Lets Know Our Goldie..

Temperament: Common goldfish are social animals that prefer living in groups. They are able to interact with any fish belonging to the same species. With provision of adequate care and attention, common goldfish can become tame. Once familiar with the face of its owner, swimming towards the fish keeper during feeding time can be observed and hand-feeding becomes possible. Small goldfish will normally avoid any form of human contact. However, this fear ceases in a middle-sized and mature goldfish. A full-grown goldfish is more likely to eat directly from the hands of its owner without evident hesitation. While this behavior is welcomed by goldfish owners, it proved problematic in outdoor ponds where predators may eat such friendly prey. Mature goldfish will also explore their surroundings through nibbling or grazing behavior. If transferred into a tank of other goldfish, a common goldfish would normally try to communicate and familiarize itself with its new tank mates by rubbing up against the body of other fish. The most common introductory gesture would be by swimming side by side with another goldfish with its head facing forward or by swimming side by side with another goldfish with its head facing the opposite direction or even by swimming above another goldfish in a perpendicular fashion. Schooling is a common behavior when there is a new fish in the tank. After some time, this schooling behavior eventually ceases, and soon every individual fish will again be swimming and exploring the aquarium on its own. Aggressive behavior is uncommon when a new specimen is introduced into a settled school of goldfish.

Hierarchy during feeding is commonly observed in which the larger goldfish receives most of the food. However, small goldfish may also become aggressive or competitive feeders despite the presence of larger fish which is, in general terms, considered a good sign, as a willingness to feed is indicative of a healthy goldfish.

Goldfish Size and Life Expectancy: People are usually surprised at both the normal life expectancy and size that goldfish reach. If kept in a suitable environment, single tail goldfish normally grow to 10 inches (25 cm) and can sometimes reach 12 inches (30 cm). Fancy goldfish normally grow to 8 inches (20 cm). The normal life expectancy of a single tail goldfish is about 20 years. Fancy goldfish have a life expectancy of about 12 years.

Why are these sizes and life expectancy so surprising to most people? This is due to the poor conditions that many goldfish have been traditionally kept in. Goldfish kept in bowls or tanks that are too small will suffer from poisoning due to poor water quality and internal organ compaction due to a lack of space. These problems both shorten a goldfish's life and stunt its growth leading the misconception that goldfish are small, short lived animals.

Tank Recommendations: We will recommend the following minimum tank sizes for keeping goldfish:
Common Goldfish: 40 gallons (180 litres) for the first fish with an extra 12 gallons (55 litres) for each extra fish. The tank needs to have a minimum length of 4 feet (120cm) to allow swimming room. Single tail goldfish are more suited to a pond when they are near full size to give them swimming room.
Fancy Goldfish: 30 gallons (140 litres) for the first fish with an extra 10 gallons (45 litres) for each extra fish. The tank needs to have a minimum length of 3 feet to allow swimming room.

Feeding: In the wild, the diet of goldfish consists of crustaceans, insects, and various plant matters. Like most fish, they are opportunistic feeders and do not stop eating on their own accord. Overfeeding can be deleterious to their health, typically by blocking the intestines. This happens most often with selectively bred goldfish, which have a convoluted intestinal tract. When excess food is available, they produce more waste and faeces, partly due to incomplete protein digestion. Overfeeding can sometimes be diagnosed by observing faeces trailing from the fish's cloaca.
Goldfish-specific food has less protein and more carbohydrate than conventional fish food. Enthusiasts may supplement this diet with shelled peas (with outer skins removed), blanched green leafy vegetables, and blood-worms. Young goldfish benefit from the addition of brine shrimp to their diet. As with all animals, goldfish preferences vary.

Keeping your goldfish healthy: Goldfish have been unfairly criticized as being disease prone, particularly when it comes to ich. Actually, goldfish are quite hardy and if they are cared for properly, are much less likely to develop health problems than most other species. Goldfish will respond to the same treatments for ich, parasites, and bacterial infections as tropical freshwater fish and should be treated accordingly.
Purchasing feeder goldfish (these are also the ones commonly found at fairs) to rise as aquarium fish is not recommended. These fish are often kept in very poor, crowded conditions, and are very likely harboring disease and parasites. They therefore suffer a very high mortality and should not be considered potential pets. Instead, purchase goldfish from a reputable source, and do not purchase any fish that appear sick or are in a tank with sick fish.
Goldfish are truly a magnificent aquarium fish. If fish keepers provide their minimum requirements, they will discover a fish that is hardy, colorful, interactive, and sure to provide them with a lifelong friend. So if you get the urge to keep goldfish, throw out the fish bowl and provide the proper tank, maintenance, and diet that they need and you and your goldfish will spend many happy years together.

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