Goldies

[Nuttygal! :0)]

I need a bit of info on goldies...does anyone know any good websites on them?
Or if you have any information on them youself I'd appreciatice it - I'm here with my friend and we are both going to get some goldies soon. I only have one at the moment, and he's a fantail oranda goldie called Suga Dumpling, but I have an empty 10gal and I'm going to put a few in until they get bigger. We'll have a pond by then so they can go out there.
What we want to know really is do they need any treatment in the water, can it just b tap water? And also do they need water changes etc?
I have tropicals but I haven't kept goldies really before.
Thanks!

NG

 

[OohFeeshy]

They're just like biiig messy tropical fish. Like coldwater Oscars, I suppose. They need dechlorinated water and since you'll have a few in that tank about 50% twice a week.....

 

[RandomWiktor]

I happen to love this page: http/www.goldfishinfo.com/

I think in the future, post on the coldwater board

And just remember: 20 gallons for the first fish, 10 for each additional fish. So don't buy too many for that 10 or you're gonna be buying one big, expensive tank later!

Edit: IRE to your questions, yes, all fish should have dechlorinator. And you will need a good cycled tank, strong filter, and LOTS of water changes if you're keeping several in a 10 as they build up ammonia super-fast. I had one that was only an inch long living in a 5 gallon for a month or so while I saved for a bigger tank. I changed the water every other day and his ammonia was always high anyways. Now he's in a 30 gallon cycled with another small goldfish. I do a 25% water change weekly and they're both doing fine.

 

[Nuttygal! :0)]

Ok well thanks both of you, I've read that page and I shall print it and give it to my friend tomorrow.
One thing though - I'm slightly confused. I don't doubt at all that that page had the right info, but all of the people I know who have fish just have a few goldies in a small bowl, and one of my friends fish lived for years!

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Nuttygal! :0)

People used to always keep goldfish in bowls much like they do with bettas these days. But, that was before a lot of the science of fishkeeping was known.

These days we keep them in tanks and cultivate beneficial bacteria to keep chemical balances but back then it was done by changing all the water in the bowl every day. In such cramped space the fish became stunted and never even came close to reaching their full potential.

This is one of those cases where there is a great deal of difference between what could be done and what should be done, IMHO.

 

[Nuttygal! :0)]

Yes
Well I'll probably just get 2, to keep eachother company, and then when they get bigger, they will go in the pond.
I'll buy a small filter and a heater from my LFS when I buy the fish. But I don't know about getting real plants though, I've heard that goldies destroy them, and I already have fake ones, they look cool.
Thanks for replying Inchworm!

 

[OohFeeshy]

Did your friends goldies live for 20 years? If not I'd say it was a premature death.