Goldfish questions?
For Real asked:
Hey, who can tell me about goldfish care. I heard they have a bad reputation of only lasting for a month or so. But a couple of people said they know of a couple that lasted about 3 years. So why does either case happen? I know how to care for a fish. This fish has a clean tank, with a outside filter, and a heater and water purifier drops. and I replace 1/3 of the water, once a week. I feed him once in the morning and once in the evening. But in between he acts like he wants more food and swims around like he’s going to go crazy…like he’s saying…gimme more, gimme more. This might explain why a fish dies in a month…they swim crazy until they burn them selves out and then die. So exactly how much or often do I feed this guy and does anyone have any tips to help him have a longer life? Thanks.
Dana
Hey, who can tell me about goldfish care. I heard they have a bad reputation of only lasting for a month or so. But a couple of people said they know of a couple that lasted about 3 years. So why does either case happen? I know how to care for a fish. This fish has a clean tank, with a outside filter, and a heater and water purifier drops. and I replace 1/3 of the water, once a week. I feed him once in the morning and once in the evening. But in between he acts like he wants more food and swims around like he’s going to go crazy…like he’s saying…gimme more, gimme more. This might explain why a fish dies in a month…they swim crazy until they burn them selves out and then die. So exactly how much or often do I feed this guy and does anyone have any tips to help him have a longer life? Thanks.
Dana
March 14, 2009 - 5:18 AM
okiedokiesarah
March 16, 2009 | 12:41 AMI feed mine 3 times a day in smaller amounts. that way its like he gets more. i dont know if thats right but ive had mine like 5 months now.
kiki
March 18, 2009 | 4:42 AMSounds like your doing a good job… The fish isn’t going to kill it’s self by swimming around a lot. Just feed him once a day and he should be fine
RizzToThaLizz
March 21, 2009 | 3:28 PMI would put your goldfish in a natural environment. A small goldfish pond or something like that. I have personally seen 2-3 pound goldfish in goldfish ponds and some farm ponds. They seem to live alot longer in outdoor environments. In indoor environments you would be lucky to have a goldfish live for a year.
tj
March 24, 2009 | 2:53 PMHeres some advice about gold fish
1. be prepared for them to die. I had 1 that lived 2 days.
2. The reason he swims around like crazy is that goldfish have a three second memory.
He will probly live alot longer if you keep taking care of
him the way you do.
deena001
March 27, 2009 | 4:51 AMFish have small brains so they can not tell if they are hungry or not. They eat constantly it is an instinct. Just a pinch of food a day will be fine. Sounds like you are doing a good job with him though. Gold fish can live for years and the bigger tank they have the bigger they will grow.
qn.harpy
March 30, 2009 | 7:31 AMI’ve had goldfish last for years, and they’ll get pretty huge if in a big tank, mine was in a 50 gallon tank and he/she got to big for it. I had to let him/her go in a lake. I only fed it once a day, but enough so that it took a couple minutes to eat it all.
Angelic Vampiress
April 1, 2009 | 11:05 AMI had 2 goldfish…one lasted 5 years and the other 6 years. I only fed them once a day and they seemed pretty happy with with. The rule of thumb is to feed them however much they can eat within a few minutes (read your food package for exact info). Other than that, sounds like you are doing great. The place you get your fish is also a big factor. Look for the bigger and more colorful ones (and the more active ones as well). Good luck!
GARTH
April 2, 2009 | 12:46 AMI won a goldfish in college at a fair and had it for years. After I moved away from home, my mom kept it in a 20 gallon aquarium and it grew to about 6 inches long over about 10 years. She finally gave it to neighbors that have a pond in their back yard and Nancy is now about 10″ long and about 20 years old. THey will grow to the size container you keep them in. When you replace the water, if you are using tap water, let the water sit overnight prior to putting it in the tank to allow chlorine, etc. to release from it. I think I fed her twice a day; the amount of food that she would eat within about 5 minutes so there wasn’t left over food to make the water dirty. I never had a water heater, but did use a water filter. The pond she now lives in freezes over occasionally, and she is fine when it thaws out.
Brian
April 3, 2009 | 8:39 AMGold fish can live for a very long time, though they tend to need more care then other fish. Im sourcing some fact sheets for you to read over on them.
By they way I have about 20 gold fish in a 1500 gallon pond with 5 Koi. The gold fish are happy and content, and they have been breeding for years.
Chris R
April 3, 2009 | 1:25 PMHow much you feed really depends on the size of the fish and the food you’re feeding. In general you never want to give more than they can eat in about 5 min.
With goldfish it’s important to keep in mind that they grow quickly and are very messy. Full grown you’re going to want at least a 10 gallon tank for even a single fish, and a decent filter.
Best of luck.
goldy-fish
April 5, 2009 | 12:58 PMThe fish won’t die just because of swimming around asking for food.
Twice a day is great for all fish. In fact, fish can survive without eating for several days.
I feed my goldfish twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. However, I have one day of the week where they only get smushed peas(without the skin) only in the afternoon, sort of like their fasting day. I actually started that after someone on a fish talk forum said that it was better for the fish to give them peas at least once a week
erythisis
April 6, 2009 | 7:00 AMGoldfish are prone to dying fast because lots of people don’t realize they require more than a little fishbowl. You’re already on the right track for a long-lived fish though. For the feeding, try do it more often and in small amounts. Also, most varieties of goldfish can get big if you provide the space for them (at least 2 gallons per inch of fish).
animalloverwv
April 8, 2009 | 7:00 PMI have 2 goldfish and they have been with me for 31/2 yr . you dont need a heater and all that fancy stuff I have a small tank and when I clean it I take the fish out and realy clean it cause if you dont and only take 1/3 water out
let me put it this way when you take a bath do you wash only1/3 of your body and how would you feel to be swimming in 1/2 clean water also use AQUASAFE it has everything your fish needs for a nice clean fish tank and i mean clean
ccctvman
April 12, 2009 | 5:38 AMFirst a rule of thumb 1 “Common Goldfish” per gallon of water. make sure that the water is de-chlorinated and water temp not more or less than 5 degrees above or below room temperature finally feed your fish ONLY ONCE PER DAY!!!!! they should provide you with a long and soothing existence
gregorymacdonald@rogers.com
April 12, 2009 | 11:38 PMin ponds fish have been known to live for 145 years old but the longest ever is 202 years but average in pond is 20 to 50 years
bitterjane
April 14, 2009 | 1:18 PMTwice a day is fine. Goldfish love to eat.
The number one reason why goldfish do not last so long is because they do not have a large enough tank.
I have heard of some living 10-15 years.
They basically need a good filter and a large tank.
They have a bad reputation for dying because people think they can live in chlorinated water in a 1/2 gallon bowl.
animalloverwv is wrong, you are right to change 1/3 of the water(25% is even the reccommended change).
If you change all the water at once it cause fish stress. There is good bacteria in the water that the fish NEED to survive. When you place them in complete clean water it’s like placing them in thin air.
ALSO generall goldfish rule is:
EVERY inch of goldfish needs two gallons of water! But remember all goldfish get bigger! So if you want them to live a long time, don’t over stock and plan for their full size.