How to Choose a Healthy Goldfish - Advice and Checklist

Checklist

There are many different things to consider when looking for a goldfish to keep as a pet. Goldfish have been found to compete well against dogs and cats when people are considering what kind of pet to buy.

Determine how big the habitat of the goldfish is going to be. Are the goldfish going to live in a pond or in a tank? This is important because it’s helps determine which type of goldfish is the most suitable for the space. A rule of thumb: provide 2 gallons of water for each inch of goldfish. A simple way to figure this out would be to add up the length of all the goldfish intended to live in the space and double that number to determine the amount of water to provide.

Warning: Try to avoid raising goldfish in bowls. Bowls require frequent cleaning and are not spacious enough for the goldfish.

Choose between common or fancy goldfish. It is not necessarily the best idea to keep the two varieties in the same habitat.

Find an aquarium store in the local area that carries goldfish. Try to avoid petstores as they often have cramped quarters for fish
Look at the goldfish in the aquariums and watch them swimming around with each other. Avoid fish that are either extremely lethargic, tilted, or those that are frantically swimming around. These are indications that the fish are stressed out. In addition, avoid fish that are sitting on the bottom of the tank or those that might be scratching themselves against objects.
Look at the scales of the goldfish to make sure they’re clear and all there.
Look at the fins of the goldfish to make sure they are clear. The dorsal fin should stand straight up and be clear of all growths and bumps. The pectoral fins should be the same size, as should the anal fins.
Check for any lesions, growths, or patches on the goldfish. Avoid purchasing fish with tumors or cuts.
Look at the water the goldfish are living in at the store. Is it cloudy? Does it have a blue tint, indicating medication was deposited in the tank? Is there an odor? Only purchase goldfish from clear, odorless tanks.
Before leaving the aquarium store, make sure the goldfish is bagged appropriately for the trip home. There should be space on the top for oxygen and the water level should cover the fish and give it a small amount of space to move around.

Popular goldfish

If you’re thinking of getting a goldfish for a pet you’re in for a treat. There are so many varieties of this domesticated fish, all with their own unique physical characteristics.

The aesthetic value of a goldfish is something to consider. These are popular choices.

Common Goldfish

This is by far the most popular type of goldfish and there’s no mistaking its look.
The common goldfish has bright orange scales and a while tail.

Lionchu or Lionranchu

This fish is the result of cross breeding a Lionhead and a Ranchu
They’re predominantly white and pale orange in color
The head and body are both very round
If you want to have this fish as a pet, you might have to pre-order as they can be quite hard to come by in some places

This amazing video is well worth watching; you’ll love this Lionchu! Our thanks to YouTube contributer for sharing.

Black Moor

They are often mistaken for another type of fish because of the jet black scales.
There are sub-varieties of the Black Moor that are named according to the description of their eyes. Sub-varieties include Popeye, Telescope, Demekin (Japan) and Dragon Eye (China).

Shubunkin

Known for its unusual color pattern which can include blotches of black, red, brown, white & blue
The body of the Shubunkin is elongated compared to most other kinds of goldfish
The fins as well as tail are almost as long as the body
These are easy fish to care for

Bubble Eye

As the name suggests, the eyes of this type of goldfish look like large bubbles and are ostentatiously disproportionate to its body size.
The Bubble Eye doesn’t have a dorsal fin and its body is shaped remarkably like an egg.