Keeping goldfish at home: features and recommendations

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Goldfish are the most beautiful inhabitants of the home aquarium. Caring for them is not particularly difficult, so more and more people prefer this particular type of fish. An aquarium with golden babies and a beautiful interior will please every lover of home comfort. Before heading to the pet store for new inhabitants of the aquatic world, it is worthwhile to study their features well. As with any living creature, goldfish need an individual approach. You need to know everything about their feeding, living in an aquarium, compatibility with other fish, as well as reproduction.

Origin of goldfish

For the first time, golden beauties were bred in China. It happened about 1500 years ago. Their ancestor is the Chinese silver carp. For many years they lived only in the imperial reservoirs, pleasing the views of the great rulers. From them began the originmodern aquarium fish. In China, they still symbolize prosperity, joy and happiness. Only in the XVIII century they came to Russia and won the hearts of those who are not indifferent to aquarium animals.

These kids live from 8 to 20 years. The life span depends on the content of goldfish, the variety of the breed, and also on the similarity with its ancestor. The more they look like carp, the higher their chances of living a long life.

Distinctive features of goldfish

Their appearance is quite varied. Keeping goldfish at home does not require special skills. However, you need to be well versed in their varieties. A huge number of subspecies can be included in a separate, extensive group, which implies the following appearance characteristics:

• Body color. It can be golden red, pink, yellow, white, black, bright red, black and blue, and even bronze.
• Coloring of the abdomen and fins. It is almost the same, but a little lighter than the body itself.
• Shape. The body of the fish is elongated, slightly compressed on the sides.
• Size. The dimensions of the fish are very diverse, as are the subspecies of the breed. An adult can be from 5 to 30 cm in size. Depends on the conditions of the goldfish.

The fins of the fish are very different. Depending on the species, they can be small, forked, large or thin, similar to a cobweb. The fins of these babies can be even larger than their body. Goldfish are the real centenarians of a home aquarium. large individuals,kept in ponds can live up to 40 years.

The most popular types of fish for an aquarium

Not all goldfish can be kept in a medium-sized home aquarium. Most species grow too large, so they should be in special, decorative ponds. Not everyone has the ability to build a whole pond at home or put up a huge aquarium the size of half a room. Keeping goldfish requires a lot of time and constant attention. Therefore, it is necessary to highlight several of the most popular species that are not difficult to care for and are suitable for those who have just begun to explore the underwater world.

The smallest and most unpretentious varieties of fish:

• Comet. This is a small fish 5 cm in size. Its tail is long, forked. The most valuable are those individuals that have a different body color and fins. Usually there are fish of red-silver and orange-silver color. The comet goldfish, which is easy to care for and maintain, can live up to 14 years.
• Fantail. This individual has an orange-colored swollen body. The size of the fish is 10 cm. The tail is divided into two parts, and its contour is transparent and even. On the back of the fantail there is a fin corresponding to the name of the species.
• Veiltail. This is a beautiful and small goldfish. Reviews about the variety and content vary greatly. Many note that it is easily injured in a poorly equipped aquarium. A characteristic feature of the species is a delicate, thin and wide caudal fin, almost transparent and very voluminous. It folds in light folds when the fishfloats. This is where its name comes from. As for the color, there are mostly white and golden fish.
• Telescope. They have a round body up to 5 cm in size. The dorsal and caudal fins are elongated, and the eyes are very large and protruding. The fish is popular due to its wide palette of colors. There are scarlet, orange, black and silver individuals.

Goldfish tank

It is not worth saving on housing for small residents. Their he alth and life span depend on the conditions in which goldfish are kept. Goldfish love space, and in a cramped aquarium they will not live long. To make pets feel comfortable and easy to care for, you should adhere to the following rules when buying a tank:

1. Its volume must exactly match the number of fish. For each individual, you will need at least 2 dm3, but not less than 50 liters for 6-7 fish.
2. The shape of the future underwater house should be classic - a rectangular aquarium in the ratio 2:1.
3. The water level is about 50 cm. If there is more water, it will make it difficult for the light to reach the fish and affect underwater plants. Cleaning an aquarium that is too deep will also be inconvenient.
4. Together with the aquarium, you need a filter that will supply air to the fish. This species needs water with a high concentration of oxygen.
5. Buy good soil. So that caring for a goldfish and an aquarium does not cause inconvenience, it is better to purchase coarse gravel. This is explained by the fact that small gravel fish caneat as food.
6. The pH level should be no higher than 7-8, and the allowable limit of nitrates in water should be no more than 40.
7. The temperature of keeping goldfish in an aquarium should always be the same - approximately 21 ° C. Since these are tropical creatures, low temperatures will lead to their death. To monitor the temperature in the aquarium, you need to install a water thermometer.
8. The aquarium should have good lighting.
9. You should also take care of the good biological environment of the aquatic world. To do this, before populating the fish, you need to put snails there. In a few days, they will create the ideal microflora for a comfortable life for the main inhabitants. A goldfish in an aquarium, the care of which must be constant, is able to please for many years. If you leave it even for a week, pets may die.

How to choose aquarium decor

Every aquarium owner wants to create a real decorative masterpiece inside it. Thinking about what is needed to keep goldfish, they first of all imagine dense thickets of aquatic plants. Therefore, when going to the pet store, it is very important not to buy unnecessary items. The aquarium should look stylish, not catchy and defiant. The main thing is that the fish should be interested and comfortable. Plants for the aquarium should have a good root system and dense stems. These include the following types:

• sagittaria;
• jelly;
• elodea;
• cryptocorynes;
• anubias;
• vallisneria;
• lemongrass;
• nomafil.

These plants are perfect for goldfish. They have very tough and large stems that the fish will not be able to chew on. Beautiful greenery will not only improve the microflora of the aquarium, but also give it a beautiful aesthetic appearance. You can also buy beautiful pebbles, caves and houses. When choosing decor, you need to take only smooth objects with a rounded shape so that the fish cannot get hurt or get tangled inside complex structures.

Food for fish

Goldfish are not too picky in their diet. They are almost omnivores, so it is necessary to carefully select the soil and plants for aquariums. Their favorite foods include:

• bloodworms;
• earthworms;
• combination food;
• oatmeal or semolina;
• nettle and hornwort;
• bread;
• seafood and minced meat.

As for the regimen and rules of feeding, here you must adhere to the following rules:

1. Restrict dry food supply. If there are no other products, then the drying should be pre-soaked.
2. The amount of food per day should not exceed 3% of the weight of goldfish.
3. The daily dose of food should be divided into two parts.
4. Remains of food should always be removed from the aquarium. Otherwise, it will rot and spoil the microflora. Fish eat no more than 15 minutes. After this time, the excess food is removed with a special strainer.

You can not overfeed the fish. This can contribute to disease and even death. The most common consequences of excess feeding: infertility, severe obesity, inflammation of the internal organs. When the fish turn into adults, it is sometimes useful for them to arrange fasting weeks. At this time, the volume of the daily portion is halved. Fish do much better from underfeeding than from overeating.

Feeding breeding fish

Some fish have rather rare external data, so they are considered to be breeding. In addition to the spectacular appearance, they are also distinguished by a fragile metabolism. Therefore, the nutrition of such beauties should be special. The following varieties of goldfish are rare:

• veiltails;
• lionheads;
• telescopes;
• orands;
• bubble eyes;
• velvet ball.

For these fish, there are special types of food that contain a more nutritious composition, rich in herbal ingredients and nutrients. Food for selective fish contains wheat, which helps prevent diseases associated with metabolic disorders. Aquarium goldfish, the description and features of which we are considering, must live in a tank with a special type of breed.

For Japanese goldfish, food is released that, when it enters the aquarium, immediately falls to the bottom. Giving them regular flake food that floats on the surface can helpswallowing excess air when eating. With such a diet, the fish can even float upside down for a while. To prevent this from happening, you need to give food designed exclusively for this breed.

Goldfish breeding

Aquarium goldfish, the maintenance and reproduction of which is completely dependent on a person, can give a lot of offspring. These pets can start breeding at the age of 1 year. However, they mature much later, by 3 years. Spawning time for goldfish is spring. During this period, the fish often change color so that there is a difference in gender. They become more mobile.

In order to reproduce successfully, it is necessary to resettle the fish in a separate aquarium. One female and about three males are placed in it. Fish must be of the same species. The water level in the aquarium should be no higher than 20 cm. The tank requires good lighting and a water temperature of 21 ° C that is comfortable for the fish. Dense vegetation contributes to good spawning, as it creates the effect of natural conditions.

A large mesh should be placed at the bottom of the aquarium. It will protect the offspring from being eaten by fish. Spawning usually occurs 6-7 hours after settling. When this happened, the fish are moved back to the old house. In the period from 3 to 6 days, larvae begin to appear from the eggs, which are actively looking for food and trying to survive. Breeding and keeping goldfish can only be started with an additional aquarium. It is useful for growingnew fish from caviar, and also if pets get sick.

What can hurt fish

Unfortunately, like all living things, goldfish can get sick. They often die due to dirty water, a cramped aquarium, overeating, and poor microflora. The temperature of keeping a goldfish also plays an important role in its he alth. The most common fish disease is ichthyophthyriasis infection. A pet infected with parasites begins to rub its body against the stones and decor in the aquarium. It develops white spots that look like a rash.

The first thing to do, noticing such signs, is to resettle the sick person in a separate tank. It should have a good filter, a lamp and a low water level. Treatment occurs by pouring a special medicine into this tank. It is necessary to follow the instructions and pour the drug exactly in the dosage that suits the volume of water in the aquarium.

If a fish swims close to the surface, often sinks to the bottom and turns over on its belly, swim bladder disease may be the cause of this condition. Usually this disease is not treatable, but symptoms can be relieved by reducing the number and volume of feedings. It is also necessary to carefully monitor the quality of the water in the aquarium.

Fish can get sick with other ailments. If you notice mucus, growths or other changes on pets that are accompanied by strange behavior, you need to urgently move the patients to another tank and contact a specialist. If sick fish are removed in time, infection of all pets can be prevented.

Why do fish change color

Sometimes the inhabitants of the underwater world begin to change their color and its intensity. Over time, almost all goldfish brighten. That is why their black species are of particular value. A fish with rich black pigment stays that way all its life. Fish brighten from the following conditions of detention:

• poor lighting;
• water temperature in the aquarium is not normal;
• water is cloudy or contaminated with bacteria.

If young fish begin to lighten up, it is urgent to check whether they have enough light, oxygen or space in the aquarium. Perhaps the pets have grown up, and they should be moved to a more spacious house. If you follow the basic rules for keeping goldfish, you can enjoy these pets for many years. Nothing compares to the sense of peace that comes from watching colorful babies swimming in calm waters.