About Fancy Goldfish

Fancy goldfish make great first pets. One reason goldfish are optimal as a first pets is because they require very little maintenance. While some pets require hours of daily maintenance, goldfish only need to be fed and occasionally have their tank cleaned. In fact, because goldfish don't require heaters in their aquariums, they are even easier to keep than other kinds of fish, such as tropical fish. Fancy goldfish come in huge variety of shapes and colors, from white to gold and black, so the potential fancy goldfish owner has plenty of options available.

  1. Varieties

    • Fancy goldfish have been bred selectively for hundred of years, resulting in over 20 types of goldfish that fit into two main categories. The first category of fancy goldfish is the flat-bodied type. These goldfish are fast swimmers and quite hardy. The common goldfish and the comet goldfish are both flat-bodied types of goldfish. The second category of fancy goldfish is the egg-shaped body type. The lion-head goldfish and the bubble-eyed goldfish both belong to this category. Because they have a more rounded shape, goldfish with egg-shaped body types are usually slower swimmers than goldfish with flat bodies. Egg-shaped fancy goldfish are also less hardy than flat-bodied goldfish.

    Aquarium

    • The aquarium for fancy goldfish should never contain objects with sharp edges that could injure them. It has been recommended that the goldfish be kept in a larger aquarium, such as 25-gallon tank, rather than a small container, like a fishbowl. Goldfish can grow very large, so it is important to keep them in an environment where they have space to swim and move as they grow. Goldfish tanks need to be equipped with a filtration system, because goldfish produce a significant amount of waste that can produce harmful ammonia if left alone. Only fine substrate, like sand, should be used in goldfish aquariums. Large gravel could get stuck in their mouths as they search for food on the bottom.

    Companions

    • Fancy goldfish should be kept in an aquarium with only other goldfish, if possible. Fancy goldfish prefer cool water and don't require a heating system. However, tropical fish, like guppies, prefer warmer water and should ideally have a heater on their aquariums. Tropical fish and goldfish should never be kept in the same environment. There are some kinds of fish that require lower temperatures who make suitable tank mates for fancy goldfish, like minnows and danios. Apple snails are another aquarium pet that makes good companions for fancy goldfish.

    Feeding

    • As omnivores, fancy goldfish can subsist on a diet of both plant material and meats. Goldfish food comes in flake form and pellet form. Both forms usually contain nutrients from animal sources, such as shrimp, and vegetable sources, like seaweed. The pellet form is healthier for goldfish because it sinks to the ground and can be eaten without causing goldfish to gulp air into their stomachs. Soaking the pellets before feeding will make digestion easier for fancy goldfish, and lessen the chance of the food expanding in their bodies after they eat it. In addition to pellets or flakes, fancy goldfish should be fed bits of vegetables, like boiled peas, lettuce and zucchini.