Goldfish Care Guide

Why Goldfish Need Space

Goldfish can live 10-20+ years and grow to 20-30 cm. They produce enormous waste and need substantial filtration and space. The "goldfish in a bowl" image is a myth.

Fancy vs Common/Comet

	Fancy	Common/Comet
Size	15-25 cm	25-40 cm
Min Tank	80L for one	200L for one
Lifespan	10-15 years	15-25+ years
Swimming	Poor (swim bladder issues)	Excellent

Tank Setup

• Temperature: 18-24°C — no heater needed (cooler is healthier)
• Filtration: Rated for 2x tank volume (goldfish are messy!)
• Substrate: Fine sand or smooth gravel (they sift substrate)
• Plants: Hard to keep — goldfish eat most. Try anubias and java fern.

Feeding

• High-quality pellets as staple
• Blanched peas, lettuce, cucumber 2-3x/week
• Frozen bloodworms 1-2x/week
• 2 small meals/day, remove uneaten food after 2 min

Common Diseases

• Swim bladder disease: Floats/sinks. Fast 2-3 days, then deshelled pea.
• Fin rot: Water changes + antibiotics if needed.
• Ich: Temp increase + ich medication.

Pro Tip: Goldfish are intelligent — they can be trained to eat from your hand and recognize feeding time. Provide mental stimulation!