Keeping a Gold Fish
 Goldfish are easy to maintain and are adaptable to various water types. Such types of fresh water fish don’t need much attention of caretakers. Common types of gold fish survive in cold water. They come in different colors and hence, keeping a gold fish in your fish pond can make it look more attractive. They are the best pet for young children as they can learn many things about caring for a pet.
Gold fish are bred in the orient. They provide almost all the colors wanted by the fish lovers today. Gold fish are found in Asia and Europe. They are a temperate fish which can be seen in cool streams, ponds and lakes etc. Gold fish is an easy to keep fish provided you take good care of the fish. Here are a few guidelines which will be helpful in making the environment for your fish to be good to live in –
- It is necessary to keep your gold fish in clean and cool water. Never increase the temperature above 73° and it should be kept between 65° to 67°. Increasing the temperature beyond 73° will be harmful for the gold fish as it can damage their heart and immune system making them more vulnerable for diseases. It can even lead to untreatable infections in future.
- The tank size for your goldfish should be at least 10 gallons. This is necessary as goldfish need at least 8 gallons to live healthily. A larger tank would be easier to clean. You should keep the water clean for goldfish for that you will require a filter. Always take care that the filter you choose should not make much current as this will be an obstruction for your fish to swim freely.
- In terms of food it is necessary to provide your gold fish with the food rich in carbohydrate. They are mostly omnivorous. They eat a lot and also require it constantly considering that aspect the frozen fish food available in the market is a good choice. But at the same time you should take care that you do not over feed the fish. You should make the water changes in the tank around 10% to 15% as when you feed the gold fish more than once a day they produce a lot of waste to be cleaned. You should provide your gold fish with proper diet as this will ensure its better immunity and better life expectancy.
- Do not keep harsh articles as decorative material in the tank. This might hurt them. Gold fish are aware that they are prey animals therefore they need a lot of places to hide. Provide your gold fish with sufficient cover this will help them in reducing stress and the chances of disease.
- Try and keep your goldfish with the fish that require the similar care and environment. This will enable you to take their care, without many hassles.
Like any other fishes, goldfish are said to be prey animals. To make them comfortable in the new environment, they need many hiding places like artificial plants or some decorative small cave in the pond. However, if you are planning to keep any decorations in the pond, make sure that they are not rough or sharp otherwise your goldfish may get hurt. It is said that fancy goldfish have impaired vision, hence be careful while placing decorative things in the pond. It is your responsibility to maintain fresh water and healthy environment for them to survive.
From the above mentioned guidelines for keeping a gold fish, you can easily take care of your gold fish.
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