Not Urgent Goldfish Help.

[K.J.]

I have a pair of goldfish outside. They're the small, averare type, only about an inch long each. They live in a largish pot outside, where the temp. (not of the water, of the air) averages from 80 - 100 degrees. There is plenty of mosquito larvae in the pot, and my mom is thinking they could live off fish food and that. She also thinks they need dark, murky, algae-ish water. But the main question is, as I'm going to clean it, is do they need fish food to survive, or can they eat mosquito larvae? Thanks.

 

[Katana]

How big is the pot? Goldfish can get to at least 12 inches long. I know they can get more than that but I have only had them get to 12 inches in my own experience (because the pond got raided before they got bigger). I've seen bigger specimines. And mine were the cheap 10 cent feeder comets. I just restocked my pond with them and I barely feed them, because they keep the algae down. But, if your outdoor pot is small, it might be nicer to get something bigger for the two of them.

While they are small, they can scrape by on algae and larvae, but when they get bigger, they will probibly need additional food from time to time.

 

[K.J.]

the goldfish are only about an inch. Another thing I'm wondering is how many should fit in five gallons, which is what the pot is. I've examined them and they look healthy. So far they haven't fought. If they get too big I'll try to find something better for them, although it looks like I won't have to for a while..

 

[Katana]

They grow fast, and a 5 gallon isn't big enough for one of them. The rule of thumb is 20 gallons for the first and 10 for each additional fish. They may be an inch now, but don't expect them to stay that way. Look into some minnow species for your pot mabye, but goldfish will NOT be happy in there. I know your local fish store might tell you they will, but they won't. And the growing to the container idea is a complete myth, their bodies become stunted but their internal organs DO NOT and they will die prematurely and painfully. Please don't count on "oh, if they get too big i'll do something else" because when they are too big, you'll think "well, it's allright, they've allways been in there." In a month, they will be MUCH bigger.