How to Take Care of Goldfish

"I think there's something great and generic about goldfish. They're everybody's first pet." ― Paul Rudd

Goldfish are always preferred over other pets because of the fact that they look amazingly pretty and cute, and that you really don't have to do much when it comes to taking care of them. They are not like other pets such as cats and dogs, who require constant grooming, hugging, cuddling, etc.

This makes them ideal for those who don't have too much time to give to their pets, but still want to keep a pet anyway! If you are considering to make them a part of your family, know that keeping them as pets is a simple, easy, and cost-effective task. Have a look at what you need to do.

The "process" is almost effortless! Unlike other pets, did you know that goldfish can go without food for weeks? But that strictly does not mean that you can keep them hungry. They love to eat and they love to explore. Have a look at the following tips and know what these adorable little pets expect from you.

• The first thing to take care of, is the water in which they need to be kept. A single goldfish needs about 20 gallons of water. However, if you want to have many of these in your tank, then you need to add an extra 10 gallon for each fish.

This means, that for 1 goldfish you would need 20 gallons, for 2 goldfish 30 gallons, 3 goldfish would require 40 gallons of water, and so on.

• Keep a check on the water temperature, which should always be within 65°F to 68°F. You can use a thermometer to keep a check on that. If the temperature of the water is more than 72°F, then the levels of oxygen in the water will decrease, resulting in serious illnesses and diseases in your goldfish.

• They should always be kept in aged water, especially when kept in a bowl. You can check at the fish pet store, if the tap water in your area in suitable for use. You need to make sure that the water doesn't contain too much of chlorine.

If that is the case, there are tablets available which can help in getting rid of the excess chlorine. Or, you can also open the tap for about 2 minutes and let the water flow, after 2 minutes, fill the water in a bucket and keep it overnight. Keeping the water overnight helps in getting rid of the chlorine, as well.

• It is advisable not to keep them in a bowl. Did you know that these fish can live up to 20 years, if taken care of properly? Keeping them in a bowl reduces their life expectancy by almost 80%! Get a spacious fish tank with a filter in it, which would help them thrive in a clean toxic-free water.

• Choose an appropriate filter. Make sure that the filter doesn't produce too much of current to make it difficult for the little ones to swim.

• Change at least 10 to 15% of water in the tank, every week. This is important in order to clean the waste that the filter failed to remove. Never change the water more than 15%, as the temperature of the water would change, which is something we don't want.

• When it comes to feeding your goldfish, don't go overboard! This point is very important, especially for kids, as they love to feed their pet(s) all the time. Just feed them once in a day. Although goldfish love to eat, too much of eating may not be good for their health.

Just feed them the amount of food which they can finish within 2 minutes. Give them high-quality foods rich in carbohydrates. The excess food will make the water more dirty and will increase their chances to fall sick.

• To make your pets feel more at home, give them a lot of hiding places in the tank. Goldfish are prey animals and therefore, they love to dig into the sand and look for places where they can hide. In order to make them feel more safe and secure, it is advisable to give them a lot of cover.

• Also, make sure that the decorations which you are using for the tank are not too sharp or edgy, as these may hurt them while they swim. Since they love to dig, it is advisable to keep small and light pebbles so that it becomes easy for them to dig.

• Be very careful in choosing their companion(s), as not all kinds of fishes can be kept with them. Check with your fish dealer for the same.

As mentioned earlier, goldfish are one of the most low-maintenance pets you can ever have. However, you must follow the aforementioned tips in order to have a long-living, healthy, and active friend for a long time.