Believe it or not, goldfish can live as long as 10-25 years, or much longer if given the right care. However, normal care usually only maintains the age of the fish for about 6 years. The Guinness Book of World Records records a goldfish named Tish – he lived for 45 years after being won as a prize at an exhibition event in England in 1956! So now you can help your scaly friend to survive his "golden years". Sometimes, it's easy to forget that stress and hygiene can have a huge impact on the life of your little fish. However, when you control these factors, the benefits can be enormous for the life expectancy of the fish. Small changes, such as regular water changes, can help them live past the age you think they are.
Step
Step 1. Buy the largest aquarium possible
Don't use a fish bowl. You need at least a 75 liter aquarium to maintain a good quality of life for a fish. Choose a tank with a large surface area to increase the amount of oxygen on the surface of the water (better to choose a wider than taller one).
Step 2. Prepare the tank before you buy goldfish
You may need two weeks or more to prepare. This time is needed so that there are sufficient numbers of bacteria to decompose fish waste. To do so, perform a “fish-free cycle”. When finished, the goldfish tank will contain a lot of putrefactive bacteria. If you don't follow this cycle, the fish can be poisoned by ammonia and die
Step 3. Provide mental and physical stimulation for the fish
Decorate the tank with gravel, driftwood, sturdy living plants, etc. Make sure that any decorations you choose have no spaces (harmful bacteria can grow in them) and sharp edges (fish may accidentally injure their fins). Give your fish different areas, such as an open area that is ideal for swimming and a hiding area in the same tank.
You can also train your fish in a number of ways. If you feed him at the same time every day, he will wait for you at that time and get used to your presence. You can also teach him to eat from his hands. You can also use an empty net as a 'loop' and train the fish to swim through it
Step 4. Add some equipment to increase the diffusion of oxygen into the water
A pump and air stone may suffice. You can also use a 'waterfall' type filter to help shake the surface of the water.
Step 5. Clean the tank at least once every two weeks
However, it is recommended that you do this more often, especially since goldfish produce a lot of waste. Consider buying a water filter. Because these fish often defecate, the levels of ammonia and nitrates in the water can increase – both of which are harmful to fish health. If you don't have a filter, clean the tank twice a week. This is a mandatory step. The frequency of cleaning will depend on the size of the tank, the number of fish and the effectiveness of the filter. Live plants are good filters because they can help absorb some of the ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites.
- Perform routine tests to detect ammonia and nitrite (make sure the measurement reaches zero). You can also run a pH test to make sure the water in the tank isn't too acidic or alkaline. You can buy a pH meter at a pet store. However, do not change the state of the water, unless it is too far from neutral. Goldfish can tolerate a wide range of pH levels, and their adjustment fluids are not a permanent solution if you don't monitor the water in your tank consistently. Make sure this pH level is between 6.5-8.25. Water service companies usually set the pH around the 7.5 level. Goldfish will live calmly at this pH level.
- Do not remove the goldfish when you change the water. Use a gravel vacuum to remove dust while the fish are in the tank. Partial and regular water changes are much better than full water changes, which can be stressful for fish.
- If you really need to catch fish, consider using a plastic container instead of a net, as the fish can injure their fins and scales as they swim to escape. Nets are stressful too! If you have no other choice, soak the net before use. Dry nets are more likely to cause injury than wet nets. When using plastic containers, be careful – let the fish in on its own or it could be injured.
Step 6. Allow the water temperature to change as the seasons change
While goldfish don't like temperatures above 24°C, they seem to enjoy the difference in seasons – including abroad when it's snowing and temperatures reach 15-20°C. The more luxurious goldfish are usually the exception. It may not be able to tolerate temperatures below 16°c. Be aware that goldfish will not eat if the temperature is in the 10-14°c range.
Step 7. Feed your goldfish one to two times a day with foods specially designed for it
If you want to feed him more often, eat less so he doesn't get fat. Give him food in portions that he can finish in a few minutes, and clean up any leftovers. If you're using floating food, soak it in water for a few seconds beforehand to allow it to sink. This reduces the air the goldfish swallows, making it more difficult for the goldfish to have problems with the float.
Tips
- Make sure you regularly clean food debris and debris from the gravel in the tank. You can do this by using a special gravel vacuum cleaner.
- Be careful where the tank is placed. Do not place near heaters or air conditioners. Do not place it near windows or doors. This can cause the tank to change temperature drastically or be damaged when the door is opened. Do not place the tank in an area that is exposed to the sun all day. Tanks can overheat and become overgrown with algae.
- Make sure you don't use sharp ornaments. Ornaments like this can tear the goldfish's fins and peel off some of its scales.
- Be careful when moving goldfish. Stress can reduce life expectancy.
- Make sure the fish looks healthy when you buy them. If one of the fish in the tank looks sick (suffering white spot, red spot/velvet, pine-coning scales/dropsy), don't buy another fish in the same tank. Revisit the store after a week and buy healthy fish instead of bringing home fish that require special care or will die while you are raising them. New fish should be quarantined from other fish to prevent the spread of parasites, bacteria, and fungi.
- Do not keep the aquarium light on for more than a few hours at a time. This can cause the temperature of the water to get hotter so that it grows algae. Even if you use real plants, 8 hours/day is enough. Turn on the light with a timer to turn it off automatically and help maintain the fish's natural rhythm. In addition, every time you turn on or turn off the lights, adjust the lighting conditions in the room first so that the fish are not startled. Fish don't have eyelids, so sudden changes in light can frighten them.
- If you have a cat, make sure the tank doesn't have a lid on the top.
- Common fish, comets, shunbunkins, and several other types of luxury goldfish can grow to reach more than 30 cm if kept in an aquarium or pond large enough! However, contrary to popular belief, the size of the fish will not be the same as the size of the tank. Don't buy a tank that's too small and expect your fish to keep up with the size of the tank – this can reduce their life expectancy and cause stress.
- You don't always have to transfer sick fish to another tank when caring for them.
- Always use a filter that will repeat ten cycles of the amount of water in the tank. For example, if your tank is 20 liters, prepare a filter capable of turning 200 liters per hour.
Warning
- Make sure there is no soap or detergent residue in the container you use to change the water. Soaps and detergents are toxic to fish.
- Do not use any cleaning agents or acids to clean the aquarium. These substances can be harmful and cause stress in fish.
- Comets, commons, and shunbunkins can grow to a length of 30-45 cm, so be prepared to see that little friend you won as a gift from a fairground event grow into a huge orange monster.
- Many cities use chloramine instead of chlorine in their water. Chloramine does not evaporate and must be neutralized with another chemical liquid. Check the label on your dechlorinator to make sure it's also capable of removing chloramine.
- Be careful when mixing fish! Goldfish should only be kept with other types of goldfish. Some gold races should also not be mixed. All your fish should be the same size, and be able to swim at the same speed. For example, you shouldn't mix comets with fancy-finned goldfish; The comet will eat up its food before the fancy-finned fish reach it.
- Make sure you check the air inlet valve when using the aerator. If you don't use the aerator, the water will be sucked back into the air ducts, damaging the pump. The aquarium can also catch fire if water reaches the electrical wires on the pump. Also make sure you check that the valve is properly installed.
- While you don't have to install a heater in the aquarium, if you do use one, be careful! Heating appliances, especially cheap ones, are prone to malfunction and can stay on even after they are turned off, so keep an eye on them with a thermometer. You should replace the heater every two years, and buy only well-known brands that provide a warranty.
- Fish can't filter food, so don't expect them to live long without food.
- Never place the aquarium on an unstable or weak surface. Without a strong support, the aquarium can break and leak. If the table below shatters, the aquarium will fall and break, causing the fish to suffocate.
- When you use aquarium salt, use it with care. The salt does not evaporate and only disappears when you remove the water from the fish tank. Use salt only to treat sick/injured fish.
