Best thing for your Goldfish

Learn how to properly take care of goldfish

Goldfish may be just what you're looking for - bright, colourful with reasonably minimal maintenance required; goldfish are entertaining to watch and can make a great first, easy care pet. To ensure their continued health and happiness, it’s important to get the basics right first.

Choosing and setting up a tank

When choosing a tank, it is important you ask yourself the following questions:

• What type of fish and how many fish do I want? 
• Where in my house will it be situated (ideally not in full sunlight)?
• How big does the tank need to be to create a suitable living space for the fish I am hoping to get?

Once you have settled on a tank, you must set up correctly:

1. Rinse the gravel under the tap to remove dust and dirt.
2. Fill the tank with tap water (not filtered or from the hot water tap).
3. Add water ager as per instructions.
4. Set up any filters / air stones following the instructions on the packet or ask us for help with this.
5. Aquarium lighting should be on for 6-8 hours a day.

You must run cold water through your tank for at least two days once set up before you select your fish and take home.

Introducing your fish:

• Introduce 2-3 fish at a time with a 2-3 days break in between. This ensures ammonia levels do not rise to rapidly.
• Float the bag for 15 minutes when you get them home to equalise the temperature between the water in the bag with the fish and the water of the tank.
• Cup water from your tank into the bag doubling the volume of water. Then release your fish into the tank.

Staff at all Nichol's Pet Centres can help you with your choice of fish. As a general rule of thumb, you should allow 7-10 litres of water per fish, but some do require more space than others. It’s also a good idea to only have fantail or straight tail fish as they swim at different speeds and can result in a bit of bullying. 

Decorating your tank:

Choosing to decorate your tank with plants (live or fake), driftwood, ornaments and different substrates enable you to create the type of space you would love to look at and your fish would enjoy swimming in. We also have available live plants which make a lovely addition to any tank.

General upkeep:

FEEDING

Your fish will need feeding every second day. It’s important to remember that a fish's stomach tiny (appx. the size of its pupil) so don’t follow feeding instructions on the fish food packet as this can lead to over feeding which will make your fish very sick.

CLEANING

Cleaning is an important part of general tank maintenance. Scrub away algae growing on the side of the tank and ornaments every week to keep it looking pristine. Siphon out 10% of the water once a week, replacing with water from the cold tap that has been treated with water ager. Squeeze out the filter pads in the water you have just siphoned out to remove any built-up wastage. These do not need to be replaced too often as they contain some good bacteria so every couple of months is plenty.

Always remember, don't use any chemicals, soaps or containers unless designed for fish as they will make them sick or burn them or possibly kill them.

TOP TIPS TO REMEMBER

• Don't set up your tank in a sunny position – this will just encourage algae growth
• While most tanks are reasonably quiet, if you’re a light sleeper it might be better placed in a general living area.
• Always keep the water level above the minimum water level line on the water pump and have a drip loop on your power cords.
• Get a proper tank with a filter – fish bowls may be cute and feature in cartoons, but they are not good for your fish’s health and wellbeing.
• Ask for help – if you’re not sure about something pop in store and one of our members of staff will help you find a solution.
• Enjoy them! Fish are relaxing to look at and make a stunning addition to any household.