
Personally, I use glass tanks for my goldfish as I think they are more aesthetically pleasing! Tank Stand The type of material you opt for depends on personal preference and your budget. In contrast, glass aquariums maintain clarity with age and will not scratch easily. However, acrylic tanks often yellow with age and are easily scratched. AcrylicĪcrylic tanks are usually pricier than glass tanks, but they are more lightweight and impact resistant. It’s a myth that fish only grow to the size of their aquarium so avoid a small tank at all costs! MaterialĪquariums come in two materials: glass and acrylic. Goldfish can grow relatively large and will become stunted or deformed if housed in a goldfish bowl. Goldfish bowls should never be used for this fish as they lack space and water volume. You can read our article on how big do goldfish get, so you can come up with an estimate on what goldfish tank size you need. Slim-bodied goldfish such as the common goldfish and comet goldfish need at least a 40-gallon size tank, ideally a 50 to 60 gallon tank as they can grow up to 10 inches long. Fancy goldfish need a minimum of 20 gallons, with an extra 10 gallons for each additional goldfish.

Opting for larger tanks over smaller tanks also means you won’t need to do as frequent water changes as the bigger volume of water will help dilute waste products. Goldfish produce a lot of waste and need ample swimming space, especially when kept in pairs or with other fish. When it comes to goldfish, bigger tanks are always better, so opt for the largest fish tank you can afford. There are a few factors to keep in mind when choosing a goldfish tank, such as size and material, as well as the location of the aquarium once you’ve bought it. Goldfish Swimming Towards Aquarium Surface

You can also test the nitrite, nitrate, pH, etc with an aquarium testing kit like API Freshwater Master Kit. To keep an eye on your ammonia levels in your tank setup, use an ammonia test kit. A fully cycled aquarium will have enough beneficial bacteria to eat the ammonia, convert it into nitrites, and then into nitrates, the latter of which is removed through water changes. This includes cycling your aquarium to allow for beneficial bacteria to colonize to consume deadly ammonia and nitrites.Īmmonia is produced by fish waste, leftover food, and through your fish’s gills.

Once you’ve decided on the type of goldfish you want, you’ll now need to setup a goldfish tank for your new fish. They are small goldfish compared to slim-bodied varieties.Īmong the most popular fancy goldfish breeds are the oranda, pearlscale, ranchu, ryukin, butterfly, and telescope. Most fancy goldfish have double fancy tails, a stocky and rounded body, and are slow swimmers. Fancy Goldfishįancy goldfish come in a massive range of colors, fin structures, and shapes. Slim-bodied goldfish are often inexpensive and sold as feeder fish. Slim-bodied and streamlined goldfish such as the common, comet, and shubunkin are probably the most common (or easiest to find) varieties of this fish, sporting a long and slim body. Not sure which type of goldfish to add to your new tank? Here are some of the most popular varieties of goldfish to help you narrow down your choices. There are a wide variety (there are over 200 currently recognized!) of goldfish breeds, all of which have their quirks and charms. If you didn’t already know, wild goldfish are a brown-grey color, so dark waters help them stay hidden from predators. Wild goldfish are found in freshwater and slow-moving waters, particularly those that are murky. They were selectively bred from the crucian carp to produce their trademark orange color (the crucian carp is a bronze/brown color), but the modern goldfish now comes in a vast variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Goldfish have been domesticated for more than a thousand years, having first been produced in China.

Tap Water Dechlorinator/Water Conditionerīefore I jump into some goldfish setup ideas, let’s dive into a bit of history about this stunning fish.
