How to Keep Goldfish

Goldfish make ideal pets.

Keeping a goldfish as a pet is actually good for your mental health. Watching fish swimming around helps to ease stress and has a calming effect. Contrary to popular belief, goldfish do not have short lives and are capable of living up to 30 years with good care. A goldfish can be kept in an aquarium or outdoors in a pond and will grow if left in a large environment. The container you choose needs to have at least eight gallons of water per fish to provide ample room and oxygen.

Things You'll Need

• Aquarium
• Flake food
• Net
• Aquarium vacuum
• Thermometer

Instructions

1. 

   Make sure your aquarium is on a steady surface.

   Keep your goldfish in a tank that is well filtered to deal with the large amount of debris they create. Keep the water temperature between 65 and 68 degrees.

2. 

   Provide hiding places.

   Provide plenty of plants and decorations that will allow the fish to hide out when they feel the need to.

3. 

   Goldfish enjoy a treat of insect larvae.

   Feed once daily with a flake food that is labeled for goldfish. Feed only the amount that the fish will consume in three to four minutes. You can supplement periodically with insect larvae or freeze-dried worms, but a diet of flakes only is sufficient.

4. Remove 10 percent of the water in the aquarium each week and replace with fresh, chlorine-free water. Use an aquarium vacuum or net to remove debris from the bottom of the tank at this time.

Tips & Warnings

• Goldfish are social creatures, so it is best to keep at least two in a tank together.

• Observe your fish periodically for signs of illness such as white spots on the fins, lack of appetite or swimming sideways. Remove any ill fish to a separate tank for treatment.

References

• University of California Fossweb: Goldfish and Guppies
• First Tank Guide: Goldfish Care Basics
• Pet Care Education: Goldfish