Goldfish are the most versatile and beautiful species of fish that are kept as pets today; and for the fishkeeping hobbyist, they offer something for everyone. No matter what level of experience you may have in fishkeeping, the goldfish can meet your needs. By following a few simple guidelines you should be successful in keeping the long-lived goldfish, healthy and active for years of enjoyment. By paying attention to items like correct temperature range, clean water, fresh water, proper food, and plenty of space, you should have very little difficulty in keeping the cool water goldfish.

Because goldfish can grow quite large, they require water which is high in oxygen. To raise three or four goldfish for several years, you should consider at least a 20 gallon long aquarium. The Goldfish Society of America has developed a formula for determining how many fish can be kept successfully in a single tank of rectangular shape. Multiply the length of the tank by its width. Divide the resulting figure by 30. The total is how many "inches" of goldfish the tank can hold. When figuring the "inch" capacity of a tank, allow for growth of the fishes. When concerning the more exotic types, always allow extra room. You'll be glad you did.

Being cool water fish, goldfish are not very comfortable in cold water (as is commonly believed by the general public) nor are they comfortable in high water temperatures usually used with tropical fish. An ideal temperature range is 62-72 degrees, with 68 being most beneficial. Goldfish can and often do survive outdoors as long their water does not freeze solid during the winter or gets too hot during the summer. The pond or container should be large enough that the temperature doesn't change too rapidly.

Water changes of 1/4 of the water volume per week to as much as 1/2 of the water volume per week is necessary to maintain the highest water quality. This is THE MOST IMPORTANT MAINTENANCE YOU CAN DO. If you do weekly water changes, you will experience much fewer health problems with your goldfish. However, do make sure that the new water is treated for chlorine removal and that it is of the same (or very close) temperature of the tank water.