Terri Ramsey Beavers Are you trying to find a good first pet for your child? Look no further than a goldfish! They’re not too hard to take care of and the kid will love watching their little fish swim around in their tank.
Even though goldfish aren’t hard to care for, there are still a few things that you should keep in mind to be a good pet owner.
If they don’t have clean water or you choose the wrong tank, they may not live that long. Do you know what you need to do to have a healthy goldfish?
Check out this goldfish maintenance guide to learn more about how to keep your fish around for a long time to come.
1. Finding a Fish
There are a ton of sources for finding a new goldfish for sale. It’s important to pick a reputable source with healthy fish. Nursing a sick fish back to health is not easy in the slightest.
If you’re buying more than one goldfish then the sick goldfish could infect the others as well. Choose fish who are actively swimming around in their tank, seem hyperactive, and are living in good conditions.
2. Choosing a Tank
You can’t keep your fish in their little bag of water forever. You’ll need to transfer it to a tank. When it comes to sizes for fish tanks, the larger the better.
Even though a goldfish is small, they need room to grow and swim. Keeping your goldfish in a larger tank means it has more room to grow into the fish it is meant to be! The tank should be at least seven times the size of the fish.
The fish need plenty of room to swim around. They’ll be happier and healthier this way.
3. Accessories
Don’t plop your fish in the tank without giving them a few accessories. You should invest in a hood so debris doesn’t drop in the tank. Many people make the mistake of not proving their fish with a filter system.
They don’t need a filter per se but having one will help keep their water in good condition. Goldfish are pretty energetic by nature so make sure you have plenty of rocks and plants they can swim through and hide in.
Speaking of rocks, don’t purchase ones that have sharp edges. The fish may injure themselves trying to play.
4. Preparing the Tank
Clean the tank and the accessories with a mild dish liquid before you put everything together. Fill it up with water, add the conditioner to it, and let it sit for a few days.
This will give everything enough time to circulate before you introduce your fish to its new home.
5. Feeding Your Fish
Goldfish are pretty low maintenance considering you only have to feed them once a day. Goldfish do like to have a little variety so buy a container of flakes and a container of granules.
Only feed them small amounts of food at once. Your fish will eat until it kills itself if you let it.
Basic Goldfish Maintenance for Newbies
Keeping a goldfish healthy isn’t so hard, but you still have to be a little careful. If you feed your fish too much or neglect to buy a filter, you may end up killing the fish on accident.
Use these easy goldfish maintenance tips to keep your pet alive for years to come!
Every pet comes with its own set of care instructions. Check out the pets section of our blog daily for more tips for owners.