How to Make a Goldfish Live Longer

Goldfish can make great first pets for any age. They are both inexpensive and easy to take care of. With proper care, goldfish can live very long lives. Most goldfish can live to 10 years old with proper care. There are certain things you can do to make a goldfish live longer. Follow these steps to make sure your goldfish stays as healthy as possible.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Goldfish
• Aquarium supplies
• Aquarium

1. Go shopping for the largest tank that you can afford. For goldfish, 10 gallons per fish is best. Having a wider tank is better than having a taller tank. Surface area is very important.

2. Have your fish tank ready before you buy the fish. Allow 2 to 3 weeks for the water to develop bacteria to get rid of the fish waste. Add chlorine drops if your tap water has chlorine or use bottled spring water from the store.

3. Purchase items that will create an environment for your fish. As with any pet, goldfish need a variety of items to make sure they constantly have new areas to explore. Visit your local pet store or go online to purchase accessories.

4. Clean the tank often. Use a filter, but do not let this be a substitute for your cleaning. Change the water using chlorine drops and test for ammonia and nitrate often.

5. Purchase special food to feed your goldfish at least once if not twice a day. Pay attention to the amount you are feeding them. Do not let any leftover food stay in the tank.

6. Watch for signs of illness in your goldfish. If your goldfish becomes ill you should get it treated immediately. Some common goldfish illnesses are:
   Ick – a parasitic infection with visible white spots
   Dropsy – bloating in the stomach
   Fin or tail rot – badly torn fins or tail that's not a result from fighting
   Swim bladder – fish has trouble swimming correctly, i.e., standing on its head
   
   If your fish shows any signs of illness, contact a pet store to see if there are any medicines you can add to help cure the condition. Immediately change the water.

Tips & Warnings

• Test the water’s pH levels. Goldfish need pH levels of about 7 or 8
• Change of temperature will cause stress to your goldfish as well. Keep the water in the tank at a constant temperature.
• Keep your fish stress-free when moving them, as less stress increases the life span of the goldfish

[TopPotts]

on 9/25/2008 I agree with thehappypet.
But commons and comets can grow to 20", so length and width should be considered when buying a tank.
Something else to help them live longer would be keeping at cooler temps, like in the low to mid 60's.
Even cooler temps won't hurt them, other than to increase the risk of ich and maybe some other diseases.
This is the only time I recommend temperatures above 80F for goldfish. If kept around 82-84F for at least a week this should rid the tank of these parasites. 2 week is better, and gf's would still be fine.

[thehappypet]

on 3/8/2008 A good rule of thumb for fancy goldfish is 30 gallons of water for the first adn ten gallons of water for every one after that. even that may not be enough when the goldfish get older. Comet and shubunkin goldfish need a minimum of 55 gallons for one as they get at LEAST a foot long full grown and if their tank is not big enough constant rubbing on the sides will make them ill and kill them.
Also ten years is still young for many goldfish, 25 years is a more realistic number if your goldfish is kept in proper, large quarters with clean water and good food. we know they can live at least until 43, thats how old the guiness book of world records goldfish was when he died. :)