my son just got a goldfish from one of those carnival games and we're needing to know what we need to do to set up it's new home. We were given a small bowl but i've heard you need a much larger tank. do we need to get it filters and a bigger tank? first time fish owner so we need all the advice we can get.
Answers:
Let me third that..you most definitely DO need a filter and a larger tank. Fishbowls and goldfish are not at all compatible. They produce a huge amount of waste and can grow extremely large. Your best bet is what was suggested above. A ten gallon tank starter kit from Walmart, Kmart, Petsmart, etc would be fine. Most will have a hood with lights (preferrably flourescent as incandescent causes a bit more algae growth in my experience), a filter, a heater (which you won't need) and maybe some food and water conditioners. The only other thing you'd need is some gravel (1lb per gallon is the rule). Typically I recommend using distilled water (from the grocery store) or reverse osmosis (r/o) water from a pet store. Both will be free of tap water chemicals. If you have to use tap water, let it sit for at least a day, preferrably two before putting the fish in. After that it's just a matter of making sure your son doesn't overfeed. A tiny pinch once in the morning and once a night (the fish's stomach is the size of his eyeball) and if you can get a small net, scoop out whatever he doesn't eat after a minute.
Goldfish can live upwards of 10 years if taken good care of. Here's hoping you enjoy yours for years to come :)
No you dont need filters all you need is a goldfish bowl that you can probably get at a pet store or wal-mart,They will get bigger according to the size of the tank/bowl they wont get really big if you have a goldfish bowl because they wont have any room.I would go to a pet stor to get the food you feed it a pinch of food everyday.When you clean the bowl DO NOT clean it with soap because that could posibly kill the fish.Buy fish rocks and plants you couls also get those at a pet store.Keep the tempature of the water between cold and warm .Not to hot not to cold.Clean the tank at least once a week or once every second week or whenever the tank gets cloudy.I would get more info from a petstore.
Sorry I beg to defer, you'll need a proper tank with proper filtration.
You should get a 10 gallon tank and a filter thats suitable for the tank size.
You need to cycle your tank, since it's new and you you'll probably have to use the goldfish that you already have as your source of ammonia.
You should get 3 basic test kit as a your tools. You'll need a kit to test for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate. During cycling, do test the water routinely for Ammonia and Nitrite and change water of the tank when the reading reaches the bad level (the test kit should test you which reading is bad). Change 20%~30% each time and the cycling process should finish in a months time.
You can generally get a starter tank from places like WalMart or PetCo. fairly cheap and the tank usually includes a kit to get you started (filter, small can of food, bubbler, tank ornament, etc.) If your starter tank doesn't include it I recommend purchasing stress coat and water conditioner also. Be sure when you set it up you use distilled water. Also, about every two months throw in a small wedge of orange, goldfish don't produce vitamin C naturally and welcome the tasty little treat. Just remember, they're pond fish and are quite hearty. You would be amazed what they can survive. Good luck!
Hi-You are quite right-he (or she!) will need a filter %26 the biggest tank you can reasonably get, well done for your thoughtfulness! There is rather a lot to take in at first regarding caring for a Goldfish properly but rather than overload you with information on here, have a read through this link at your leisure, also perhaps join a good Goldfish forum such as the one listed below-they will be happy to advise you on anything you need to know! %26lt;o)))%26lt;
You should at least get a 2.5-5 gallon tank for one goldfish. They poop alot, so you will need a filter. You don't need a heater, because they live in cold water. Read some books and stuff on how to care for goldfish also.
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