When you really take the time to look at it, the majority of common goldfish sickness problems stem from one thing: poor water quality. Fortunately, it's as easy to get this right as it is wrong.
Some goldfish problems related to water should never happen. For instance, a goldfish should never be kept in a bowl. Why? Simply because it's too small: too small for proper surface exchange of gases; too small to allow enough water to circulate and keep oxygen content high enough.
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| Lionhead Goldfish. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Did you know that in the United Kingdom, the government was forced to introduce legislation to protect goldfish? The reason was that they were often kept in small bags at fun fairs. Cramped inside, goldfish would routinely suffocate from lack of oxygen and inappropriate conditions.
If you're unclear why you require a large aquarium for your goldfish, then think about this:
How are your goldfish going to get all the oxygen they need?
From experience, even a small goldfish requires at least 20 litres of water. That's just a teeny tiny goldfish! And you know something? They grow - fast.
Second, you absolutely must have a working filter and pump. And these need to be turned on 24/7. If you turn the pump off, the water won't be pushed to the surface and oxygen transfer can't happen.
This is a good reason to ensure that you never keep an aquarium in a bedroom - not even for the kids.
If you do, children often find it affects their sleep. That's the point where parents sometimes turn the pump off at night. It's far better to keep your goldfish somewhere you can leave the pump and filter running, so they can do their work. And you won't be disturbed at night time.
What happens if you don't have the right oxygen levels for quality goldfish water?
Answer: Your goldfish will choke.
You can tell if a goldfish is struggling to get adequate oxygen because they will spend a lot of time at the surface, gulping away. You can literally see them suffocating. And immediate action is essential: either buy a larger aquarium; get a pump installed; or do an immediate water change.
Poor water quality in an aquarium can come about in a number of ways:
- Not cleaning the goldfish regularly (each week)
- Not "treating" water before adding it to the tank
- Not having a working filter and pump running Turning the pump off at night
- Having an aquarium less than 54-litres in size (minimum)
- Too much algae Too many plants
- Having too many fish in the same aquarium (I suggest two goldfish maximum for a 54 litre aquarium)
- The list goes on
If you have a new tank and you notice that the goldfish water is cloudy, then that's just a sign that it's beginning the "cycling" process. This is natural and will settle down after a few days.
Here's the bottom line: if you don't change water regularly, your goldfish will suffer. You need a regular (weekly) maintenance schedule for any aquarium. The minimum requirement is to change 20% of water every single week. I usually change 40% of the goldfish aquarium water. And I have had healthy goldfish as long as I can remember.
Richard Haggerty is author of "The Goldfish Expert" and runs a popular Goldfish Care blog. To get a Free Special Report on avoiding the shocking dangers of bad goldfish care - and the pros and cons of different goldfish treatments - visit http://www.richardhaggerty.co.uk/GoldfishExpert/
Article Source: EzineArticles
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