Hobby FishBasic Guide to

Keeping Fancy Goldfish

Red OrandaAquarium InstallationInstall the aquarium on a flat level surface, strong enough to support it and any contents.You should avoid areas where the aquarium will be in direct sunlight or subject to large temperature variations such as over a radiator.

Black Moor

Gravel should be rinsed with cold tap water before being placed on the bottom of the aquarium. If tap water is to be used, the aquarium should be filled with cold water straight from the mains. Any hoses or containers used to fill the aquarium must be clean and not contaminated by substances unsafe for fish, eg. soap. Tap water has things added to make it safe for us to drink. Unfortunately this makes it unsafe for fish. To make tap water safe for fish we must use a Tap water conditioner. After adding the tap water conditioner, it takes a little while for tap water conditioner to work. You must leave the aquarium setup, full of conditioned water, with the filter running for a few days before adding your first fish.

Did you know?Goldfish keeping is an

ancient Chinese tradition dating back as far as the Jin

Dynasty (265-420)

Did you Know?Rome has banned goldfish

bowls.

Did you Know?Aquariums less than 54 litres

& “goldfish bowls” are not really suitable despite it being traditional to keep

them in such vessels. You should allow at least 18 litres

for each goldfish.

It is best to add some filter start bacteria an hour or so after adding the tap water conditioner to speed up the process of making the aquarium ready for fish. Goldfish are large, messy fish that produce a lot of waste for their size. This waste is released into the aquarium water. Without a filter the goldfish will end up living in their own waste which will eventually poison them.

Bubble Eye

Pearl Scale

Most goldfish waste is ammonia. A filter breaks down the ammonia biologically, via a nitrite stage, to a less harmful waste product called nitrate. Biological Filtration relies on bacteria. A brand new filter will have no bacteria.It can take 4 -8 weeks of ammonia being present in the aquarium for enough bacteria to grow to enable the filter to deal with all the ammonia produced by the aquarium’s first few inhabitants.

The Guiness Record for the longest lived Goldfish kept in an aquarium is about 43

years.

Did you Know?Austria have made fish

tanks smaller than 54 litres illegal and that in Germany you can not manufacture fish tanks smaller than 54

litres.

We add fish slowly over the course of several weeks rather than all in one go. Adding filter bacteria can speed up the maturation of the filter and make the water better for the fish. Regular partial water changes can prevent the nitrate from reaching harmful levels, and helps keep problem algae at bay. Changing at least, 25% of the aquarium water, every week is recommended. Extra partial water changes may be required, especially during the first month or two.

Fish waste in the form of Ammonia and its associated Nitrite are the main cause of problems in keeping goldfish. You can get simple to use test kits and indicators that can help you monitor the level of these in your aquarium, making it easier for you to provide a better environment for your fish.

Ryukin

MaintenanceBefore putting your hands in an aquarium you should always unplug any electrical items associated with it.The night before a water change, fill a clean container or containers with sufficient water to change 25%. If tap water has been used, add sufficient tap water conditioner for the amount of water in the container. Leave overnight in a room about the same temperature as the room of the aquarium. On the day of the water change, take 25% of the water out of the aquarium. The easiest way to do this is with a gravel cleaner that allows you to clean the gravel and take some water out of the aquarium at the same time. Many people drop the water level a little first.

FeedingFor the first month or so of a new aquarium, whilst the filter matures, you should only feed the goldfish once a day sparingly. They should eat the amount you feed within a couple of minutes. Once the filter is mature it is better to feed the fish 2 to 4 times a day. Small amounts regularly is better than one large feed.

Goldfish should be fed regularly with either gold fish flake or pellets. Sinking pellets have become more popular as they allow the fish to feed more naturally and help prevent the fish from swallowing air that may lead to swim bladder problems. Occasionally, you should supplement their diet with some live, frozen or freeze dried daphnia. Goldfish also like plants in their diet and will enjoy vegetable flakes or granules given from time to time. Some people like to decorate the aquarium with plants the fish will eat, as well as some they normally don’t eat.

Did you know?Goldfish can normally grow

from between 15 cm to 45cm long.

Use an algae cleaning pad to rub round the walls of the aquarium, to clean them. Then take out the remaining water to be changed. A mature filter foam or bio media should be rinsed in the water taken out of the aquarium. Just a light rinse is sufficient, enough to wash away any sludge.

Ranchu

Did you Know?A traditional aquarium of 25 - 30 litres should only be seen as a temporary home for 1 or 2 very small fancy goldfish

©Text: Hobby Fish 2010

Did you Know?Round bowls can reflect

shock waves back into the centre of the bowl where they

become concentrated causing the goldfish

discomfort or pain. If a bowl is the only option use plastic

plants and decorations to help prevent this.

Remember we want to keep as many good bacteria that breakdown fish waste as possible. Carbon or other cartridges should be changed as per manufacturers instructions. If after cleaning any media still reduces the flow of water through the filter too much, it should be replaced.Then using the water that has been left overnight, top the aquarium back up to the correct level. Add some filter bacteria to help replenish those lost by rinsing or replacing media.When finished turn back on electrical items and check they are all working properly.

Did you know?Normal goldfish, Red

Comets and Shubunkins are best kept in much larger

tanks or ponds.

Did you know?Individual show goldfish and

highest quality breeding stock can sell for many

hundreds of pounds.

Calico Oranda

Goldfish Essentials

�Aquarium�Filter�Gravel�Tap Water Conditioner�Filter Start Bacteria�Goldfish Food

Recommended Accessories

�Test Kits�Light�Background�Air Pump�Gravel Cleaner�Algae Cleaner