The content of goldfish at home: features and recommendations

Goldfish are the most beautiful inhabitants of a home aquarium. Caring for them is not particularly difficult, so more and more people prefer this particular type of fish. An aquarium with golden kids and a beautiful interior will delight every lover of home comfort. Before heading to the pet store for new inhabitants of the aquatic world, it is worth exploring their features well. As with any creature, goldfish need an individual approach. You need to know everything about their feeding, living in an aquarium, compatibility with other fish, as well as reproduction.

The origin of the goldfish

For the first time, golden beauties were bred in China. It happened about 1,500 years ago. Their ancestor is considered to be a Chinese crucian carp. For many years they lived only in imperial reservoirs, pleasing the views of great rulers. The origin of modern aquarium fish began with them. In China, they still symbolize wealth, joy and happiness. Only in the XVIII century they came to Russia and won the hearts of those who are partial to aquarium living creatures.

These kids live from 8 to 20 years. The life span depends on the content of goldfish, the variety of the breed, as well as on the similarity with your ancestor. The more they look like crucian, the higher their chances of living a long life.

Distinctive features of goldfish

Their appearance is quite diverse. Keeping goldfish at home does not require special skills. However, you need to understand their varieties well. A huge number of subspecies can be included in a separate, extensive group, which implies the following characteristics of appearance:

• Body color. It can be golden red, pink, yellow, white, black, bright red, black-blue and even bronze.
• Coloring of abdomen and fins. It is almost the same, but slightly lighter than the body itself.
• The form. The body of the fish is elongated, slightly compressed on the sides.
• The size. The dimensions of the fish are very diverse, as are the subspecies of the breed. An adult may be 5 to 30 cm in size. It depends on the conditions of keeping the goldfish.

The fins of the fish are very different. Depending on the species, they can be small, bifurcated, large or thin, similar to a spider web. The fins of these babies can be even larger than their body. Goldfish are the real centenarians of a home aquarium. Large individuals contained in ponds can live up to 40 years.

The most popular types of fish for the aquarium

Not all goldfish can be kept in a medium-sized home aquarium. Most species grow too large, so they should be in special, decorative ponds. Not everyone has the opportunity to build a whole pond at home or put in a huge aquarium the size of half a room. Keeping goldfish requires a lot of time and constant attention. Therefore, it is necessary to highlight several of the most popular species that are not difficult to care for and suitable for those who have just begun to master the underwater world.

The smallest and most unpretentious species of fish:

• Comet. This is a small fish 5 cm in size. Its tail is long, forked. The most valuable are those individuals that have different body colors and fins. Usually there are fish of red-silver and orange-silver color. Gold comet fish, the care and maintenance of which are simple, can live up to 14 years.
• Fan tail. This individual has a swollen orange body. The size of the fish is 10 cm. The tail is divided into two parts, and its contour is transparent and even. On the back of the fan tail, the fin corresponding to the name of the species.
• Veiltail. This is a beautiful and small goldfish. Reviews about the variety and content are very different. Many note that it is easily injured in a poorly equipped aquarium. A characteristic feature of the species is a gentle, thin and wide caudal fin, almost transparent and very voluminous. It folds lightly when the fish is swimming. From this came its name. As for color, mostly white and golden fish are found.
• Telescope. They have a round body up to 5 cm in size. The dorsal and caudal fins are elongated, and the eyes are very large and convex. The fish is popular for its wide range of colors. There are scarlet, orange, black and silver individuals.

Aquarium for goldfish

Do not save on housing for small residents. Their health and lifespan depends on the conditions of the goldfish. Goldfish love space, and they will not live long in a cramped aquarium. To make pets feel comfortable, and caring for them does not cause trouble, you should adhere to the following rules when buying a tank:

1. Its volume must exactly match the number of fish. For each individual, at least 2 dm ³ will be needed, but not less than 50 liters for 6-7 fish.
2. The shape of the future underwater house should be classic - a rectangular aquarium in the calculation of 2: 1.
3. The water level is about 50 cm. If there is more water, this will complicate the access of light to the fish and affect underwater plants. Cleaning an aquarium too deep will also be inconvenient.
4. Together with the aquarium, a filter is needed that will supply air to the fish. This species needs water with a high oxygen concentration.
5. Buy good soil. To care for the goldfish and the aquarium does not cause inconvenience, it is better to purchase large gravel. This is explained by the fact that small gravel fish can eat, mistaken for food.
6. The pH level should be no higher than 7-8, and the permissible limit of nitrates in water should not exceed 40.
7. The temperature of the content of goldfish in the aquarium should always be the same - approximately 21 ° C. Since they are tropical creatures, low temperatures will lead to their death. To monitor the temperature in the aquarium you need to install a water thermometer.
8. The aquarium should have high-quality lighting.
9. You should also take care of the good biological environment of the aquatic world. To do this, before you populate the fish, you need to put snails there. In a few days they will create the perfect microflora for a comfortable life for the main inhabitants. The goldfish in the aquarium, the care of which should be constant, is able to please for many years. If you abandon it for at least a week, pets may die.

How to choose a decor for an aquarium

Each owner of the aquarium wants to create a real decorative masterpiece inside it. Thinking about what is necessary for the maintenance of goldfish, in the first place are dense thickets of aquatic plants. Therefore, going to a pet store, it is very important not to buy extra items. The aquarium should look stylish, and not catchy and defiant. The main thing is that the fish should be interesting and comfortable. Aquarium plants should have a good root system and dense stems. These include the following types:

• sagittaria;
• egg capsule;
• elodea;
• cryptocorins;
• Anubias
• Wallisneria
• lemongrass;
• nomafil.

These plants are perfect for goldfish. They have very stiff and large stems that the fish can’t chew on. Beautiful greenery will not only improve the microflora of the aquarium, but also give it a beautiful aesthetic appearance. You can also buy beautiful pebbles, caves and houses. Choosing a decor, you need to take only smooth objects with a rounded shape so that the fish could not get hurt or get confused inside complex structures.

Fish food

Goldfish are not too finicky in their diet. They are almost omnivorous, therefore it is necessary with special care to select the soil and plants for aquariums. Their favorite foods include:

• bloodworms;
• earthworms;
• combined feed;
• oatmeal or semolina;
• nettle and hornwort;
• bread;
• seafood and minced meat.

As for the regimen and rules of feeding, here it is necessary to adhere to the following rules:

1. Limit dry feed. If there are no other products, then drying should be pre-soaked.
2. The amount of feed per day should not exceed 3% of the weight of goldfish.
3. The daily dose of feed should be divided into two parts.
4. Remains of feed must always be removed from the aquarium. Otherwise, it will rot and spoil the microflora. Fish eat no more than 15 minutes. After this time, the excess products are removed with a special strainer.

You can not overfeed the fish. This can contribute to diseases and even their death. The most common consequences of excess feeding: infertility, severe obesity, inflammation of the internal organs. When the fish turn into adults, it is sometimes useful for them to arrange fasting weeks. At this time, the daily portion is halved. Fish feel much better from malnutrition than from overeating.

Breeding Fish Feeding

Some fish have rather rare external data, so they are considered to be selective. In addition to a spectacular appearance, they are also distinguished by a fragile metabolism. Therefore, the nutrition of such handsome men should be special. The following varieties of goldfish are rare:

• veil tails;
• lion heads;
• telescopes;
• orands;
• vesiculus;
• velvet ball.

For these fish, there are special types of feed that contain a more nutritious composition, saturated with plant ingredients and useful substances. Selective fish food contains wheat, which helps to prevent metabolic diseases. Aquarium goldfish, the description and features of which we are considering, must live in a tank with a special kind of breed.

For Japanese goldfish, forage is released, which, when it enters the aquarium, immediately falls to the bottom. If you give them the usual food in the form of flakes, which floats on the surface, this can contribute to swallowing excess air during the absorption of food. With this kind of nutrition, the fish can even float upside down for a while. To prevent this from happening, you need to give food intended exclusively for this breed.

Goldfish breeding

Aquarium goldfish, the content and reproduction of which is completely dependent on humans, can produce many offspring. These pets can begin to breed at the age of 1 year. However, they grow up much later, by 3 years. Goldfish spawning time is spring. During this period, the fish often change color so that there is a difference in gender. They become more mobile.

To successfully reproduce, it is necessary to reset the fish in a separate aquarium. One female and about three males are placed in it. Fish should be of the same species. The water level in the aquarium should not be higher than 20 cm. The tank requires good lighting and a water temperature of 21 ° C comfortable for fish. Dense vegetation contributes to good spawning, as it creates the effect of natural conditions.

At the bottom of the aquarium you need to place a large mesh. She will protect offspring from eating fish. Spawning usually occurs 6-7 hours after settlement. When this happened, the fish are moved back to the old house. In the period from 3 to 6 days, larvae begin to appear from eggs, which are actively looking for food and trying to survive. Breeding and keeping goldfish can only begin with an additional aquarium. It is useful for growing new fish from caviar, as well as if pets get sick.

What can fish get sick

Unfortunately, like all living things, goldfish can get sick. They often die due to dirty water, a cramped aquarium, overeating, as well as poor microflora. The temperature of the goldfish also plays an important role in its health. The most common fish disease is an infection of ichthyophthyroidism. A pet infected with parasites begins to rub its body against stones and decor in the aquarium. White spots appear on it that look like a rash.

The first thing you need to do, noticing such signs, is to resettle the patient in a separate tank. It should have a good filter, lamp and low water level. Treatment occurs by filling a special medicine into this reservoir. It is necessary to adhere to the instructions and pour the drug exactly at the dosage that is suitable for the volume of water in the aquarium.

If the fish swims close to the surface, often sinks to the bottom and flips to the abdomen, a swim bladder disease may be the cause of this condition. Usually this disease is not treatable, but you can remove the symptoms by reducing the number and volume of feedings. It is also necessary to carefully monitor the quality of water in the aquarium.

Fish can get sick with other ailments. Having noticed mucus, growths or other changes in pets that are accompanied by strange behavior, urgently need to relocate patients to another reservoir and consult a specialist. If you remove the diseased fish in time, you can prevent infection of all your pets.

Why do fish change their color

Sometimes the inhabitants of the underwater world begin to change their color and its intensity. Over time, almost all goldfish brighten. That is why their black species have special value. A fish with rich black pigment remains so all his life. Fish brighten from the following conditions:

• insufficient lighting;
• the temperature of the water in the aquarium is not normal;
• the water is cloudy or contaminated with bacteria.

If young fish began to lighten, it is urgent to check whether they have enough light, oxygen or space in the aquarium. Perhaps the pets have grown up, and they should be relocated to a more spacious house. If you follow the basic rules for keeping goldfish, you can enjoy these pets for many years. Nothing beats the sense of peace that comes from observing bright babies swimming in the calm expanse of water.