🐠 Goldfish (Carassius auratus)

The Goldfish is perhaps the most recognizable fish in the world and one of the first domesticated fish, bred in China over 1,000 years ago. Despite their reputation as "easy" pets, goldfish actually require more space and care than commonly believed - but with proper care, they can live 10-20+ years!

📋 Quick Facts

🌟 Common Varieties

• Common Goldfish - Long body, single tail, grows large
• Comet - Long flowing tail, active swimmers
• Fancy Goldfish - Rounder bodies, double tails:
  • Fantail, Oranda, Ryukin, Ranchu, Black Moor, Telescope

⚠️ Important Considerations

• No bowls! - Need 20+ gallon tanks minimum
• Cold water fish - Do NOT need heaters
• Messy fish - Produce lots of waste, need strong filtration
• Don't mix types - Commons will outcompete fancies for food
• Can grow large - Commons can reach 12+ inches

🏠 Tank Requirements

• Tank Size: 20 gallons first fancy, +10 each additional
• Commons/Comets: 75+ gallons or pond
• Filtration: 10x tank volume turnover per hour
• No heater: Room temperature is fine
• Substrate: Sand or large gravel (avoid small stones)

Water Parameters

🍽️ Diet & Feeding

Omnivores that are always hungry - don't overfeed!

• Sinking pellets - Prevents air gulping
• Gel foods - Excellent for digestion
• Blanched peas - Prevents constipation
• Bloodworms - Occasional treat
• Blanched vegetables - Spinach, zucchini

Feed 2-3 times daily, only what they eat in 2 minutes. Fast one day weekly.

🐟 Compatibility

Good Tankmates

• Other goldfish (same type)
• Dojo/Weather loaches (similar temps)
• White Cloud Mountain Minnows
• Bristlenose plecos (in warmer setups)
• Snails (may eat small ones)

Avoid

• Tropical fish - Different temperature needs
• Mixing commons with fancies - Commons outcompete
• Small fish - May be eaten
• Aggressive fish

🏥 Common Health Issues

• Swim bladder issues - Often diet related, try peas
• Fin rot - Water quality issue
• Ich - Raise temp slowly to 75°F, treat
• Dropsy - Often fatal, isolate immediately

💡 Tips for Success

• Bigger tank = happier, healthier goldfish
• Invest in strong filtration
• Weekly water changes of 25-50%
• Feed sinking foods to prevent air gulping
• Don't overfeed - goldfish beg but don't need much

📚 Summary

Goldfish are wonderful pets that can live decades with proper care. The key is adequate space (no bowls!), strong filtration, cool clean water, and a proper diet. Ditch the bowl, get a proper tank, and your goldfish will reward you with years of companionship.