A Pet's View / March 2006
Going for Gold
Goldfish are one of the most common household pets. Attractive, colorful and gently hypnotic, goldfish are as decorative as they are therapeutic. With proper care, they live long, healthy lives, providing pleasure to adults and children. With excellent water conditions and an owner who pays attention, many live ten to twenty years. All goldfish belong to the same species, Carassius auratus, so they share similarities in behavior, care requirements and habits.
The common goldfish, often sold as ‘feeder’ fish, can grow to be twelve inches and live for years when cared for properly. Fantails are a shorter fish with double tails and more rounded bodies. Comets are like the common goldfish but with longer fins and skinnier bodies.
More exotic goldfish include the long, slender Lionhead goldfish that lack a dorsal fin, the double tailed
Black Moor with telescope eyes and Shubunkin, known for their white bodies and spots of color in shades of yellow, orange, blue and black. The Oranda is a Lionhead with a dorsal fin and head growth. They are most commonly white with a red cap.
Some gold fish have pompoms, small growths near their nostrils and some have large, telescope eyes. Bubble eyed goldfish can be a variety of colors but have bubble sacs under each eye.
Single tail goldfish, like Shubunkins and Comets, are the easiest to breed and keep and by far the hardiest. If placed outdoors in a pool they can grow to twelve inches in just a couple of years.
Goldfish look delicate, but are actually rather hardy. They are omnivorous and eat just about anything, but prepackaged food specifically for goldfish is the safest choice. All fish need protein for muscle and vitamins for disease resistance and bone strength, but goldfish need more carbohydrates than other fish. A quality diet maintains good health and brings out the fish’s color.
Goldfish should only be given the amount of food they can eat in a few minutes. Leftover food decomposes and pollutes the tank. Any food that remains uneaten, should be removed. Feeding a small amount several times during the day is preferable to feeding one big meal.
Goldfish are not tropical fish and thrive in tanks without heaters at temperatures between 50 degrees F to 68 degrees F. Rapid temperature changes can make a fish more susceptible to disease. Different varieties of goldfish may prefer different temperatures and many owners find their fish are more active at the 74-76 range. All goldfish need sufficient swimming room and do best if they with other goldfish in tanks that aren’t overcrowded.
Happy, healthy goldfish require water in the pH range of 7.2-7.6. Although goldfish handle pH variations better than many other fish, too much variation is fatal. Over time, water in any tank will become more acidic. A low pH can be caused from too much fish waste in the water and is difficult to reverse but partial water changes are generally all that is necessary to maintain proper pH.
Inexpensive tests are available at pet stores to check tank pH levels (many pet stores will test the water if a sample is brought in) and products are available to affect pH levels if needed. Still, a weekly partial water change seems to be the most effective way to keep fish healthy. An aquarium siphon hose vacuums the gravel and sucks water out of the tank, removing leftover food, fish waste, and other organic material.
A filter helps keep water clean by removing harmful chemicals and debris. An external box filter takes up no space inside the and is simple to maintain. The filter also helps add more oxygen to the water.
A hood over the tank keeps fish from jumping out but more importantly, keeps debris or dust from falling in.
Airstones, or bubblers, emit tiny bubbles that agitate the water’s surface and keep water oxygenated. They’re optional, but inexpensive and add interesting movement to the aquarium view.
Decorating the tank is as personal as decorating a home. Gravel, rocks, ornaments, and artificial plants or live plants are options. Artificial plants work best with goldfish, since they tend to be scavengers and dig up the plants. Fish love places to hide, and when stressed, like a place to retreat. Only decorations intended especially for fish tanks should be used since plastic, stone, composite or metal materials can release harmful chemicals. Decorations shouldn’t have sharp edges and should be rinsed with clean water before being added to the tank.
Gravel helps fish feel more at home and provides a place for good bacteria to grow. The gravel shouldn’t be too sharp-goldfish spend hours searching the gravel for food and can get hurt.
Lights create a well illuminated aquarium for better viewing and to show off the color of the fish. Lights should be on between four and ten hours each day. Goldfish don’t have eyelids, but fish do sleep every night. They’ll get a good night’s rest when the lights are off. PL
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Femme Fair 2006
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