New to goldfish. What do I need to know?

[Finian]

I currently have a 45 gallon female betta tank with nine girls and a five gallon with a male betta (obsessed? Yeah lol). So I know a good bit about them.
My fiance won a common goldfish at a party he went too. I tried to force him to buy at least a five gallon, but he instead got a one gallon tank. The fish is tiny now, but I know he will need a bigger tank ASAP! I have a ten gallon sitting all alone he can have once I move down in two weeks (he lives out of state).
My question is this: how big of a tank does a common goldfish need? The internet has so many opinions, me and my fiance both come up with different answers. So what do you guys think?
And also, do they do better with tank mates or are they fine alone? Do they need any form of heat or is ambient temp okay?

 

[sinibotia]

I generally stand by the opinion of a minimum 4 foot long tank for common goldfish, if you must keep them in tanks. They really belong in ponds....

 

[aqua_holic]

Too, something to keep in mind that is ALWAS overlooked, is that goldfish are highly social fish that should be kept in a group.

 

[em1981ma]

hi
a common needs at least 30gallons minimum as far as I know with the fancies needing 20gallons minimum. I would put him into your 10gallon as soon as you can and he might be fine in there for now as a baby but he will def outgrown both tanks and the longer kept in anything smaller than the recommend 30gallons you run the risk of stunting his growth, which will result in an earlier death. Feed him small regular meals whilst he is under a year old say 3times a day. Feed veg weekly to help keep him in top notch condition. Try peas, broccoli and other green veg. But he is a baby so you have time to get the right tank for him. Good luck.

 

[em1981ma]

Too, something to keep in mind that is ALWAS overlooked, is that goldfish are highly social fish that should be kept in a group.

I agree they do better with companions. Temp wise they don't need a heater and they cope well with small changes in temperature as long as its gradual which it tends to be if simply the changing seasons or putting the heating on at home. Its dramatic sudden changes that can harm them and cause them stress. So ensure when you change the tank water you try to match the current tank water temperature as close a possible. Common goldfish are pretty hardy.

 

[emerald76]

hi
a common needs at least 30gallons minimum as far as I know with the fancies needing 20gallons minimum. I would put him into your 10gallon as soon as you can and he might be fine in there for now as a baby but he will def outgrown both tanks and the longer kept in anything smaller than the recommend 30gallons you run the risk of stunting his growth, which will result in an earlier death. Feed him small regular meals whilst he is under a year old say 3times a day. Feed veg weekly to help keep him in top notch condition. Try peas, broccoli and other green veg. But he is a baby so you have time to get the right tank for him. Good luck.

A common IMO is too big for a thirty. To keep them properly, a pond. Otherwise you need a couple buddies and something preferably 75+ gal.



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[aqua_holic]

Agreed that a 30 is way to small for a common goldfish. 30 gallon tank is 36"x12" base, and the common goldfish should grow to over 12 inches. I honestly don't think a 75 is all that much better, though it'll buy some more time. Common goldfish really don't belong in tanks.

 

[treemanone2003]

Now here's where you're gonna get a multitude of OPINIONS on what's right and what's not. I believe a 30 is acceptable for a common. However, I would suggest a 30 breeder as it's got a larger footprint than a standard 30 or 30 high. Here's a link to LA and their thoughts on what's needed. (I would skip the heater if you live in a warmer climate) http://www.liveaquaria.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=37

Here's another link that supports a goldfish is best suited for a pond as they get older. http://thegoldfishtank.com/do-goldfish-need-a-big-tank/

As I said earlier, there are many degrees to what's right and wrong. It's up to you in the end to dissect all the details and be able to say, "See, I told ya so !!!" and smile about it.


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[sinibotia]

Now here's where you're gonna get a multitude of OPINIONS on what's right and what's not. I believe a 30 is acceptable for a common. However, I would suggest a 30 breeder as it's got a larger footprint than a standard 30 or 30 high. Here's a link to LA and their thoughts on what's needed. (I would skip the heater if you live in a warmer climate) Setting up an Aquarium: How to Set Up a Proper Goldfish Aquarium

Here's another link that supports a goldfish is best suited for a pond as they get older. Do goldfish need a big tank? - The Goldfish Tank

As I said earlier, there are many degrees to what's right and wrong. It's up to you in the end to dissect all the details and be able to say, "See, I told ya so !!!" and smile about it.


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Yeah, as long as the fish live long happy lives, then you did something right. Just don't make a thread to gloat about someone else being "wrong".

Personally, I think a 55 is the smallest size for common goldfish, but I can see a 30 breeder working, albeit with unholy amounts of maintenance.

 

[aqua_holic]

Yup, it's ALL a matter of degree when it comes to "right" and "wrong" and fishkeeping. Some people like their fish to have more swimming room than others. Personally, I've not kept commons, but I have kept fancies and in my experience less than a 4 foot tank was too small for them....so I feel good about saying no to the much larger, faster types in such tanks.

Regarding heaters - many use heaters to establish a minimum temperature for the tank.

 

[em1981ma]

that's good cause im about to get my fancies a 4foot long up from a 3foot. I think all in all the bigger we can get the better it is for all fish as more swimming space the better.

 

[aqua_holic]

Any size tank will work, for a particular length of time. Common goldfish can grow to weigh 10 lbs. will they all? No, but that is their potential size. It's hard to imagine a 10 lb fish in a home aquarium.

 

[em1981ma]

Then they shouldn't really be sold as pets in petshops/aquatic centres as home aquarium fish if they are meant to be in larger volumes of water.

 

[aqua_holic]

Except that many of those stores also supply people with fish for their ponds. There are a number of non-pond fish that fall into that category though.

 

[mapexmac007]

Much advice given here, with respect to "common" goldfish, all greatly appreciated! I have two 4.5-5 inch Veil Tales (fancies, right?). They're currently in a 30 gallon tank.

Do the same size requirements apply to fancies?

I'd prefer to have them in a larger tank, but I'm in an extended unemployed status, and thus cannot afford a larger tank at this time.

I suppose another way of asking this is: how long/large will veil tale fancies grow?

Thoughts, suggestions — please be gentle and polite.

 

[emerald76]

Check the Goldie sticky in cold water


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[mapexmac007]

Check the Goldie sticky in cold water

I just read through that entire thread, and the thread about starting a new aquarium (related topics). Unfortunately, nowhere did it directly or remotely answer the specific question: How long (length) might I expect a Veil Tail Goldfish to grow?

Knowing I'm headed for a larger environment for them (when I can afford it), how large of a tank will I need? 75 gallon? 100 gallon? 200 gallon?

Ultimately, for the sake and well-being of the fish, if they'll need an environment I simply cannot afford or physically have room to accommodate, I must try and give these two beauties up for adoption, to someone who has a pond.

 

[Fishanatic]

75 will cut it and youll probably be able to add a few more in there(with proper filtration of course).

 

[treemanone2003]

If you go by LA, they claim 6+ inches. If you google veiltail goldfish you'll get anything up to 12-14 inches. It just depends in where you look and the effort you put into it.


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[MICEY]

besided the size of the tank you will need a over sized filter or 2 would be better , gold fish produce a lot of waste