If You’re Planning On Winning A Goldfish At A Carnival This Summer, Here’s How You Can Keep You Goldfish Alive And Healthy
When you were a kid, did you ever win a goldfish at a carnival?
So many people have had this experience, but for most of them, it doesn’t end well. Those poor little carnival goldfish have been known to die very quickly, traumatizing many kids.
Well, this doesn’t necessarily have to be the case, and if you follow some of these tips on how to keep your carnival goldfish alive and healthy, you may just end up with a happy pet fish that sticks around a while longer.
First things first, keep that goldfish secure as soon as you get it. Remember Darla from Pixar’s “Finding Nemo,” who had a horrid reputation for shaking fish in their plastic bag until they died? Don’t let your kids be Darla.
Be very cautious with the pet fish on the ride home, try and get it in a place where it won’t shake around too much, and be as smooth as possible on the road.
You’ll want to get to a pet supply store as soon as possible to get everything you need to give your fish a suitable home. Many people simply plop their fish directly from the bag into a tap water bowl. This will only shock the fish and can end up disastrous.
While goldfish are usually portrayed in small bowls in cartoons and pictures, they actually need to be kept in tanks. Purchase your goldfish a tank that holds at least two to five gallons of water, although even more is preferable.
You’ll also want to get your goldfish a proper filtration system and an air pump.
Filling your tank with straight-up tap water can harm your fish as it may contain too many minerals or too much chlorine. Grab some fish water test strips to test out your tap water at home and see if it will be suitable for your fish. If not, pet stores also offer goldfish water conditioners that will even things out.
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Goldfish tend to thrive in water around 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit, so you want to ensure the water you put in their tank is within that temperature range. You should also add some fish tank gravel and real or fake tank plants to make your fish more at home!
When it’s time to transfer your goldfish into their new tank, again, don’t just plop them in there.
Place the goldfish’s bag into the tank while it’s still in there for at least 30 minutes so it adjusts to the new water’s temperature. Then, cut a hole in the top of the bag and let a bit of the tank water enter the bag every four minutes or so.
Add more water to the bag around three more times. Then, you can slowly release your fish into the water by letting them swim on their own or gently using a small net.
Once your goldfish has settled into their new digs, be diligent in caring for them. Make sure their water filter is always clean, and replace 10% of their tank water weekly.
Feed your goldfish some food once a day, and beware of over-feeding them. You don’t want to feed them more than the amount of food it takes them to eat within two minutes.
Finally, if you have the financial means and a large enough tank, consider adding a second goldfish into their home! They’re social fish and would not mind a buddy to swim around with.
If you don’t think you could get all of this together for a carnival goldfish or can’t afford the upkeep, perhaps you shouldn’t even play the games it takes to win them. But if you can, enjoy your new little friend and make some memories!
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