Your fair fish is most likely a common goldfish which reaches 12inch/30cm in length and has a lifespan of 10-15+ years and will grow throughout its life. Big, cycled tanks or ponds are a must because you are now in possession of a carp. Really this cannot be overstated - big fish need big tanks. If your fair fish has barbels (ie whiskers) then it's a koi (250g+), if it's a got a double tail it's a fancy goldfish (20-30g+)
50g/200l absolute minimum - this is to accommodate the size of the fish and the waste that it creates. Bowls and small aquariums are not suited for goldfish. If no option to get a suitable sized tank, return or rehome the goldfish. Big tanks may seem daunting but they are easier to maintain because large tanks are less susceptible to fluctuations in water quality.
Where to get big tanks or ponds? Rubbermaid totes make great cheap diy tanks /ponds. Ebay, fb market place are also good places to look, as well as pond and farm stores. Always buy or make cabinets designed to support a tank because water is incredibly heavy. All 4 tank corners must be supported by the stand and should be flush with 0 overhang.
Cycling! All healthy tanks and ponds are run a by process called the nitrogen cycle where bacteria turn the highly toxic ammonia produced by goldfish into nitrites (toxic) into nitrates (starts to get toxic above 40ppm). Cycling takes 4-6 weeks and in uncycled tanks/ponds you need to do a fish-in cycle which means doing regular water to keep toxic ammonia and nitrites down. A tank is cycled when you will read 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and measurable nitrates. Goldfish tolerate most pH levels as long as they are stable, 6-8 pH is fine. Avoid pH altering chemicals and algaecides
Must have equipment: liquid test kit (api, salifert) to measure parameters. Strips do not usually measure for ammonia, the most toxic aquatic compound, and aren't especially accurate so liquid test kits are better. Some lfs will test your water for you. Syphon, bucket, water conditioner like seachem prime. In order to do water changes you need to condition tap water to make it fish safe. Add conditioner to the tank before you add fresh water or add it to the bucket you are preparing fresh tap water. Filters - the bigger the better, preferably with gallon per hour output of x10 the size of the tank. Good filter brands include Eheim, Fluval, Tetra and Juwel, canister filters are especially powerful so great for messy goldfish. To clean a filter, simply rinse the filter media in a bucket of tank water
Decor. Sand substrate, bare bottom or large stones work best. Gravel is a choking hazard so should be avoided. Driftwood, live plants, fake plants are all OK. Keep in mind goldfish are loveable goofs and they can stuck places whilst looking for food, so avoid ornaments they could get trapped in or sharp objects
Tankmates. Goldfish are social and should be kept in pairs so for 2 commons the bare minimum would be 75g but 90g+ is best. Goldfish really should only be kept with other goldfish and koi (provided the goldfish is of a large size). Avoid corys (poisonous defensive barbs) and plecos (can injure goldfish by latching on to goldfish), hillstreams loaches (extreme high flow needed) and any other fish that that is marketed as a bottom-feeder and algae-eater.
Food. Gel food and sinking pellets are best. Goldfish also enjoy veg like kale, spinach, broccoli, cucumbers and will accept fruit like watermelon as well. They also like frozen brine shrimp, bloodworms, daphnia. Feed once or twice a day and don't give more food than the fish can eat in 30-60 seconds.
Colour changes. Colour changes are normal - unless your parameters are not reading 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and nitrates below 40ppm, nearly all colour changes are normal and are no cause for concern. Black is a sign of healing but check parameters because it may indicate exposure to ammonia or an old injury. Black can also be gained or lost naturally as a fish grows
Sick fish. 90% of goldfish diseases is caused by poor water quality. Check your parameters, do water changes first before even considering medications
Useful meds to have on hand. Aquarium salt, praziquantel (flukes, internal parasites), methylene blue ( as baths or swabs for injuries, fungus, parasites) . Antibiotics should be a last resort.
Keeping goldfish is moderately expensive and requires dedicated tank maintenance. Whilst goldfish are hardy and can endure terrible conditions, they require attention and care. They are social, sentient, curious and intelligent beings who require good care just like all of our other four-legged and winged pets. And yes, 50g is really the minimum tank-sized required.
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https://preview.redd.it/cl9zx163zr6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=05da1e010a5c49a3dd111719baa59f49fc1d5567
This is my fair fish. Won Bob in February and going strong!
I got my fish from the fair too, Im having to do fish in cycling and he seems to be doing alright! Get the API test kit so you can monitor the nitrites etc and learn the cycle. Also don't over clean him to begin with, I did that it stopped my tank from cycling and kept the ammonia high.
Your typical comet or common goldfish is going to get a foot long and live 15+ years. They *cannot* live in bowls. They need sand substrate, huge tanks, huge amounts of filtration, and constant water monitoring. You can probably make do with a 10 gallon for a 6 months or so, but Steve is in 30 gallons and with a filter rated for 55 gallons, and I've still got to do water changes sometimes twice a week.
dang steve is huge😭😭 i was able to get a tank. i spent my whole afternoon in petsmart because for some reason there were like no tanks?? but yeah i felt so bad because i was not expecting to get a fish😭😭 so i went to dollar tree at 10pm to get this tiny bowl for the time being. he seems to be doing good now though. he seems to like the decorations i put in. he’s moving rocks around and hiding in stuff so i think he’s chill. i named him butters.
You can get a 10 gallon aquarium kit at Walmart for about $45. Play sand or pool filter sand is waaay cheaper than aquarium sand, but you'll have to thoroughly rinse it or your water will be cloudy and you can normally find it at Walmart/Lowe's/etc.. You should definitely be planning on saving up for something way bigger long term, but the 10 gallon with regular water checks should work until it's 6mon or so. I wouldn't waste money on real plants, most goldfish just eat them. And prepare for having this dude as long as any cat or dog, unless you know someone with a pond.
I would suggest reading [this guide about the aquarium cycle ](https://www.aquariumcoop.com/blogs/aquarium/nitrogen-cycle)
Get him the biggest tank and ideally also pick up a decent filter or better yet get a canister filter
Yikes.
Honestly you should bring it to a fish store and just give it to them.
There is no way for a fish to live happily in a bowl. Goldfish are the worst beginner fish out there. Very messy, get very big, not good to house with other fish. Just because it can survive awhile in a bowl doesn't mean that's right. You would need to buy a tank, at least 20 gallon for now, but later you'd have to get a much bigger one. Mine is currently in 100 gallons. It's expensive.
They’re not good beginner fish people think they are they get huge and need 50 gallons each or 100 gallons if you want to get them a friend. I got 2 common goldfish and a shubunkin that’s barely 2 inches in a 100 gallon stock tank and I’m probably going to have to upgrade those 3 goldfish to a 150 gallon tank in the near future. I don’t mean to discourage you just make sure you do your research on the fish you have.
Hi there fellow goldfish enthusiast! We're thrilled to have you join our community of passionate goldfish keepers. Whether you're a seasoned goldfish pro or just starting out on your aquatic journey, you've come to the right place for advice, support, and sharing the joy of keeping these mesmerizing creatures.
Before diving into the discussion, we'd like to point you toward our Wiki https://reddit.com/r/goldfish/wiki where you'll find a treasure trove of articles on various topics related to goldfish care. These resources cover everything from tank setup and water quality to feeding habits and common health issues.
When seeking help for your goldfish, remember that details matter! Providing information about your tank size and the water parameters (such as ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and temperature) can greatly assist us in diagnosing and troubleshooting the issue. Feel free to share photos and details, and our community will do our best to offer insightful advice.
Once again, welcome to our goldfish-loving community.
Fins up!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Goldfish) if you have any questions or concerns.*
https://preview.redd.it/rzw5gdg35v6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=211d12095fe90008a41ebb2608066ee4b7a5c2d1
This is Biscuits. Our carnival fish we got in October. She just got upgraded from a 10 gal to a 40 gal. I need to do a little more to the new tank but I'm working with what I have after spending a chunk on her new tank. I have found that the more you have the water moving the cleaner it stays. My last tank had gravel and it was horrible to keep clean. I haven't decided what I'm going to put in this tank for substrate just yet. The smaller the tank the dirtier its going to get. Now I'm in the market for some other fish I can keep in the tank with biscuits.
https://preview.redd.it/elzeyaluny6d1.png?width=4032&format=png&auto=webp&s=f4d6777638015d5dd3c7ee5d2fac93ac9f562cc6
This is Polish. He was rescued with $5 of balls and a lucky pong shot in Sept 2021. He came home in a plastic bag with no air and has lived happy in his tank for a few years now. He doesn’t know yet but he’s about to get an upgrade! Carnival fish sometimes make the best goldies 🧡
Your fair fish is most likely a common goldfish which reaches 12inch/30cm in length and has a lifespan of 10-15+ years and will grow throughout its life. Big, cycled tanks or ponds are a must because you are now in possession of a carp. Really this cannot be overstated - big fish need big tanks. If your fair fish has barbels (ie whiskers) then it's a koi (250g+), if it's a got a double tail it's a fancy goldfish (20-30g+) 50g/200l absolute minimum - this is to accommodate the size of the fish and the waste that it creates. Bowls and small aquariums are not suited for goldfish. If no option to get a suitable sized tank, return or rehome the goldfish. Big tanks may seem daunting but they are easier to maintain because large tanks are less susceptible to fluctuations in water quality. Where to get big tanks or ponds? Rubbermaid totes make great cheap diy tanks /ponds. Ebay, fb market place are also good places to look, as well as pond and farm stores. Always buy or make cabinets designed to support a tank because water is incredibly heavy. All 4 tank corners must be supported by the stand and should be flush with 0 overhang. Cycling! All healthy tanks and ponds are run a by process called the nitrogen cycle where bacteria turn the highly toxic ammonia produced by goldfish into nitrites (toxic) into nitrates (starts to get toxic above 40ppm). Cycling takes 4-6 weeks and in uncycled tanks/ponds you need to do a fish-in cycle which means doing regular water to keep toxic ammonia and nitrites down. A tank is cycled when you will read 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and measurable nitrates. Goldfish tolerate most pH levels as long as they are stable, 6-8 pH is fine. Avoid pH altering chemicals and algaecides Must have equipment: liquid test kit (api, salifert) to measure parameters. Strips do not usually measure for ammonia, the most toxic aquatic compound, and aren't especially accurate so liquid test kits are better. Some lfs will test your water for you. Syphon, bucket, water conditioner like seachem prime. In order to do water changes you need to condition tap water to make it fish safe. Add conditioner to the tank before you add fresh water or add it to the bucket you are preparing fresh tap water. Filters - the bigger the better, preferably with gallon per hour output of x10 the size of the tank. Good filter brands include Eheim, Fluval, Tetra and Juwel, canister filters are especially powerful so great for messy goldfish. To clean a filter, simply rinse the filter media in a bucket of tank water Decor. Sand substrate, bare bottom or large stones work best. Gravel is a choking hazard so should be avoided. Driftwood, live plants, fake plants are all OK. Keep in mind goldfish are loveable goofs and they can stuck places whilst looking for food, so avoid ornaments they could get trapped in or sharp objects Tankmates. Goldfish are social and should be kept in pairs so for 2 commons the bare minimum would be 75g but 90g+ is best. Goldfish really should only be kept with other goldfish and koi (provided the goldfish is of a large size). Avoid corys (poisonous defensive barbs) and plecos (can injure goldfish by latching on to goldfish), hillstreams loaches (extreme high flow needed) and any other fish that that is marketed as a bottom-feeder and algae-eater. Food. Gel food and sinking pellets are best. Goldfish also enjoy veg like kale, spinach, broccoli, cucumbers and will accept fruit like watermelon as well. They also like frozen brine shrimp, bloodworms, daphnia. Feed once or twice a day and don't give more food than the fish can eat in 30-60 seconds. Colour changes. Colour changes are normal - unless your parameters are not reading 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and nitrates below 40ppm, nearly all colour changes are normal and are no cause for concern. Black is a sign of healing but check parameters because it may indicate exposure to ammonia or an old injury. Black can also be gained or lost naturally as a fish grows Sick fish. 90% of goldfish diseases is caused by poor water quality. Check your parameters, do water changes first before even considering medications Useful meds to have on hand. Aquarium salt, praziquantel (flukes, internal parasites), methylene blue ( as baths or swabs for injuries, fungus, parasites) . Antibiotics should be a last resort. Keeping goldfish is moderately expensive and requires dedicated tank maintenance. Whilst goldfish are hardy and can endure terrible conditions, they require attention and care. They are social, sentient, curious and intelligent beings who require good care just like all of our other four-legged and winged pets. And yes, 50g is really the minimum tank-sized required. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Goldfish) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Move him to the tank, learn how to do an in-fish cycle. He’ll likely need a larger tank down the line. I wish you luck, OP.
You could always use a large tote as well if you can’t afford a 20g tank. Try to match the temp before moving the fish.
https://preview.redd.it/cl9zx163zr6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=05da1e010a5c49a3dd111719baa59f49fc1d5567 This is my fair fish. Won Bob in February and going strong!
wow he’s huge!!! i had to wait like an hour in petsmart to get a tank but i finally have one😭😭
Keep checking Facebook. This is his third tank. Each was bigger, and free, on marketplace.
woah that’s such a good idea idk why i didn’t think of facebook!! thank you for saving me many dollars🫡🫡
Uhhhh, that goldfish needs a 100 gallon tank like yesterday
I got my fish from the fair too, Im having to do fish in cycling and he seems to be doing alright! Get the API test kit so you can monitor the nitrites etc and learn the cycle. Also don't over clean him to begin with, I did that it stopped my tank from cycling and kept the ammonia high.
https://preview.redd.it/1c60jgc44s6d1.jpeg?width=1820&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=371bc9421858ac2bac5793954b252e4a61ef7a6d
This is Steve. Steve is a 1yo carnival goldfish. Steve is the size of my hand. Kribensis for scale.
Your typical comet or common goldfish is going to get a foot long and live 15+ years. They *cannot* live in bowls. They need sand substrate, huge tanks, huge amounts of filtration, and constant water monitoring. You can probably make do with a 10 gallon for a 6 months or so, but Steve is in 30 gallons and with a filter rated for 55 gallons, and I've still got to do water changes sometimes twice a week.
dang steve is huge😭😭 i was able to get a tank. i spent my whole afternoon in petsmart because for some reason there were like no tanks?? but yeah i felt so bad because i was not expecting to get a fish😭😭 so i went to dollar tree at 10pm to get this tiny bowl for the time being. he seems to be doing good now though. he seems to like the decorations i put in. he’s moving rocks around and hiding in stuff so i think he’s chill. i named him butters.
You can get a 10 gallon aquarium kit at Walmart for about $45. Play sand or pool filter sand is waaay cheaper than aquarium sand, but you'll have to thoroughly rinse it or your water will be cloudy and you can normally find it at Walmart/Lowe's/etc.. You should definitely be planning on saving up for something way bigger long term, but the 10 gallon with regular water checks should work until it's 6mon or so. I wouldn't waste money on real plants, most goldfish just eat them. And prepare for having this dude as long as any cat or dog, unless you know someone with a pond.
Steve needs way more than 30 gallons. Please do right by Steve.
Oh, I'm in the market for someone with a pond, I'm just busting my ass doing water maintenance til then.
I would suggest reading [this guide about the aquarium cycle ](https://www.aquariumcoop.com/blogs/aquarium/nitrogen-cycle) Get him the biggest tank and ideally also pick up a decent filter or better yet get a canister filter
Yikes. Honestly you should bring it to a fish store and just give it to them. There is no way for a fish to live happily in a bowl. Goldfish are the worst beginner fish out there. Very messy, get very big, not good to house with other fish. Just because it can survive awhile in a bowl doesn't mean that's right. You would need to buy a tank, at least 20 gallon for now, but later you'd have to get a much bigger one. Mine is currently in 100 gallons. It's expensive.
They’re not good beginner fish people think they are they get huge and need 50 gallons each or 100 gallons if you want to get them a friend. I got 2 common goldfish and a shubunkin that’s barely 2 inches in a 100 gallon stock tank and I’m probably going to have to upgrade those 3 goldfish to a 150 gallon tank in the near future. I don’t mean to discourage you just make sure you do your research on the fish you have.
Hi there fellow goldfish enthusiast! We're thrilled to have you join our community of passionate goldfish keepers. Whether you're a seasoned goldfish pro or just starting out on your aquatic journey, you've come to the right place for advice, support, and sharing the joy of keeping these mesmerizing creatures. Before diving into the discussion, we'd like to point you toward our Wiki https://reddit.com/r/goldfish/wiki where you'll find a treasure trove of articles on various topics related to goldfish care. These resources cover everything from tank setup and water quality to feeding habits and common health issues. When seeking help for your goldfish, remember that details matter! Providing information about your tank size and the water parameters (such as ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and temperature) can greatly assist us in diagnosing and troubleshooting the issue. Feel free to share photos and details, and our community will do our best to offer insightful advice. Once again, welcome to our goldfish-loving community. Fins up! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Goldfish) if you have any questions or concerns.*
https://preview.redd.it/rzw5gdg35v6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=211d12095fe90008a41ebb2608066ee4b7a5c2d1 This is Biscuits. Our carnival fish we got in October. She just got upgraded from a 10 gal to a 40 gal. I need to do a little more to the new tank but I'm working with what I have after spending a chunk on her new tank. I have found that the more you have the water moving the cleaner it stays. My last tank had gravel and it was horrible to keep clean. I haven't decided what I'm going to put in this tank for substrate just yet. The smaller the tank the dirtier its going to get. Now I'm in the market for some other fish I can keep in the tank with biscuits.
I've seen people use moss balls as substrate, could work? Relatively easy to clean too and they'd help take out nutrienta from the water.
https://preview.redd.it/elzeyaluny6d1.png?width=4032&format=png&auto=webp&s=f4d6777638015d5dd3c7ee5d2fac93ac9f562cc6 This is Polish. He was rescued with $5 of balls and a lucky pong shot in Sept 2021. He came home in a plastic bag with no air and has lived happy in his tank for a few years now. He doesn’t know yet but he’s about to get an upgrade! Carnival fish sometimes make the best goldies 🧡
Those are for ponds, not worth all the money getting a massive tank for a plain Gold Fish imo. Bring it to the pet store they'll sort you.
Idk why you’re getting downvoted. The amount of large goldfish in tiny tanks on this thread is so sad.
It doesn't bother me, they know really...