Ammonia burned goldfish and some questions on keeping them

[flitabout]

So my kids brought some goldfish home from the fair . It was pretty evident immediately that they were in really bad shape. We lost one about 4 days in and the other one seems to be healing up very well. He hasn't eating anything I've given him other than he really seems to love the wisteria I tossed in for him.
1)Will the surviving GF be able to live a normal life span?
2)Will it be ok by itself or should I get another 1 or 2 comets to go with it?

Currently the fish is in a 36 BF with plenty of cycled material and zero ammonia showing and 20-40 nitrate but that's just my water. I will be working on a pond next summer for them and the turtle the kids also brought home from the fair! Yes my kids turned this year's fair in 1 heck of an expensive endeavor for me. The turtle has already cost me around $100 and we are just getting started with him! At least the goldfish I could properly house with stuff I had in my house! I do believe in giving all of them the best life possible. But goldfish have just never really been my thing so I just don't know that much about them other than they are dirty get huge and really should be in a pond.

 

[King Fisher]

If you're planning a pond then I would just keep the one goldfish for now in the 36. Add some buddies later in the pond.

My son is wanting a turtle so Ill be in that world soon [emoji849]

 

[flitabout]

Just remember King they can live in some cases 87 year old. So if your son really wants the turtle remind him it's his lol!!!

 

[King Fisher]

Lol. Great.....I'll be bribing him with something else.

 

[Autumnsky]

Told all my kids they had to take pets with them when they moved out or chose pets with a shorter life span, with lots of research for the pets. Worked out - they picked shorter life span pets, but one, took the cat with her!

As for the GF especially that it is a comet, you will need the pond. Look for pond pets that can get along, like a turtle might eat a GF. Though likely to get big quickly.

The Rosy Minnows are pretty hardy. Mine spawned after a year and a half. Do some reading about them if you end up wanting them to spawn for you. They get odd spawning bumps - looks weird. Rosy color are MUCH easier to see in the pond, and inexpensive. QT them. Food for a turtle and fish to watch.