| A happy and healthy Goldfish |
| Articles - Lifestyle |
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Goldfish are one of the most popular and widely enjoyed of all domestic pets. Unfortunately few are given the chance to live their full life expectancy of 10 years or even longer. To achieve this they must be provided with the right environment and care.
Goldfish are one of the most popular and widely enjoyed of all domestic pets. Unfortunately few are given the chance to live their full life expectancy of 10 years or even longer. To achieve this they must be provided with the right environment and care. It is a common misunderstanding that Goldfish only need a small bowl to live in. This is one the of the reasons most goldfish will never reach their life potential. If your goldfish is limited to a small bowl without filtration they will need constant water changes and few people will be able to keep up with this. Goldfish need a tank big enough to provide at least 7 gallons of water per fish. So if you wanted to keep 4 fish you would need an aquarium that holds at least 27 gallons. When choosing a tank for your goldfish, try to pick a long one that allows plenty of surface area. Goldfish need high levels of oxygen in their water, so a tall tank with little surface area is not a good choice. Goldfish like their water to be fairly cool, a temperature between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. A thermometer in the tank will help regulate this. If the temperature is kept at the right level your goldfish will be less susceptible to disease. You will need a good filtration system for the tank. You need to factor into account the size of the aquarium and one that will be easy to clean and maintain. If you are keeping fancy tailed goldfish in the tank don't choose a filter with a too strong current, as this type of fish will struggle to swim in fast moving water. The main causes that a goldfish does not reach its live expectancy are overcrowding, overfeeding and bad water quality. To give your goldfish the best chance at a long a healthy life provide a good filter, complete regular water changes and don't allow uneaten food and other waste to build up in the tank. Waste in the aquarium will cause the water to become toxic which often proves deadly for goldfish. With very little work and maintenance you and your goldfish will feel the benefits for years to come. Keeping goldfish can be a very enjoyable and rewarding experience, and doesn't have to be short lived. DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice. Click here to read more about keeping goldfishand other tropical fish |