Goldfish are pets that can give you pleasure. In addition to being easy to maintain, goldfish are also a favorite pet for beginners. However, like other aquarium fish, goldfish also require adequate care and equipment. Unlike what is often seen on television or cartoons, round glass bowls can actually kill goldfish. If you're looking to breed goldfish, keep them as pets, or just want to know what it's like to keep them, this article provides instructions on how to keep your goldfish happy and healthy for years (even decades to come!).
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Part 1 of 3: Aquarium Needs and Care
Step 1. Provide a large enough aquarium
The minimum aquarium size required for one goldfish is 56.7 liters (remember that goldfish can grow up to 25.5 to 30.5 centimeters, and even longer!) and you will need an additional 37.8 liters of volume. for every other goldfish. Find out about the different types of goldfish. Common goldfish, comet goldfish, and other single-tailed goldfish require a large pond or aquarium because these types of goldfish can grow to over 30 centimeters. Therefore, don't keep single-tailed goldfish unless you have a 680-liter aquarium or large pond that can be used as a habitat once the goldfish has grown.
- For years, people believed that goldfish could live in small bowl aquariums. In fact, this is what makes his life span short. Without adequate filtration, ammonia levels in a small aquarium will build up, making the goldfish's environment full of toxins.
- Goldfish will grow, according to the existing habitat space. However, you don't have to let it grow to its largest size. Goldfish measuring 2.5 centimeters can grow to the length of your arm. However, this growth usually occurs if goldfish are kept in large ponds or giant aquariums.
Step 2. Prepare the aquarium first before you buy goldfish
Preparation of goldfish habitat will take time and handling. There are several steps to ensure that the water and overall habitat conditions are suitable for goldfish, as described below.
- Fish are sensitive creatures that will feel pressured when they have to move from one environment to another. Too many changes that happen quickly can kill him, even when the environment he was prepared for was already ideal. Therefore, do not move fish too often from one place to another.
- Goldfish cannot live in a small, temporary environment (eg a plastic bag or small bowl) for long periods of time. You can temporarily place them in these containers for an hour, but placing them for several hours is not the way to go. The longest period for temporary placement in a small container or environment is one day.
- In a pinch, a large plastic bucket (that has been thoroughly rinsed and cleaned with water conditioner) can be a good choice.
Step 3. Use gravel that won't get stuck in the goldfish's throat
Fish, especially goldfish, are prone to choking due to the presence of pebbles stuck in the throat. Therefore, use gravel that is rather large (at least, one that is too large to swallow) or gravel that is very small. Large gravel may be a better choice because, in addition to not getting caught or swallowed, it allows the fish to dig through the gravel to find food that has fallen off.
Make sure you clean the gravel you will be using before adding it to the tank. Many gravel products need to be rinsed first to prevent the aquarium from becoming condensed or dirty. Even when you buy them, it's a good idea to clean them and soak them in water for a day to remove debris and ensure that your pet goldfish has the most comfortable environment or habitat. Make sure you don't use soap when cleaning the gravel to be used
Step 4. Make sure you provide decoration and light for the aquarium
Goldfish are diurnal animals; this means, goldfish are active during the day. Goldfish need light to maintain a healthy sleep pattern. In addition, light has also been shown to maintain the brightness of the fish's body color. If you don't get enough sleep or don't get enough sunlight, goldfish will lose their color and look dull. Therefore, allow the aquarium to have 8-12 hours of light each day to adjust to the proper pattern of day/night situations if the aquarium cannot be exposed to direct sunlight. However, you should also not place your aquarium in direct sunlight, as this can cause massive temperature changes and encourage algae growth.
- Try placing rocks or wooden ornaments with fake leaves or plants in the tank. Decorative stone or wood can provide niches or crevices for your fish to explore and artificial plants placed will not encourage plant growth in the tank. Usually, goldfish will live better with a minimalist aquarium decoration. Generally, goldfish have a fat body and cannot swim smoothly so the fewer 'obstacles' there are in the aquarium, the freer they are to swim. Therefore, try placing one large or medium-sized ornament in the center of the tank and some plastic plants outside the swimming area to allow more swimming room.
- Native plants can benefit by absorbing ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate from dirt and natural damage to accumulated aquarium items. However, goldfish are plant-eating animals and voracious eaters. Therefore, stick with fake plants until you can take the time and have the necessary equipment to keep the real plants in your tank safe from goldfish.
- Make sure the aquarium decorations you use do not have cavities (they can be used as nesting and breeding places for harmful bacteria), and do not have sharp corners to prevent your fish's fins from tearing.
- Try using a fluorescent lamp to install in the aquarium. You can also use halogen or incandescent bulbs. Pay attention to the amount of light you give your goldfish. Generally, goldfish need to get light for 12 hours, and 12 hours after that they need a dark environment.
Step 5. Install the water filter device in the aquarium
Goldfish need a water filter for their aquarium. The filter used must have three filtration stages: mechanical (to filter out large particles such as fish waste or food residue), chemical (to remove odors and discoloration of water, and other organic substances), and biological (to destroy impurities). fish and ammonia with beneficial bacteria). The device used also needs to be adjusted to the size of the aquarium. If you think you will need to use two sets for your aquarium, it's a good idea to use a larger one. With clean water quality and functional and efficient filter devices, your goldfish's happiness and health will be maintained. There are three types of filter devices that are most popularly used:
- Rear filter device (hang on back filter or HOB). This device is mounted on the back side of the aquarium, sucks up the water and filters it, then returns it to the aquarium. These devices are very popular, are sold at relatively affordable prices, and are probably worth buying.
- Tube filter. This filter is installed under the aquarium and uses several tubes to filter the water. This filter kit produces almost no noise, but is slightly more expensive than the rear filter kit. However, these devices are usually more efficient at filtering water than rear filter devices. Usually these filters are designed for larger volume aquariums (about 190 liters) and are not available for smaller aquariums.
- Wet/dry filter or drip filter. This device uses an overflow box to filter debris from the aquarium. However, they are much larger than rear filter kits or canister filters and are generally installed in large volume aquariums (about 190 liters).
Step 6. Fill the aquarium with water
Once you have your aquarium set up, fill it with tap water that has been treated with a special conditioner solution. Alternatively, you can also use distilled water.
Tap water (which has not been purified) or drinking water contains chemicals and minerals that are harmful to fish
Step 7. Follow at least one fish-less cycle before you transfer your goldfish to the tank
At this stage, you will need to add ammonia to the tank and monitor nitrate levels to make sure the aquarium water is safe for your goldfish. Unfortunately, many fish die after being transferred to the aquarium due to ammonia and nitrate poisoning. Therefore, make sure you add a dechlorinator as the chlorine in tap water can kill your fish.
- Make sure your goldfish's aquarium or habitat is ready before you move it. Prepare an acidity test kit (pH) and perform an acidity test to determine the correct levels of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Make sure the test results show that there is no ammonia and nitrite in the water, and that the nitrate concentration is less than 20. Sometimes, litmus paper is difficult to use correctly in calculating concentrations, and it tends to be more expensive. Therefore, it is a good idea to use a liquid test kit (eg API Master Test Kit).
- Next, all you need to do is add ammonia continuously to start the nitrification process. If you keep at it, you may eventually see the nitrates consumed by the algae or plants you put in your tank. When you're done, you can move the fish to the aquarium.
Part 2 of 3: Taking Care and Feeding
Step 1. Transfer the fish to the aquarium
If you want to keep more than one goldfish, make sure (or, hopefully) they are all the same breed. Unfortunately, goldfish are known to eat smaller fish, and often overeat and deprive other fish of food. If there are other fish that are smaller or slower moving, it's hard to get a chance. Therefore, you can use an aquarium separator to keep the 'bully' fish away from other, weaker fish.
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Goldfish can be kept in one aquarium in large numbers. However, be careful in choosing his 'friends'. Several types of fish that you can choose from, among others, are White Cloud Mountain Minnow, Zebra Danios, and Plecos fish. However, these fish live in groups so, when buying additional fish for your aquarium, you will need to buy at least half a dozen. In short, keep your goldfish with other similar goldfish.
- New fish to be transferred to the aquarium will need to be quarantined for two weeks. If the fish carries the disease, of course, don't let the disease spread to other healthy fish.
- Keep in mind that goldfish prefer colder water than other group-loving fish. Therefore, other fish species to be added to the aquarium must be species with similar characteristics to goldfish. You can also put goldfish in an aquarium with live-bearer fish that are too productive (fish that deposit their eggs in the body and give birth to them as perfect, ready-to-swim fish, such as guppies) to eat young fish that aren't. desired, as well as keeping the number of fish in the aquarium is not too much).
Step 2. Clean the aquarium at least once a week, even when the water isn't dirty
Goldfish produce impurities that the filter device cannot completely remove. A clean aquarium will keep goldfish happy and healthy, and healthy and happy goldfish can live for a long time! When cleaning the aquarium, do not use soap as soap is toxic to fish and can kill them immediately. Also, don't use regular tap water to fill the aquarium. Drinking water is also not suitable to be added to the aquarium because the minerals needed by goldfish are not contained in the water. Alternatively, buy a water conditioner at a pet store and add the amount indicated on the label.
- As much as possible do not remove fish from the tank while you are cleaning. You can use a tool such as a gravel vacuum to avoid removing the fish from the tank. If you must move it, use a plastic container to pick it up as much as possible (and not a net). Nets are easier to injure fish fins than plastic containers. In addition, fish are also afraid of nets so that using nets can make them depressed.
- Change 25% of the aquarium water weekly (if the ammonia and nitrite levels in the water are appropriate). When the nitrate concentration reaches 20, replace 50% of the aquarium water. In this process, it's a good idea to provide some used towels around the aquarium. Be careful not to suck in the small fish when you change the water.
Step 3. Measure the concentration of ammonia, nitrite, and acidity of the water
Remember the tests that were done before transferring the fish to the aquarium? You have to do it anyway. Make sure there is no ammonia and nitrite content in the water (the level is 0). In addition, the allowable acidity (pH) of water ranges from 6.5 to 8.25.
Step 4. Feed your fish 1-2 times a day
Be careful not to overfeed it, and only give your goldfish food that is eaten in 1 minute (also keep in mind that sometimes the information on food packaging labels is incorrect). Goldfish can overeat and, therefore, die. It is better (and always better) to feed him in small amounts than to feed him too much. If you are using a type of food that floats in water, first soak the food in the water for a few seconds to allow the food to sink. This is done to reduce the amount of air inhaled by the fish when eating so as to reduce the risk of problems with the fish's buoyancy.
- Like humans, goldfish also need a variety of nutrients. Give pellets (as the main food), live food (eg artemia or brine shrimp, and need to be given occasionally), and frozen dry food, such as mosquito larvae or worms (occasionally). Remember to soak frozen food in aquarium water before feeding it to the fish as it can expand in the stomach and cause problems with the fish's swimming ability.
- Only provide food that the fish can eat within a minute. Throw away uneaten food. Death in goldfish is more common from overfeeding than other factors.
- Feed your goldfish at the same time each day (once in the morning, once in the evening), and in the same places in the tank (eg on one side of the tank).
Step 5. Turn off the aquarium lights and let your goldfish rest
Goldfish don't have eyelids and don't actually stop swimming, but their bodies go into a kind of hibernation. You can tell when you notice a slight change in body color and decreased activity (usually the fish will be on one side of the tank).
Goldfish like to 'sleep' in a dark place. You only need to install aquarium lights if you want to grow native plants that are placed in the aquarium, or if the room you live in is not well lit. Even if you don't have lights in your aquarium, it's a good idea to turn off the lights in the room to reduce unnecessary energy use
Step 6. Change the water temperature according to the changing seasons or weather
Goldfish do not like water temperatures that reach more than 24°C, but goldfish like changes in water temperature based on the weather. In weather or winter, the water temperature usually ranges from 15-20°C. You need to understand that goldfish will not eat when the water temperature is between 10-14°C.
- The thermometer can facilitate the process of adjusting the temperature. There are two types of thermometers you can use: thermometers that are installed inside the aquarium and thermometers that are installed outside the aquarium. Both types of thermometer are quite accurate at measuring temperature, but a thermometer installed in an aquarium is considered better.
- If you not planning to breed goldfish, it's a good idea to make sure the water temperature stays at 23°C all year round. However, if you planned To breed goldfish, change the water temperature to suit the current season (goldfish lay eggs in spring). Start by gradually lowering the temperature (between 10°C and 12°C) to let your goldfish 'think' it is winter. When it's time to enter the breeding season, gradually increase the water temperature to a range of 20°C to 23°C. This rise in temperature signals your goldfish that it is time to lay eggs.
Part 3 of 3: Dealing with Problems that May Appear
Step 1. Check the oxygen level in the aquarium
If you see your goldfish congregating near the surface of the water, there may be insufficient oxygen in the tank. However, the good news is that oxygen levels will increase if the water temperature is lowered. Therefore, lower the water temperature or keep the aquarium out of direct sunlight. In this way, it is hoped that oxygen levels will increase again. Alternatively, you can install a bubble device and a water pump to circulate the aquarium water.
If you have read the information provided so far carefully, you will understand the most common problems. This way, you know how to avoid it. As long as you are able to maintain water acidity, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite and oxygen levels, don't overfeed the fish, and clean the tank regularly, 95% of the most common problems have been dealt with. Safe
Step 2. Handle aquarium water that appears cloudy
Sometimes, even though you've tried your best, there are aspects that are still problematic. The aquarium water may turn yellowish, greenish, or even appear white. It's not a big deal, but you should clean your tank right away.
Each color that appears in the water signifies different problems. Discoloration in water can be caused by algae, bacteria, or even simply wilting of aquatic plants. You don't need to panic. With a water change and aquarium cleaning, you can ensure that your pet goldfish are in safe condition
Step 3. Treat white spot disease (ich) in your fish
One of the most common diseases that occur in goldfish is white spot disease. As the name suggests, on the body and fins of the fish there are white spots. In addition, the fish also become difficult to breathe. This disease is caused by a parasite, and can be cured. Transfer your fish to a special aquarium and use a fungicidal product that you can buy at pet stores.
- The most important thing to do is isolate the sick fish from other creatures, including plants. Parasites present in sick fish can spread and attach to plants or other living animals.
- If you notice white spots on the gravel or aquarium decorations, remove or remove the chemical filter layer from the filter kit and clean the entire tank. Isolate sick fish as they may require more medical attention than healthy fish.
- You can also follow alternative non-chemical steps to get rid of parasites, such as increasing the water temperature or increasing the salt content of the water. At a temperature of about 29°C, usually the parasites will die. You can also add about a tablespoon of salt to 3.5 liters of water. Make sure to increase the temperature or add salt slowly. Do not increase the temperature by 0.5°C to 1°C every hour, or a teaspoon of salt per 3.5 liters every 12 hours. Continue treatment for (at least) 3 days after signs of parasitic infection disappear. When you're done, do a partial water change to remove the salt and lower the water temperature. Don't be surprised if the color or brightness of the sick fish's body will decrease afterwards.
Step 4. Check your goldfish for signs of fluke infection
Another parasite that commonly infects goldfish is the fluke. When infected, your fish will often rub against surfaces, oozing mucus, looking red, and possibly experiencing swelling of the stomach.
As is the case for other fish parasites (eg the Ich parasite that causes white spot disease), quarantine sick fish. The fish can return to living with other healthy fish in a few days if you treat the disease early
Step 5. Treat swim bladder disorders in your fish
This disorder is quite easy to spot. Usually, this disorder is characterized by a sideways or even reverse swimming style. You may think that your fish are swimming comfortably, but they are not. Fortunately, this disorder is not contagious and can be treated immediately.
- For this annoyance, you don't need to quarantine sick fish. This disorder is not caused by parasites. However, if you want to be safe, you can still quarantine it.
- To treat it, you usually don't need to give medication because overfeeding (or the wrong type of food) is usually the trigger for the disorder. Reduce the amount of food given to the fish or, better yet, do not feed the fish for 3 days. During this 'fasting' period, the bacteria in the fish's digestive system will return to normal functioning. If symptoms of the disorder persist, try changing the type of food with another type of food that has a higher fiber content, such as peas or cucumbers. You can also feed the fish with a special medication to treat internal infections.
Step 6. Take appropriate steps to deal with dead fish
The first thing to do is throw away the dead fish carcasses, but don't let it smell in the house. You can bury it or, if you prefer, throw it in a compost mound. Don't throw fish carcasses into the toilet! Wrap your hand in a plastic bag and remove the dead fish carcass from the aquarium. Turn the plastic bag over and tie it (the fish carcass is in the plastic bag). Cleaning the aquarium is carried out, depending on the existing conditions.
- If only one fish dies, it's likely (and hopefully) that it died of parasites. Immediately dispose of fish carcasses so that other fish (or plants in the aquarium) are not infected with the parasite.
- If all the fish in the tank die, you will need to thoroughly clean the tank using a bleach solution. A quarter teaspoon of bleach for 3.8 liters of felt water. Allow the tank to fill with the bleach solution for one to two hours to get rid of any parasites and toxins present. After that, discard the bleach solution and dry the aquarium.
Tips
- Healthy goldfish have bright scales and erect hind fins. When you buy goldfish, make sure you choose a goldfish that is active and cheerful!
- Sometimes goldfish carry pebbles in their mouths. If that happens, you don't have to worry. Goldfish usually regurgitate the gravel. Just make sure you don't buy or use small pebbles to prevent your goldfish from choking.
- Fish can live for a week without food. So if you forget to feed him for a day or two, your pet fish will still be fine.
- Actually, fish don't have short memories (many people think that fish's memories are only 3 seconds long). Fish are actually capable of remembering a lot of things and you can prove this by watching how they react when they hear the feeding valve open (usually the fish will immediately swim to the surface). Many fish are actually very intelligent.
- If your goldfish looks sick, you will need to clean the tank water more often. Feed the fish regularly. If his health condition worsens, find out or read forums on the internet for solutions. You can also take a sick fish to the nearest pet store for help.
- If you are using food that is floating on the surface of the water, first immerse the food in the water for a few seconds to allow the food to sink. This is done to reduce the amount of air the fish breathe when they eat. In this way, the risk of swimming or floating disorders in fish can be reduced.
- Watch for signs of unhappiness in your goldfish.
- To make the body of your goldfish healthier, give the peas that have been heated in the microwave for 10 seconds. Make sure you peel the skin carefully and crush it to make it easier to swallow.
- For each fish, you need to provide 75 liters of space. If you keep two goldfish, a 150 liter aquarium is suitable for holding two goldfish throughout their lives. If you have more than two goldfish, try using a 280 liter tank.
- Watch for signs of skin damage on your goldfish (eg peeling skin). If there are white spots on the fish's body, they are parasites. These disorders can be cured using a solution that is usually available in almost all pet stores.
- Do not immediately remove your fish from the tank just because its eyes are open and its body is not moving. Fish sleep with such a body condition. Since fish do not have eyelids, they sleep with their eyes open.
- Use baking soda when you clean the aquarium. Baking soda can kill algae adhering to fake plants, aquarium walls, gravel, and filter devices. Rinse thoroughly after you use it.
Warning
- Never keep goldfish in a glass bowl or aquarium smaller than 75 liters (except temporarily). Glass bowls are not only too small, but also difficult to fit filter devices, do not get much oxygen exchange, can hurt fish by hitting their round walls, and restrain fish growth. Fish kept in glass bowls will be exposed to harmful chemicals that are not filtered, and will feel uncomfortable. These things can interfere with his immune system, and eventually kill him immediately or slowly (and painfully) in the long run. Keeping fish in glass bowls reduces fish life span by up to 80%. These conditions are equivalent to humans who only live for 15 to 20 years!
- Goldfish can and will try to eat almost anything so you need to be careful with what you put in your tank.
- Don't be fooled by the aquarium filling tips that may be listed on the aquarium packaging. All of these tips can actually overcrowd the tank, causing problems and significantly reducing the space for the fish to move.
- Goldfish can grow into large fish (usually around 20 centimeters in length, but the unique species usually reach 15 centimeters in length) and can live for 15-30 years. Unfortunately, millions of goldfish die every year due to incorrect care and maintenance myths (eg maintenance in glass bowls, etc.). Therefore, take good care of your goldfish so that it lives a long time.
- The sand you put in the aquarium needs to be stirred when you change the water to prevent sand compaction and the buildup of harmful gases that build up in the sand.
- Be careful when choosing other fish species you want to keep with your goldfish. Find out or ask the fishmonger for this information. Of course you don't want to see your favorite goldfish bones floating in the aquarium. Be careful when you ask the pet seller for this information because most of them don't understand your question. In Indonesia, this is especially true when you ask retail fish sellers (not those who sell fish at large or well-known pet stores). Alternatively, you can find out yourself on internet forums or fish care information sheets.
