The goldfish that came home from the local fair can live a long and happy life, as long as your little fish has an appropriate home.
A fishbowl is actually not the best home for a goldfish! A tank is a much better home for a goldfish for several reasons:
- The surface area of the water allows more oxygen into the water. A bowl has a much smaller surface area than a tank!
- A tank doesn’t have to take up a lot of room and doesn’t have to cost a ton of money.
- A filter is inexpensive, easy to add, and helps keep the water clean and full of oxygen.
How big a tank do you need? For every inch of fish length, you should have about thirty square inches of surface area. Surface area is calculated by multiplying the length and depth of the tank. The number of gallons of water a tank can hold is not as important as surface area, because it is surface area that determines the amount of oxygen.
Ask your local pet store if your tap water is suitable for fish. Water quality can be a life or death situation for your goldfish! Let the faucet run for a minute before taking any water for your tank; this will let some of the chemicals in the water dissipate. Let your water sit out overnight before adding it to the tank. This way, the water is at room temperature and the chlorine is somewhat evaporated.
A filter and aerator pump will help keep the water clean and healthy and full of oxygen. The more the water moves, the easier it is for harmful gases to pass out of the water. You will need to do a partial water change every week — siphon out part of the water and replace it with fresh, clean, room temperature water.
Read more about impulse pets and aquarium pets at Families.com!