Goldfish

If you have decided on your first goldfish - good choice! Goldfish

are very rewarding and as long as you look after them carefully,

provide a great deal of enjoyment. Naturally you will have a

few questions which we hope to answer.

How many goldfish can I have? A typical starter goldfish tank is

about 30L and on average that can fit 2 goldfish - remember they

grow quickly and will soon fill up the space. Avoid the temptation

of putting lots of fish into a small aquarium as this will only cause

problems.

What sort of tank should I keep them in? Gone are the days when goldfish are kept in small, unfiltered tank. It's important to choose a tank which is of good size so the larger the better. Make sure it has a filter as this will keep the water clean and without it, your goldfish will suffer. In terms of positioning avoid a sunny spot as this will make your tank dirty. A range of tanks can be found here.

How soon can I stock the tank? Any aquarium regardless of the size or what it will stock needs to be set up and filtration turned on at least 4 weeks before any fish are introduced. The reason for this is so your filter can begin cycling - better known as the nitrogen cycle where ammonia and nitrite (which are both poisonous) and turned into the safer nitrate. After that period has passed start off with 1 fish and then 2 weeks later buy your second one. If you are in a rush and can't wait, consider adding Nutrafin Cycle which will speed up this process.

Can I use tap water for my tank? Yes no problem but make sure you use a water conditioner Tetra Aquasafe.  Tap water contains chlorine which is very harmful to your goldfish as it will irritate their gills.

What sort of goldfish can I buy and where from? It's best to source your goldfish from a local fish shop - it doesn't matter which type you buy but make sure you check with the sellers about how big the fish will grow. Fancy one's are normally the more popular as they have more attractive fins. In terms of size, look for smaller fish. There are 2 reasons for this, that is they will put little strain on your new filter (their toilet waste will be less) and because they are small it means you will be able to watch them grow!

Should I give my goldfish a name? Absolutely!! Everyone always remembers their first goldfish so choose carefully.

How often and how much can I feed my goldfish? Feed your fish once a day with a good quality food (see here) and avoid the temptation of over feeding which is the number one killer of all fish. Uneaten food in the tank will rot and the water will quickly deteriorate along with your goldfish's health. The typical guideline is feed no more than your fish can consume within 2 minutes. After that scoop out any uneaten food, then adjust your feed the next day to suit.

Can I treat my goldfish? Yes no problem choose a treat like Tetra Fresh Delica but make sure you don't feed them their normal feed at the same time.

I'm going on holiday, what shall I do about feeding? We recommend you opt for a feeding block. Tetra manufacture a great food specifically for these occasions called Tetra Holiday Food which last for about 1-2 weeks.

How do I clean the tank? Cleaning is easy especially for a small tank but it's still very important the maintenance is performed. Once every 2 weeks change 25% of the tank water. You do this by using a Syphon and we recommend the Superfish Syphon Set which is easy to use.  By plunging it into the gravel it also helps remove any dirt and debris that becomes stuck in there. After the water has been removed refill with dechlorinated tap water and gently pour back into your tank. When cleaning your tank, always leave the goldfish in the aquarium and avoid turning the filter off.

Can I put plants in my tank? Yes of course. Plants are great for an aquarium and your goldfish will love them too. Elodea densa is a popular coldwater plant and you can view it here.