10 Best Goldfish Tank

Best Goldfish Tank in 2023

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Guide to Goldfish Care

As with any other fish, a goldfish needs to be taken care of properly. By learning about the proper housing, feeding, compatibility, and quick facts about goldfish, you will be able to enjoy them for years to come.

Black Moor Goldfish: pcatid;=856
Red Cap Oranda Goldfish: pcatid;=853
Red and White Ryukin Goldfish: pcatid;=2641
Red Fantail Goldfish: pcatid;=2743
Calico Fantail Goldfish: pcatid;=2742

Two very important things to keep in mind when considering a goldfish are that they can grow to be very large (sometimes 10 inches) and need to have special water parameters different than that of regular pet store fish.

Goldfish Quick Stats
Care Level: Easy
Scientific Name: Carassius auratus
Family: Cyprinidae
Native To: Asia
Max Size: around 10"
Min Tank Size: 30 gallons
Diet: Omnivore
Life Span: up to 15 years, some can live even longer
Temperament: Peaceful, Community
About: Goldfish are actually brackish water fish, not freshwater fish. This will be discussed in more depth later in the article.

Goldfish compatibility
Contrary to popular belief, goldfish are not freshwater fish. They prefer brackish water, which is water that has a higher salinity level than freshwater. It can be described as in between freshwater and salt water. Therefore, goldfish are not to be kept in a tank with "freshwater" fish as the lack of salt in the water will cause them to grow sick. Because of these restrictions, goldfish cannot be kept in a tank with other readily available fish, such as tetras, barbs, and angelfish. Goldfish are best left in tanks of their own species, but they are compatible with corydoras catfish. Cory cats are helpful in removing excess food from fish tanks, so having a small school (they prefer to be in groups) is never a bad idea.

Goldfish Diet and Recommended Food
Goldfish food is readily available at any pet store or Wal-Mart. It is easy to identify goldfish food as top brands prepare a blend especially for them, such as with Top Fin Goldfish Flake Foods or TetraFin Goldfish Flakes. Personally I am a fan of the TetraFin brand and recommend alternating use of the regular TetraFin Goldfish Flakes and the TetraColor Goldfish Flakes. This mix of foods will guarantee you a healthy goldfish inside and out. Since goldfish are omnivorous, they need supplements to flake food. Food such as brine shrimp will easily solve this problem, and they can be found either live or in the frozen section of your local pet store. There are varying schools of thought as to whether live food is better than frozen food, but as long as a top-name brand is used, the difference is negligible.

Feeding Your Goldfish
In the wild, goldfish are continual eaters, taking advantage of every opportunity to have a meal. In captivity, goldfish should be fed small meals a 2-3 times a day. If fed too much, a goldfish will gorge itself and can become sick and develop severe digestive problems. A rule of thumb is to feed your fish no more than they can consume in two minutes.

A Home for Your Goldfish
Goldfish cannot possibly thrive in a small counter-top bowl. It is cruel to give an animal such a small place to live. As goldfish can grow to be around ten inches long, they need the room to grow and swim around. A 30-gallon tank is the minimum size for such a fish. When trying to figure out how many fish you can fit in your tank, a general rule of thumb is one inch per fish per one gallon of water. Of course, when you use this rule, use the full-grown size of your fish, not the size you bought it at.

As goldfish produce excess waste, in addition to routine tank maintenance (described below) it is important to install a proper filter. Choosing a proper filter is easy, and most need to be maintained only once a month. Filters will be numbered based on what size tank they are meant for, so choose a filter according to your tank size.

Regarding a heater, some believe it is not necessary, but it is extremely helpful in avoiding drastic water temperature changes. Such changes can kill any fish.

For goldfish, a medium sized substrate is recommended. Some larger rocks should be included to provide hiding spaces. Plants are not recommended as goldfish are known to cause them damage. Goldfish love to eat plants, so if you wish to include any plants in your tank, choose some that the fish will enjoy snacking on.

Common Goldfish Diseases
Goldfish are in fact hardy fish, but like any animal they are susceptible to disease. Some diseases seen in goldfish are anchor worms, swim bladder disease, dropsy, and fungus (such as Ich). The symptoms and characteristics of these diseases are described in another article, and successful medication can be purchased at any local pet store.

Goldfish Tank Maintenance
As goldfish create an excess of waste, it is important to perform routine water changes to maintain the water quality. Water changes can be performed twice a week with about 20% of the water being changed. To maintain the brackish quality of the tank water, marine salt should be mixed into the freshwater (do not use aquarium salt). Using a hydrometer, add the marine salt until you reach a level of about 1.005.

A tank of four or five healthy fancy goldfish will add so much to any room or area. As long as these fish are well taken care of, they will bring enjoyment for years to come.

Bibliography:
"A Guide for Goldfish Care." Pet Education. 2020. Doctors Foster and Smith. 29 Mar 2020 .
"Fancy Goldfish." Live Aquaria. 2020. Doctors Foster and Smith. 29 Mar 2020 .
Fields, Karen. "How do you make brackish water for Bumblebee gobies?." Freshwater Aquarium. 04 Mar 2020. All Experts. 29 Mar 2020 .
"Goldfish Food." Petco. 2020. 29 Mar 2020 .
Stevens, Alison. "Common Goldfish Diseases - Symptoms and Treatment." Buzzle. 19 Apr 2020. 29 Mar 2020 .