My two comet goldfish are six years old now, and I’m worried if all this time I have been unintentionally cruel to them by not looking after them properly?
What can I do for my fish to give them a better life? (it’s okay if it’s something expensive)
Their tank is 15inch long, 8inch high, 7inch wide.
They have an undergravel filter.
In their tank they only have gravel, some marbles, a rock with a hole in the middle, and one plastic plant.
I feed them “K9 Fish Food For Goldfish” which are floating-sinking pellets.
I try to change a quarter to half their water once a week (although honestly I occasionally forget).
Answers:
I'd suggest a larger tank (maybe even an outdoor pond where they could spend summers or live year-round if the climate is warm enough), upgrading their filter, and giving some other food varieties for treats (and balanced nutrition). Goldfish like any greens (spincah, romaine, collard), zucchini, peas, beans, and oranges - just blanch or freeze these for a few minutes to soften them.
They'd like live plants too, but would eat or uproot most!
As far as tank location - not by any windows (too much light = algae and the sun can warm their tank water) or anywhere there's a door or heating/cooling vent - keep the water temperature stable.
preferably, just release them on a freshwater and let them go by themselves...its really their home but im worried because they re not used to life on the wild.
For a goldfish maybe you put in real river aquatic plants and you can get natural pebbles from river banks its should help as goldfishes are fresh water fishes and you should try remembering their feeding time.
Whatever you do don't paint them with finger nail polish and put them on the ceiling fan to see how long it will take them to fly off. Sorry..just feeling a little guilt from something I did as a child.
I would keep doing what you are doing but maybe if you could afford it, give them a bigger tank.
Put a few mirrors in the tank maybe? oh and give them baby fishies.
You probaby dont need to give your goldy a good life because he probably wouldnt remember. Do you know your goldfish only has 3 seconds of memory?
Two comet goldfish should be too big for a tank only 15 inches long. The best thing you can do for them is get them a much larger tank, of at least 55 gallons if not larger. Six years is good to survive, but they may not survive longer if they are outgrowing their tank, since comets can grow to beyond 15 inches long themselves, and their insides will keep growing if the tank doesn't allow their outsides to grow.
Priority should be a much larger tank, and htey will have a marveous long life. Good job so far.:)
PS, research has proven that the three second memory thing is bunk -- you shouldn't torture animals anyway. But like I said you must be doing a great job taking care of them. Just get them a bigger tank, and add some more plants. Give them some frozen krill and their color will be gorgeous, and give htem some veggies once in a while also, like lettuce, the insides of peas, etc...
You need a bigger tank
and you can probably feed some frozen foods
try aquariacentral.com
The best thing you can do for your friends at this point is to upgrade their tank. Not only will this allow them more space to move, but it will also lessen the ammount of cleaning you have to do. Plus the more room they have to swim the more fun it is to watch them. Also i always reccomend real plants. They are interesting, provide your tank with oxygen, and give your fish something to nibble on if they feel like it. Real plants also make the tank look really natural and inviting.
If you want to keep the cost down of a new aquarium consider purchacing a used one online, you will be surprised at the people in your own back yard looking to get rid of tanks and their accessories.
Two goldfish should be in a 30 gallon tank. Your tank is less than 4 gallons. As mentioned, they have already outgrown the current tank and their growth has already been stunted. Stunted growth leads to a shorter life span (goldfish can easily live for 20+ years in an aquarium). Their organs outgrow their bodies leading to disease and death. I'm surprised that have lasted 6 years in that tank.
And for the person that said to release them to the wild. DO NOT do that. A non-native species can wreak havoc on the eco-system and cause irreparable damage. Just look at the problems caused my the snakehead fish in the US. Some states have had to go in and completely eradicate all life in lakes and ponds just to get rid of them and then restock with native fish again. In some places it is also a federal offense.
It doesn't matter where you put your tank, just try to keep it away from direct sunlight.
If your comets are 6 years old they should be around 10" in length. If your fish are half that size they are bein stunted. Really, they need a larger tank. That would be the best thing you could to to give them a longer healther life. As far as plants, they would be nice but would not last long. they will be uprooted and eaten to the nubs.
Goldfish need a balanced diet. When choosing a fish food choose one with high protein (48% or better) and low fat (5% or less)
You can supplement their diet with things like Lettuce, mustard greens, turnip greens, collard greens, spinach, peas, endive, seaweed, cukes, kale, chard, broccoli, lima beans, green beans, etc. and feed aquatic plants (e.g. duckweed, azolla, salvenia, etc) or hair algae daily.
For their Carotenoids which are a family of pigments the fish can't make themselves and are obtained as part of the diet. These pigments result in red, yellow and orange colors. Fish have cells called chromataphores. Those cells convert lutein and carotenes into astaxanthin which is the red pigment.
sources include, brine shrimp, krill, spirulina, marigold flowers, paprika, sweet red peppers, yams, carrots, pumpkin
Watermellons and oranges are also good as well as proteins like chicken (chicken livers) beef (livers and parts) and pork as well as worms and bugs.
you only need to change 25% of the water once a week.
Gold fish as well like pushing things around. If you decide to plant a new tank, try adding a few plastic floating balls. Baby toys, non toxic and larger than their mouths. I keep solar ball lights in the outside ponds for the fish to push around.
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