3 Goldfish Myths
Goldfish are one of the most mistaken fish in the hobby. Many people are unaware that they require much more care than the employees at pet stores say. Sadly there are many myths that are about as far from the truth as you can get.
Myth #1 Bowls make great homes for goldfish!
Many people think that goldfish can be kept in bowls. This is simply not true. Many goldfish will get larger than the bowls if well cared for. Fancy goldfish can reach a foot in length, while commons and comets will get much much larger than that. The minimum tank size for goldfish is 29 gallons. Most hobbyists say 20 gal. for the first fish, and 10 gal. for each additional one, meaning you could only have 2 goldfish in a 29 gallon tank. I personally think that you can keep three fish in a 29, as long as you keep up with your weekly water changes.
Myth #2 Goldfish don't live very long!
Another myth that is absolutely NOT true is that goldfish have short lifespans. While this may be true for improperly kept goldfish, healthy fish can live for 30 years. In fact, the oldest recorded goldfish was 43 years old! If you keep your fish in a bowl with no filtration or no water changes, they are doomed to live a short life, likely dying from being poisoned by there own water.
Myth #3 Goldfish don't need filters or water changes!
Goldfish NEED filters! They are very messy fish! If you don't have a filter in your tank, there is probably not very much oxygen in the water. Goldfish take in a lot of oxygen, so having moving water is important. Filters also provide a home for beneficial bacteria (BB). The BB help convert poisonous ammonia which is toxic, into nitrite (also toxic), and then finally into nitrate. Nitrate is toxic also, but it takes much more nitrate to kill a fish than ammonia and nitrate. There is nothing to remove nitrate (unless you have plants, but your goldies would likely eat them anyway), which is why you need to do water changes. So in short, get your goldfish a filter and do weekly water changes!
So, if you are considering getting goldfish, throw that bowl away, and get a proper sized tank with a filter, and do 50% water changes once or twice a week. Your fish will be very happy, trust me!
Goldfish are one of the most mistaken fish in the hobby. Many people are unaware that they require much more care than the employees at pet stores say. Sadly there are many myths that are about as far from the truth as you can get.
Myth #1 Bowls make great homes for goldfish!
Many people think that goldfish can be kept in bowls. This is simply not true. Many goldfish will get larger than the bowls if well cared for. Fancy goldfish can reach a foot in length, while commons and comets will get much much larger than that. The minimum tank size for goldfish is 29 gallons. Most hobbyists say 20 gal. for the first fish, and 10 gal. for each additional one, meaning you could only have 2 goldfish in a 29 gallon tank. I personally think that you can keep three fish in a 29, as long as you keep up with your weekly water changes.
Myth #2 Goldfish don't live very long!
Another myth that is absolutely NOT true is that goldfish have short lifespans. While this may be true for improperly kept goldfish, healthy fish can live for 30 years. In fact, the oldest recorded goldfish was 43 years old! If you keep your fish in a bowl with no filtration or no water changes, they are doomed to live a short life, likely dying from being poisoned by there own water.
Myth #3 Goldfish don't need filters or water changes!
Goldfish NEED filters! They are very messy fish! If you don't have a filter in your tank, there is probably not very much oxygen in the water. Goldfish take in a lot of oxygen, so having moving water is important. Filters also provide a home for beneficial bacteria (BB). The BB help convert poisonous ammonia which is toxic, into nitrite (also toxic), and then finally into nitrate. Nitrate is toxic also, but it takes much more nitrate to kill a fish than ammonia and nitrate. There is nothing to remove nitrate (unless you have plants, but your goldies would likely eat them anyway), which is why you need to do water changes. So in short, get your goldfish a filter and do weekly water changes!
So, if you are considering getting goldfish, throw that bowl away, and get a proper sized tank with a filter, and do 50% water changes once or twice a week. Your fish will be very happy, trust me!
A nice goldfish aquarium that is properly stocked.