often made out to be.
The reasons? Read on to find out…
1. They will grow into their adult size eventually
In most cases people keep goldfish in a small bowl or a small tank and the size they will grow into is often ignored. A bowl or a small tank is too small for their needs. Goldfish need atleast 50 litres individually and they do not like to be alone so you will need atleast 150 litres for a bunch of them. They will seem small when you see them in a pet shop but they can actually grow up to 15 inches or more! A popular misconception is that they will adapt to the size of the bowl or tank. A tank that is not suitable for them will result in to stunted growth and your fish will eventually die because it’s organs, fins, etc. will keep on growing and the bowl or small tank won’t be able to accommodate the goldfish anymore.
TIP
If you provide a decent space to a young goldfish, they can grow to 4-5 inches in a year’s time.
2. They produce a lot of waste
Goldfish produce a lot of waste as compared to other species of starter fish which is a lot of bio load. This is another reason why they should be kept in a properly sized aquarium as a lot of waste in the tank will pollute the tank and cause ammonia spike. Their skin, fins, gills could burn from the ammonia that they will produce. It can cause many diseases and even death.
TIP 1
Do a weekly water change of 25-50% depending on the capacity and no. of goldfishes in your tank.
TIP 2
Have a powerful filter ie atleast 6x times the aquarium capacity. Eg. If tank capacity is 100 litres, then filtration capacity should be atleast 600 litres per hour.
3. They have specialised needs
They have specialised tank requirements. Goldfish need a lot of oxygen to thrive and live long happy lives. At the surface level of water, water and air undergo an exchange of gases- oxygen from the air goes into the water and carbon dioxide is released from the water which goes into the air. This is how fishes get their oxygen. Goldfish need oxygen from the surface of the water which means you will need a tank with enough surface area and water agitation which will ensure exchange of gases and give them the much needed copious amounts of oxygen. This is why small tanks and bowls are not suitable for goldfish. If you notice that your goldfishes are constantly at the surface, it means that they are gasping for air.
4. They need a large tank or a pond
Smaller tanks and bowls undergo fluctuating water chemistry; they have bigger effects and changes in the water parameters whereas large tanks are easier to maintain and the water chemistry remains stable. Goldfish need atleast 50 litres individually and they do not like to be alone so you will need around 150 litres for a bunch of them. It’s best to have a tank twice the recommended size and many beginner aquarists are not ready for that. Moreover, your tank needs adequate aeration and filtration to encourage growth of beneficial bacteria that will counterbalance the levels of ammonia in the water.
Goldfishes are a great responsibility that beginner aquarists may not be ready for yet. With proper care, good filtration, regular maintenance, knowledge and a properly sized tank, they can live long and happy lives so consider the above points before you introduce a goldfish in your new tank.
Hi, i appreciate your research about goldfishes but i’ll be frank and say that the misconception about the growth of goldfishes.
First of all goldfishes CAN adapt themselves depending on the size of the tank. Its absolutely not true that they have stunted growth while their organs keep growing. Its nature and just like us their organs stop growing as per the body size. I have goldfishes for the past 5 years- they are STILL ALIVE and i didn’t come across any of such growth problems as mentioned in your research.
Secondly, yes i do agree that they excrete a lot but that can ALWAYS BE MANAGED by giving them a proper quantity of food at their regular intervals. If u r unaware they don’t have stomach and hence they will ask for food and eat a lot until they swell up and die. Its only up to the owner’s knowledge how much quantity of food he/she gives to the fishes. One fish can survive well and healthy if it gets approx. 5-6 pellets a day. ‘LESS they eat LESS they excrete”
Goldfishes don’t die easily if they are provided with good quality food, clean water, proper oxygen supply, and maintaining water temp by providing heater during winters.
If the owner is unable to purchase a good quality of food and is unable to maintain them, its the owner who is to be blamed and not the breed of the fishes. CLEAN WATER keeps the goldfishes away from each and every DIESEASE.
Lastly they have emotions as well and hence they need to be loved equally as one loves cats and dogs. If you are an animal lover then u must know that bonds can be formed between any animal.
thanks you
Finally some one actually writing on this. To be honest goldfish is not for aquarium at all, due to their size and ????, that need much bigger tank to grow freely. My opinion at list 400 liter large bottom space tank.
For baby gold fish 50 liter is still work but after 1 year it need more ( at least 150 ltr) for one gold fish
thank you for giving very good information and that too in a main page showing about gold fishes. most of the people likes the gold fishes but people doesn`t know why the gold fishes are dying. this pages gives details information about gold fish. thank you aquariums india.
Thankyou for this information, it will really help the new keeper or hobbyists!
Hii!! thanks for sharing this information,before reading this blog, I had not any extra knowledge about gold fish,after reading this blog,I have collected many more information about gold fish .
Like!! Really appreciate you sharing this blog post.Really thank you! Keep writing.