|
Viewer
Viewpoint
 And
now, a few words from our viewers...
Keeping Goldfish -- continued from page
one
Now let's get to the
realities of Goldfish care. Out with the bowl and in with a ten gallon
tank (I'll get a bigger one as they grow.). A comet goldfish can live
to be as old as 25 years, so I want to build a good home for these possible
long term family members. They need good, healthy water which, in Calgary
means getting the chlorine out, use "Chlor Out" or bottled spring
water.
The water has to contain enough oxygen, goldfish need more oxygen in their
water than most fish so you must choose a way to aerate the water (pumps,
air rocks, etc.) The water also needs to be filtered preferably with a
good power filter and/or undergravel filter and a steady temperature of
between 20 and 25 C must be maintained. And that is just the beginning.
There is much to learn about proper fish care, so before you go out there
and buy a few fish for the kids to take care of, be prepared for the realities
and steer clear of the pet store gurus that talk like they know more than
they really do.
Now I have my two
goldfish and the more recent clown pleco (compatible algae eater) in the
ten gallon tank with a few good hiding spots and lots of room to play.
They are noticeably happier in the larger environment and are a joy to
watch as they chase each other through the plastic plants. The difference
in their behavior is remarkable and it's obvious that fish bowls and other
small containers are torture to our water dwelling friends.
A note of caution
for the new fish owner: Algae eaters aren't going to get much to eat in
a new tank so they will need a special type of algae pellet or wafers
to keep them going. They should be fed at least one pellet per day for
a one inch clown pleco.
As this article is
designed to provide you with very basic information, please research topics
of interest by going to http://members.home.net/sacro/index.html
, also do an Internet search and you'll find many great pages on fish
care (and other animals), if you don't have a computer at home, go to
your local library and use theirs or seek out books on the subject. Village
Square Library has a variety of good animal care books and a number of
computers you can use. There is no reason to rely on pet store salesclerks
for information since, unfortunately they are the least likely to provide
you with quality knowledge about animals.
Finally, use your
own instincts and experiences. You know what it feels like to be alive,
put yourself in the animals place and imagine what your needs might be.
We all have unique needs but it's pretty obvious that a fish that can
grow to be sixteen inches long isn't going to make it in a two gallon
bowl. Imagine trying to live your entire life in a Volkswagen Beetle!
Not an attractive thought.
Take Care of yourself and your pets!
Jen MacDonald.
Keeping Goldfish
by Jennifer MacDonald
Page 1, 2
Back
to Viewer Viewpoint Table of Contents
Do
you have something to say to the VetMed viewers?
Click here to read the User Agreement and
submit your work!
NOTE:
The views and opinions expressed in the Viewer Viewpoint
are not necessarily your Guide's views and opinions.
Have something to say for all to see right now?
Post it on the board!
Previous
Features
- Check out other articles from your Guide
Veterinary
Medicine Home Page - Main page for VetMed at About.com
Library of Topics - Browse the site library of topics
Click Here To Visit Other Pet & Animal
Sites At About.com
|
| 