New To Fish And Excited! Have Some Questions Though...

[lolwat]

So I won 5 goldfish from the carnival. I used to have fish as a kid, but 10 years later and I would like to get into keeping fish myself. I was given a free 1.5 Gallon aquarium kit from a friend and have kept them in that for the past 3 days. After doing some research I found that goldfish require 6-10 gallons of water per fish... So just what would that tank that I got got be useful for? Should I use a 40 gallon tank for the 5 goldfish?

 

[walkers101]

if they are normal goldfish you will need a massive tank if they are fancies you will need 30 gal per fish

 

[lolwat]

They are normal goldfish, how big is "massive"?

 

[Assaye]

They are normal goldfish, how big is "massive"?

Do they look broadly speaking like this?

Maybe with longer fins, but with that single tail and a straight body?

These are your 'normal' goldfish. They should grow to be at least a foot long (12", 30cm) and may grow longer. Some have been known to reach two foot (24", 60cm). They can live for 15-25 years, with 30-40 being a ripe old age but not unheard of. These goldfish require a very large tank that will allow them plenty of swimming room and that will house 1-2 heavy external filters. If you want to keep these guys in a tank, it will need to be at least 6 foot long and if they grow to more than 12", they'll need an even bigger tank. In short - these are pond fish.

Fancy varieties are a little easier to keep, requiring slightly warmer water (15-24C) and without such heavy space needs in most cases. I would be reluctant to keep a single fancy in less than 30 gallons (3-4 foot tank) and I would allow at least 10-15 gallons for each additional fish. Fancies can still reach 12" but this is a realistic maximum size. Most stick between 6" and 10". Some people recommend 20 gallons for a fancy goldfish but if you ever see a 8" fancy goldfish in a 20 gallon tank, you'll know it needs more space.

Yes, this information is very different to what you hear from pet shops and what you might be used to from your childhood. The sheer amount of lies, misinformation and misconceptions that abound about goldfish are the reason they are probably the most abused pet in the world. Many live for only a few months in aquariums due to the lies spread about using goldfish bowls and small tanks.

Goldfish are a major committment and IMO, it should be illegal to give any animal away as a fairground prize. 99% of those fish will die well before their time due to poor conditions, and not through any intentional cruelty. You are one of the few that will actually consider researching this 'cheap', 'easy', 'throw-away' pet and I'm just sorry that you now find yourself with 5 fish that you'll either need to rehome to a pond or that you will need to spend a considerable sum to accommodate. Poor you and poor fish.

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to the forum Lolwat.
I am afraid that common goldfish, the kind you won at an arcade, will grow to well over a foot long if they are given proper growing conditions. Even the 10 gallons you have found referred to elsewhere is considered only an interim measure until you can find a tank big enough for them to grow in properly. A 1.5 gallon kit can be used for a single Betta splendens or for small fish that stay small like Heterandria formosa, once thought to be the smallest fish in existence. Another option for a very small container like that is things like the popular cherry shrimp.

 

[lolwat]

They are normal goldfish, how big is "massive"?

Do they look broadly speaking like this?

Maybe with longer fins, but with that single tail and a straight body?

These are your 'normal' goldfish. They should grow to be at least a foot long (12", 30cm) and may grow longer. Some have been known to reach two foot (24", 60cm). They can live for 15-25 years, with 30-40 being a ripe old age but not unheard of. These goldfish require a very large tank that will allow them plenty of swimming room and that will house 1-2 heavy external filters. If you want to keep these guys in a tank, it will need to be at least 6 foot long and if they grow to more than 12", they'll need an even bigger tank. In short - these are pond fish.

Fancy varieties are a little easier to keep, requiring slightly warmer water (15-24C) and without such heavy space needs in most cases. I would be reluctant to keep a single fancy in less than 30 gallons (3-4 foot tank) and I would allow at least 10-15 gallons for each additional fish. Fancies can still reach 12" but this is a realistic maximum size. Most stick between 6" and 10". Some people recommend 20 gallons for a fancy goldfish but if you ever see a 8" fancy goldfish in a 20 gallon tank, you'll know it needs more space.

Yes, this information is very different to what you hear from pet shops and what you might be used to from your childhood. The sheer amount of lies, misinformation and misconceptions that abound about goldfish are the reason they are probably the most abused pet in the world. Many live for only a few months in aquariums due to the lies spread about using goldfish bowls and small tanks.

Goldfish are a major committment and IMO, it should be illegal to give any animal away as a fairground prize. 99% of those fish will die well before their time due to poor conditions, and not through any intentional cruelty. You are one of the few that will actually consider researching this 'cheap', 'easy', 'throw-away' pet and I'm just sorry that you now find yourself with 5 fish that you'll either need to rehome to a pond or that you will need to spend a considerable sum to accommodate. Poor you and poor fish.

Thanks alot for your reply. Would you recommend giving 3 to the local pet store? That is exactly what my fish look like, I may even get rid of them all if I can't find a suitable tank. If not the pet store, where could I give them to in order for them to live better?

 

[Curiosity101]

To be honest long term they really are pond fish (as assaye mentioned). But if you wanted to keep them indoors in a tank for a couple of years or so then I'd aim to keep them in a 4ft tank minimum. That way they could grow well and once they got to 6" or so you can begin to find them a nice new home in a pond. Plus you'd then have an empty 4ft tank ready to turn into a great tropical community

Eitherways you may aswell keep all or none of them as you'll still need a 4ft tank really for two...

As for re-homing you could advertise on the classifieds here, or do some googling and see if you have any local fish clubs. Or some fish shops will take them.

Another thing to add (that hasn't been mentioned yet) is that goldfish produce alot of waste. And that many in such a small tank will be producing huge amounts of ammonia that could easily result in them dying in the next couple of days... so if you do want to keep them you need to do something ASAP.
In the short time I would recommend 100% water changes at least once a day, making sure you buy a good bottle of water conditioner for doing them in.

Or even better, if you could get them a big plastic storage tub (the type you keep clothes n stuff in) and pop them in there you will make things a bit easier on you and them whilst you decide what you want to do long term.

 

[Assaye]

They are normal goldfish, how big is "massive"?

Do they look broadly speaking like this?

Maybe with longer fins, but with that single tail and a straight body?

These are your 'normal' goldfish. They should grow to be at least a foot long (12", 30cm) and may grow longer. Some have been known to reach two foot (24", 60cm). They can live for 15-25 years, with 30-40 being a ripe old age but not unheard of. These goldfish require a very large tank that will allow them plenty of swimming room and that will house 1-2 heavy external filters. If you want to keep these guys in a tank, it will need to be at least 6 foot long and if they grow to more than 12", they'll need an even bigger tank. In short - these are pond fish.

Fancy varieties are a little easier to keep, requiring slightly warmer water (15-24C) and without such heavy space needs in most cases. I would be reluctant to keep a single fancy in less than 30 gallons (3-4 foot tank) and I would allow at least 10-15 gallons for each additional fish. Fancies can still reach 12" but this is a realistic maximum size. Most stick between 6" and 10". Some people recommend 20 gallons for a fancy goldfish but if you ever see a 8" fancy goldfish in a 20 gallon tank, you'll know it needs more space.

Yes, this information is very different to what you hear from pet shops and what you might be used to from your childhood. The sheer amount of lies, misinformation and misconceptions that abound about goldfish are the reason they are probably the most abused pet in the world. Many live for only a few months in aquariums due to the lies spread about using goldfish bowls and small tanks.

Goldfish are a major committment and IMO, it should be illegal to give any animal away as a fairground prize. 99% of those fish will die well before their time due to poor conditions, and not through any intentional cruelty. You are one of the few that will actually consider researching this 'cheap', 'easy', 'throw-away' pet and I'm just sorry that you now find yourself with 5 fish that you'll either need to rehome to a pond or that you will need to spend a considerable sum to accommodate. Poor you and poor fish.

Thanks alot for your reply. Would you recommend giving 3 to the local pet store? That is exactly what my fish look like, I may even get rid of them all if I can't find a suitable tank. If not the pet store, where could I give them to in order for them to live better?

Be wary of shops - often it just passes the problem on to someone else as very few shops will actually consider the needs of the goldfish when selling/rehoming them. Many shops are happy to sell people goldfish if they have tanks as small as 1-2 gallons. Some also will take fish but then destroy them as they are considered damaged goods - be wary of policies like that and always check first.

I would start locally - find someone with a large, filtered pond and see if they'll take them. Post local adds, see if you can get a spot in a shop window or advertise at a local pet shop. Also check on here and other online forums, use Craigslist, local aquatics clubs, etc. It takes a little bit of work but I'm sure you'll find them a home.

In the meantime as Curiosity said, you need to do some big water changes on your tank. 5 goldfish produce a lot of waste and if you have a filter it won't be 'mature' yet and ready to keep the water clean. That takes time. Try to get them a bigger tank for now and using a large tub such as a Really Useful Box or Rubbermaid has already been suggested. You'll need to do daily water changes of at least 90% (just giving them enough space to stay unde water) with fresh, dechlorinated water. This will keep the waste down until they get into a mature, filtered tank or pond.

Check out the resources in the New Tank section. It's all in a sticky at the top and is a MUST read for all fishkeepers!

 

[AlanTh]

My 84 year father in law kept goldfish for 10 years in a 100 litre tank. UGF and they grew to 6" or so long.

He had some bad advise from lfs and changed his filtration. He went for internal canister filters. His fish all died and I now have his tank.

Needless to say I have re-fitted it with UGF and power heads.

 

[Curiosity101]

My 84 year father in law kept goldfish for 10 years in a 100 litre tank. UGF and they grew to 6" or so long.

A 10 year old common goldfish kept in an indoor tank should be wayyyy bigger than 6". His fish were stunted.

He had some bad advise from lfs and changed his filtration. He went for internal canister filters. His fish all died and I now have his tank.

The only really bad advice they may have given is not to make sure ammonia and nitrite levels remained steady when switching the filter over. If it'd have been my tank I would have stuffed the internals full of a much gravel as possible (in a media bag), alongside the internals and would then have tested daily to ensure levels stayed within reasonable levels.
Although if it were my tank and I had goldies I'd always have an external canister

Needless to say I have re-fitted it with UGF and power heads.

The above experience isn't justification for choosing to use an UGF

Sorry I've picked your post apart AlanTh, it's certainly nothing personal towards you. I just don't want the OP getting only half a story and thinking that the above conditions the goldfish were kept in were entirely suitable.

 

[lolwat]

Thanks so much for the replies everyone, they were very helpful.