How to Make a Goldfish Live Longer

By eHow Pets Editor

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

Goldfish
Aquarium supplies
Aquarium

Step 1:
Go shopping for the largest tank that you can afford. For goldfish, 10 gallons per fish is best. Having a wider tank is better than having a taller tank. Surface area is very important.
Step 2:
Have your fish tank ready before you buy the fish. Allow 2 to 3 weeks for the water to develop bacteria to get rid of the fish waste. Add chlorine drops if your tap water has chlorine or use bottled spring water from the store.
Step 3:
Purchase items that will create an environment for your fish. As with any pet, goldfish need a variety of items to make sure they constantly have new areas to explore. Visit your local pet store or go online to purchase accessories.
Step 4:
Clean the tank often. Use a filter, but do not let this be a substitute for your cleaning. Change the water using chlorine drops and test for ammonia and nitrate often.
Step 5:
Purchase special food to feed your goldfish at least once if not twice a day. Pay attention to the amount you are feeding them. Do not let any leftover food stay in the tank.
Step 6:
Watch for signs of illness in your goldfish. If your goldfish becomes ill you should get it treated immediately. Some common goldfish illnesses are:
Ick – a parasitic infection with visible white spots
Dropsy – bloating in the stomach
Fin or tail rot – badly torn fins or tail that's not a result from fighting
Swim bladder – fish has trouble swimming correctly, i.e., standing on its head

If your fish shows any signs of illness, contact a pet store to see if there are any medicines you can add to help cure the condition. Immediately change the water.

Tips & Warnings

Test the water’s pH levels. Goldfish need pH levels of about 7 or 8
Change of temperature will cause stress to your goldfish as well. Keep the water in the tank at a constant temperature.
Keep your fish stress-free when moving them, as less stress increases the life span of the goldfish

More Puppy Pages

How to Care for African Dwarf Frogs

African dwarf frogs make great pets. You don't have to walk or groom them, yet they provide hours of entertainment by frolicking in the water. And some owners swear their frogs sing! These amphibians live under water all the time. Look to these water...

Knowing how to care for fish is paramount to having a thriving and beautiful aquarium. Take the time to learn how to maintain your fish tank and you will have a more successful experience with this type of pet.

Fish need an optimal environment. These general guidelines apply to most freshwater fish in pet stores but not to saltwater or tropical fish, which have different requirements.

When you purchase a goldfish, you may only expect it to live a few years, like many aquarium fish. However, with proper care and feeding, your new pet might live for decades. Some goldfish have lived for as long as 30 to 40 years.

Maintaining a proper environment in your fish tank is essential to having healthy pets, and it is not difficult. In order to properly maintain an aquarium, you will need to perform daily, weekly, bi-weekly and monthly maintenance. If you stick with your...