Goldfish, which turned into pets for the first time in the 9th century, when Buddhist monks took them into special pools to protect them from predators, have become the most popular creatures to be kept at home over the years. Goldfish, which can be fed much more effortlessly than other pets and even other fish, are very easy to care for, but there are many details that you need to pay attention to in order for these creatures to have a healthy and good life.
Many people take goldfish and leave them alone in a small bowl. Since these cute creatures are much stronger than they seem, they can survive even in this bad condition, but surviving does not mean healthy and happy. For this reason, you should know some care details very well before you decide to keep a goldfish. Here are the details you need to know about goldfish care.
What you need to know about goldfish care:
Don’t settle for the bell, get a good aquarium:
There is a general acceptance that goldfish can live in small bowls in most of the society, especially in pet shops. This is a completely wrong thought. Goldfish are much more powerful creatures than they seem, and therefore they can live even in a small and empty bowl, but if you can call it living, that is.
Goldfish need as much space as any other fish. Of course, there is no need for large tanks many meters wide, it would be worse in such a wide area anyway. However, they should at least be kept in an aquarium with a large surface area that will provide the necessary swimming area for the health of the fish and that the water can come into contact with oxygen.
Prepare the aquarium to be your goldfish’s home:
If you bought an aquarium where your goldfish can swim and grow as much as they want, it’s time to decorate it. Even though goldfish have been kept as pets for hundreds of years, they still need accessories to hide, scratch, crawl through and play with because of their natural instincts.
Make sure to choose all of the materials you will place in the aquarium from plastic, because metal and similar materials will oxidize in the water. You should cover the bottom of the aquarium with pebbles slightly larger than sand. Thus, beneficial bacteria will grow in the water and algae growth will be reduced.
Pay attention to the quality and temperature of the water:
Water is as important to aquatic creatures as air is to land creatures. For this reason, stay away from the behavior of filling water from the tap and throwing the fish into it as laps. Of course, it is recommended to fill the aquarium with ready-made water that we use as drinking water, but it can be a bit expensive in the long run.
If you don’t want to use ready-made water, fill the aquarium with enough water in advance into a container and leave it for a few days. Chlorine and similar substances in tap water will decrease or even disappear during the waiting period. Make sure that the water you put in the aquarium is always at room temperature. Water that is too hot or too cold will reduce the quality of life, even if it does not kill the fish.
Pay attention to water change:
It is also extremely important to control the quality of the water you put in the aquarium. You can use filters specially designed for aquariums. Aquarium filters ensure that the water always meets the living standard of your goldfish. However, even if you are using a filter, you should pay attention to the water change.
This period may be longer in aquariums using filters, but you should change the aquarium water once a week on average. It is recommended to change two-thirds of the water. If you are going to use tap water, you should wait for a few days, and if you are using ready-made water, you should wait for at least one day to ensure the heat balance. You can keep the fish or fish in a container where you put aquarium water throughout the process so that they are not affected during the water change.
Clean the aquarium and other accessories regularly:
You might think it goes without saying, but you should wash the accessories you bought for the first time with plenty of soap and water before placing them in the aquarium. During the washing process, be sure to rinse all accessories thoroughly and that no chemicals remain on them. It is recommended that you do not place the washed accessories in the aquarium before they come to room temperature.
Goldfish are somewhat crazy animals. They will contaminate the aquarium, scatter accessories and contaminate the pebbles on the bottom. For this reason, depending on the frequency of contamination, you should completely empty the aquarium and clean both the aquarium and the accessories with plenty of soap and water. After rinsing it well and bringing it to room temperature, you can reinsert the accessories and water into the aquarium and let the fish in.
Make sure you’re feeding your goldfish right:
It may sound strange, but goldfish are omnivores. That means they eat whatever you give them. Of course, this will not be a correct diet. Moreover, since goldfish do not feel full, they can eat them until they burst. For this reason, you should pay attention to what bait and when you give goldfish.
You can find a number of food items for goldfish in pet stores. Choose foods containing carbohydrates and proteins. Sometimes you can give them special treats to pamper them, but you have to be careful. You should feed goldfish once or twice a day at a rate that they can consume in a few minutes. Too little or too much can be fatal.
Make sure they are safe:
Even if goldfish are self-swimming creatures inside the aquarium, they are affected by all events outside because of their large surface. Insecticide, air freshener, dust and similar effects sprayed in the room can be fatal to goldfish. You should not spray medicine or perfume in the room where the goldfish is, and you should change the water quickly when such a situation occurs.
Goldfish aquarium water is not only affected by such external factors. Some people collect some stones and similar items from the sea, lake and riverside and put them in the aquarium to make the aquarium look much cooler. The bacteria found in these stones, which goldfish are not accustomed to, do not pass easily even if you wash them, and eventually cause its death.
Be on the lookout for goldfish diseases:
Like all other pets, you should follow your goldfish’s movements and learn about their daily habits. Conditions such as shaking, itching, swimming near the surface, and abnormal swimming are the most important signs that your fish is sick. Some fish may also exhibit a behavior such as hiding in one of the accessories and not swimming.
Common goldfish diseases include constipation, fungus, fin rot, anchor worm, popeye and lice. You can find many remedies for these diseases in pet stores. If you do not understand the cause of the problem, you should definitely consult a veterinarian.
We talked about the important details you need to know about the care of our cute and quiet friends, goldfish, one of the most popular pets in the world. If you have a problem with your goldfish, do not hesitate to seek help from a veterinarian.
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