Successful Goldfish Keeping: More Challenging & Rewarding than Tropical Fish?

Many aquarists remember their first attempts at the hobby as a child, eagerly overfeeding a bright orange goldfish in a bare small bowl with colored marbles on the bottom. When the fish floated belly up - usually in weeks or months - the moral our parents taught us was more about the cycle of life than the nitrogen cycle.

It's a myth that you can successfully keep goldfish in a bowl. As adult hobbyists returning to this challenging species, it's easy to spot our mistakes: goldfish produce many times more ammonia than other fish of equal proportion, and therefore require a filtered aquarium which can deal with their waste effectively.

Given the proper care, environment, and conditions, goldfish can live for over a decade. No matter what variety, the Fancy Goldfish is sure to add color and beauty to any aquarium or water garden. If you're up for a unique challenge unlike tropical or marine fish keeping, the rewards of these ornamental beauties will be golden.

Tips for keeping healthy goldfish:

• Space: Goldfish demand large volumes of water: 20 gallons for one fish and 10 gallons per each additional goldfish.
• Water Quality: The more filtration, the better. For best results, use all three filtration methods: mechanical, biological, and chemical. Regular water testing and frequent partial water changes are also essential for managing the ammonia levels goldfish produce.
• Aeration: Goldfish require a maximum amount of dissolved oxygen, so use an aerating power filter or Bubble Disk connected to an air pump.
• Temperature: Because goldfish can withstand a wide variety of temperatures, they will adapt to most room temperatures. However, it is recommended to use a heater for stability, as wildly fluctuating temperatures can lead to a goldfish's demise.