Goldfish need a lot of space and little maintenance

Goldfish live long, strong and voracious. Keeping them is not difficult, as long as the aquarium is not a fish bowl.

He happily swam in a circle, occasionally sending a bubble of air to the surface of the water and curious sunglasses through the glass. Most goldfish have such an image. Actually, aquariums are cruel to animals. They are too small for a fish to 20 cm long, ”said Florian Grabsch from the Association of Aquarium and Aquarium Sciences Association of Germany. Because of the unfavorable surface to weight ratio, there is not enough oxygen in the water. In addition, the circular shape of the pool disturbs the sense of orientation of the animal.

The goldfish are very strong

Therefore, the owner should discard the goldfish bowl. "Goldfish are stronger than most other aquarium fish," said Henner Neuhaus, a veterinarian for Otterndorf fish. But that doesn't mean you just have to put them in a container with water and feed them.

Water for aqurium can flow out of pipes

The fish needs an aquarium large enough to feel good. In order for animals to survive hard to move, it must be at least one meter long and have a volume of 20 to 50 liters each. "The water you pour in can come out of the tap because goldfish don't need any special water value," Grabsch said. The only important thing is to fill the tank four to six weeks before the fish is introduced. During this period, bacteria form that animals need. If the filling water is chlorinated, it must be treated with a product from a pet store.

The filter purifies the water mechanically and biologically

To ensure good water quality, the aquarium should be equipped with filters that are appropriate for the size of the tank. It cleans water mechanically and biologically. Sandra Lechleiter, a veterinarian from Neuenbürg, explained: "Because it is constantly polluted by animal food and waste, it is quickly filled with harmful bacteria or toxic ammonia and nitrite." As soon as the water flow decreases, the filter is no longer operating optimally and needs to be cleaned. It is best not to do this under a tap, but only in aquarium water. Therefore, bacteria in the filter are retained and do not wash away.

Change water frequently

In addition to filtration, a portion of water must be replaced regularly: Experts recommend replacing 10 to 30 percent every one to three weeks. In addition, aquarium glass should be cleaned with a cleaning magnet once a week. Sometimes the pool must be completely cleaned. "In doing so, people would remove the coating from the substrate - that is, from waste materials such as fish manure and food residue - and remove old plant remnants," Neuhaus explained.

Goldfish do not need heating

Goldfish have no need when it comes to water temperatures: "Aquariums don't need to be heated because it feels good at 16 to 22 degrees," explains Jochen Weins from the Animal Protection Veterinary Association. As long as the room where the aquarium is located is not unusually cold, the goldfish holder doesn't have to buy any heaters.

Aquarium equipment: sand, rocks and plants

When setting up an aquarium, some characteristics of the goldfish should be taken into account. "For example, it's a lively fish that needs enough swimming space and free floor," Weins said. Ideally, the owner should equip a pool of tree roots, aquatic plants, rocks, leaves and a thick bottom made from gravel or fine sand, like water-loving animals. Trees also keep people busy: "Goldfish love to find and nibble on tree parts," Neuhaus said.

Food: self-catering in an aquarium

Because goldfish not only chew on plants, but also eat them, a sophisticated mixture is needed: on the one hand, strong plants like screws do not eat or are difficult to eat, and on the other hand, delicacies thrive like pests. ganglion. So you can be sure that your pelvis will not be bald.

Goldfish don't know when they're full

In addition to self-service, goldfish should get food for commercial fish. A mixture of dry flakes or pellets and raw food like frozen mosquito larvae is ideal. Goldfish also like to eat lettuce and Chinese cabbage. Less food - if not, animals become fat, because they don't feel full. "I would give a small amount twice a day and plan a diet day a week," Lechleiter advises.

If you follow all of these rules, you will enjoy animals for a long time: Goldfish can live to be over 20 years old.