How to Keep Goldfish in the Best Way? Detailed Guide to Raising Methods and Techniques

In the history of human civilization, Chinese goldfish have accompanied human life for more than a dozen centuries, and are the earliest variety in the history of ornamental fish in the world. Goldfish are easy to keep, with peculiar postures, brilliant colors, and graceful forms. Fish can beautify the environment and are very popular among people. They are an ornamental fish unique to China. Today, the editor will introduce to you how to keep goldfish!

The Raising Environment for Goldfish

Veteran goldfish keepers have long had the saying “to keep fish, first cultivate the water,” which shows that water quality directly affects the normal growth and development of goldfish. The purpose of changing water is also to remove dirt in the water (garbage, fish feces and leftover feed, stale impurities), keep the water clean, adjust the water temperature, increase oxygen in the water, and thereby stimulate the growth and development of goldfish. To keep goldfish well, you must have a preliminary understanding of fish-keeping water:

1. New water: refers to freshly drawn tap water, and is the most ideal water for keeping fish. But note that its water temperature often differs greatly from the water temperature in the fish pond (tank), so temperature adjustment treatment is needed (in some areas where tap water contains more chlorine, dechlorination treatment is also needed).

2. Stale water: refers to the dirty water containing feces and dirt at the bottom of the fish pond (tank). This includes feed water that has not been changed for a long time in the pond (tank).

3. Old water: the collective term for clean water in a fish pond (tank) that appears tender green, green, old green, or greenish brown. Among these, tender green water is the best. There is more green algae floating in old water, and they are also very good supplementary feed for goldfish. This kind of water has less organic matter from decay and decomposition and more dissolved oxygen. Keeping fish in clean old water that is often tender green produces fish with the strongest appetite, robust bodies, bright colors, and very fast development.

4. Reverted clear water: if the original old green water in the pond (tank) suddenly becomes clear water, with much green algae settling at the bottom of the tank, this phenomenon is called reverted clear water. This kind of water easily causes fish disease and must be completely replaced.

Methods for Changing Goldfish Water

1. General water change: under normal circumstances, especially in hot summer, just persist every day in gently siphoning out 1/10—1/5 of the feces and dirt at the bottom of the fish pond (tank) together with the stale water using a rubber hose, removing dust on the water surface and floating feces, then slowly inject new water of the same temperature along the pond (tank) wall to keep the water clean. This water-changing method does not easily injure the fish body, and the method is simple and safe, most suitable for family fish tanks or small pond fish keepers.

2. Partial water change: this water-changing method is mainly carried out under two circumstances.

① One circumstance is in hot summer and early autumn, when the feed water in the fish pond (tank) has been changed for only a few days, but the water color turns green extremely quickly (because the feed amount is on the low side), and the water quality is still clean. In order to prevent goldfish from scalding their tails, all the goldfish in the pond (tank) can be taken out, then the water in the pond (tank) is rotated in a spiral shape. After letting it stand for a moment, use a rubber hose to siphon away 1/3—1/2 of the dirt and stale water in the center of the pond (tank), then inject new water of the same temperature and same amount, and then put the goldfish back into the original pond (tank) to raise.

② Another circumstance is when the water in the pond (tank) has been changed for only a few days and the water color is still good, but because too much food was fed that day, gasping at the surface appears, and emergency measures must be taken. The method of changing water is the same as described above.

If it is a large fish pond at a fish farm, there is no need to take the goldfish out. Instead, use a folding blocking net to pen the fish to one side, then gently rotate the water in the pond with a dip net for several dozen seconds. After the water stands still for a moment, open the drainage gate to slowly release water, or use a suction tube to remove the excess fish food, feces, and stale water in the center of the pond (tank), or use a fish net to scoop out the excess fish food from the center, then release 1/4—1/2 of the stale water, and finally inject the same amount of new water at the same temperature. This method is commonly used in fish farms or homes as an emergency rescue method when too much food has been fed.

3. Complete water change: this kind of water change is often carried out together with turning over the pond (tank) and selecting young fish or adult fish. It is often adopted only when water quality is severely deteriorated, or when moss has grown too long, or when fish are too densely stocked. There are two specific methods:

① When there is no idle pond available, all the goldfish have to be scooped into a basin, or a net cage is placed into the water of an adjacent pond for temporary holding, with an oxygen-increasing head added in the basin or net cage to increase oxygen. Then, scrub off the moss on the original pond wall, and after thoroughly rinsing it clean, refill with new water of the same temperature. Let it stand for a moment until the water temperatures are equal, then scoop the fish back into the original pond (tank).

② If there is an idle pond and new water available, then simply scoop all the goldfish into a basin or net cage, select and handle them separately, divide them into ponds where needed, and for those not divided into ponds, move the goldfish into the new water to raise once the water temperatures are equal. With this water-changing method, special attention should be paid to water temperature, and it is best to choose to do it before 9 a.m. on a clear day. However, this method is generally only suitable for adult fish or larger young fish, and should not be used for fry. If conditions permit, before a complete water change, first fill a spare pond (tank) with aged water, and then directly scoop the fish into the spare pond (tank), which is better. In this way, the water temperature changes little, and the fish school can more easily adapt to the new environment, sparing the fish the suffering of being crowded in the basin or net cage. With this water-changing method, in spring and autumn, it is generally done once about every half month. In the hottest summer period, when the water temperature reaches above 28°C, and the water color easily becomes very dense and the water quality easily becomes turbid, a complete water change should generally be done once every 4—7 days. In winter, when the water temperature drops to around 4°C, goldfish move slowly, appetite decreases, and water quality is not easily spoiled, so unless there are special circumstances, the water is generally not completely changed.

It should be noted that due to differences in density, body size, feed, feeding habits, and water quality maintenance equipment, water-changing methods cannot be too dogmatic and should be adjusted according to water quality and the condition of the fish. These all require the accumulation of long-term fish-keeping experience.