So you want goldfish
This is a topic that is very dear to my heart because the is a lot of miss information out there. Goldfish are not a great starter pet. They require a large amount of space and can live for up to 50years depending on their care and species.
Myth: you can just put a goldfish in a bowl.
When people think this is ok it really hurts my heart. Putting a goldfish in a small bowl is the equivalent of saying you will raise your children in a linin closet until they die. Not ok.
So what does it really take to have goldfish?
Depending on how big your fish will grow to be it is best to get a tank that will fit them for their lives not just for now. This creates a better relationship for everyone.
A minimum tank size for these fish should be 36gallons with a 40 gallon filter this will allow you to have a maximum of 4 goldfish in this tank.
The reason for this is goldfish are really dirty fish. They poop a lot, they waste food and this results in a cleaning schedule that has to be kept to. If you add more fish then you get lots of alge and more required maintenance and more money. On top of all that your fish will most likley die.
So please when you are going to get goldfish think it though. If what I have mentioned above dose not sound like something you are interested in. Please look into smaller fish such as Bettas, guppies, mollies and plates. These types of fish are great for small children or just to add life to a room.
That's great information- thank you for sharing! I didn't know much about goldfish, but I had always thought of them as an easy first pet. Now I see they need love and care just like any other pet :)