The Art of Goldfish

If you've ever had goldfish in your home or even in a pond; like most of us have at one time or another, you know how difficult they are to keep. My oldest goldfish is twelve years old now, and I expect him to live for another twelve years My theory is simple; by recreating their ancestor's natural environment, the cold and fast moving rivers of China, our goldfish can and will thrive in a pond, and even in an aquarium. Centuries ago, and still today; the Chinese displayed their goldfish in glass bowls much to the delight of their guests, but the goldfish were quickly returned to their ponds after the party was over. This could very well have started the 'goldfish in a bowl' tradition, and with dire consequencesEven a pond isn't the goldfish's natural environment, so when we place them in aquariums, we must go to great lengths to keep them healthy by creating a healthy ecosystem, but if we keep them in bowls, we're subjecting these magnificent creatures to a slow and miserable death. These waters are all too often toxic, and lacking in oxygen. Most of these sick fish are suffering from poor water quality, not disease, but they will be heavily medicated by over the counter drugs; pushing them over the edge. These fish have a life expectancy of 3 to 6 months. The life expectancy of a goldfish in a natural and healthy ecosystem is closer to twenty yearsIn keeping with this theory; I've developed 10 steps to keeping goldfish; not just alive, but in excellent health by cooling their waters and agitating the surface; the smaller the container; the greater the surface action. Tank water must be exposed to fresh air, so I tell folks to 'flip your lid' and get that water moving. Many goldfish have died needlessly from oxygen deprivationGoldfish thrive in cooler and heavily oxygenated water and so do the beneficial bacteria that help provide a safe environment for goldfish. Friendly bugs convert ammonia; created from waste, (which goldfish make a lot of) into a safe form. Where you find friendly bugs, you won't find the unfriendly kind. Bad bacteria thrive in warm and stagnant water.Many goldfish will die needlessly from ammonia poisoning and harmful bacteria infectionIn the wild, goldfish are bottom feeders and constant grazers, spending most of their day searching for juicy morsels, finding a nibble here and gobble there, but most folks have the idea that goldfish are fed once a day; flakes sprinkled at the surface. Unfortunately, this adds to their stress level which is high anyway, being prey fish. Goldfish feel much safer close to the bottom. This feeding routine encourages gorging, which causes serious digestive disorders; which leads to serious floating issues.Many goldfish suffer from digestion issues leading to their deathYou might not believe it, but goldfish have very distinct personalities; they show compassion for their sick tank buddies and form close attachments; even pining over the loss of a friend. If you follow these golden rules, you will not only create the perfect ecosystem for your goldfish, but they will live up to their full potential in growth and life expectancy. This is accomplished by encouraging the formation of beneficial bacteria, and this is accomplished by following the 10 Steps; which leads to, what we call, a cycled tank, aquarium or pond.