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From: ned@scirtp.UUCP (Ned Robie)
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: Re: goldfish (what's worked well for me, longish)
Message-ID: <512@scirtp.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 24-Oct-85 15:05:49 EDT
Article-I.D.: scirtp.512
Posted: Thu Oct 24 15:05:49 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 26-Oct-85 04:27:34 EDT
References: <882@decwrl.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: SCI Systems, Research Triangle Park, NC
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> She said goldfish can live in a bowl, but the bowl should be cleaned
> every other day.

Fish bowls are generally not a good home for fish because the water surface
area is not large enough to allow proper aeration.  They look nice, but
you'll find the fish will eventually start gulping at the surface because
there's insufficient oxygen.  A 5 or 10 gallon aquarium is a good choice
because the water surface area is fairly large.  A fish bowl might work ok
if you put an aerator in it (a stone with air pump), but the constant
water changing can be a problem for you and your fish.

To really do it right and to avoid excessive water changing (fish don't like
water changes because the water and temperature change and handling can shock
their little bodies), get a 10 gallon tank with a good filter (outboard
siphon types work much better than submersible cheapies, especially when
activated charcoal is used), an aerator, and a heater and thermometer if your
house temperature may go below 70 degrees F.  All of this ain't cheap, but it's
not too expensive either, and it will save you lots of headaches (and fish)
in the long run.  The heater may not be necessary for gold fish, but
tropicals like the water temp between 70 and 80 degrees.

With a properly aerated and filtered tank, you should only have to clean
the tank once a year (at most) and your fish will be very active ('cause
they like where they live).  I also recommend a hood... it slows evaporation
and keeps the water from spraying outside the tank.  It also looks nice,
especially if you get one with a light.

As for feeding... I've found that if I feed my fish every day, they get
too big.  I only feed my fish about twice a week.  But if you want your
fish to grow, you may want to feed them more.  The best food I've found
(and there IS a difference) is made by TetraWerke (or just Tetra).
This food also isn't cheap, but it will keep your fish very healthy.
I DON'T recommend Hartz.

Chlorine can be removed from the water by just letting it stand for a few
hours, but this method doesn't get rid of unwanted salts.  There are
chemical conditioners that do both quickly and easily.

Hope this helps...

-- Ned Robie