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the general rule is 10 gals for fancy gf and 20 gals. for common gf. because they are a messy fish.i use a cannisters and hob on my 46 gal tank. got four gf in my tank for about 9 months they are doing fine

wow what a big arguement and im with everyone who says that you need big tank for goldfish.Ive had one and it got to almost 2 ft (it was cool though it ate tetras)

Argh. Just argh. I could say so many things to some of you, but I'm going to try and be calm so you all understand. :%)

Goldfish can not be kept in a 10 gallon. They just get too big! Do you know how big an oscar gets? Goldies get that big. There are no if's, and's, or but's about it. I don't care what any stupid rule says. If I made a rule that says that arowannas can be kept for life in 3 gallons of water, would you believe me? No, because you know it isn't true. Arowannas can reach over 3 feet in length. The goldie would get almost as long, or longer than, that 10 gallon! I'm sorry, but you are just wrong.

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They shade the glow of it with their mossy-misty costumes,
They wear masks of silk, porcelain, brass, and silver,
So as not to mislead with their own, ordinary faces.

Dang, its been a while since i looked in my active thread box thing. And I didn't think it would get like this just asking a simple question. lol
Anyway, littlemousling, my sn is Pocket Lint. Just remove all the vowels and pcktlnt. =)

I'm telling ya it can be done. Don't go by the book all of the time. Be a bit open minded. Also if thats so wrong why are they doing fine and loving their home in my 10 gallon. Goldfish have been kept in bowls for years. Their tuff!

What kind of goldfish is it?

Fancys need 75g+ and commons need 160g+

Those numbers seem a little bit high... but maybe those are right.

In my opinion, any goldfish would be fine in a 30 gallon tank. I think each goldfish needs 20 gallons at least, and it's important that you keep up with water changes and such and have a good filtration system.

I wouldn't put common goldfish into a thirty gallon but a coule of small fancies should be fine.

Common goldfish get HUGE!

Oh, what goldfish are stay relatively on the small side? =)
Cause, I don't think I can get a 100-200 gallons. Unless I decide to start diggin in my mom's garden, haha...but that's not such a bad idea, just gotta warn her first or else she might fall in.

Yeah! I also have a Q (hope you dont mind).
How low of tempatures(sp?) can Fancies handle?? PLease answer ASAP

--Pubby ^.~

Almost all goldfish can handle anything close to freezing temperature, if it is gradual. That is how they survive under frozen ice in ponds.

Fancy goldies can't handle the extreme cold, so they usually aren't suitable for an outdoor pond, depending on where you live.

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They shade the glow of it with their mossy-misty costumes,
They wear masks of silk, porcelain, brass, and silver,
So as not to mislead with their own, ordinary faces.

And I'm afraid there aren't really any small goldfish; in the end, all goldfish are big big big fish. A fish that's shaped like an 8" diameter grapefruit doesn't belong in a 30 gallon tank. Think of it this way: by the "inch per gallon" rule, about 30 neons could fit in that tank. Now think about how many neons it would take to fill up the goldfish - a lot more than thirty. Maybe a few hundred. So, goldfish need a lot of space and a lot of water.

-Molly
Visit shelldwellers.com!

I think thats a crazy calculation. I think that you can put goldfish in a 10 gallon. I have had 5 in one of my 10 gallons. They did fine.

I'm going to refrain from posting to ensure I don't get banned for flaming Fish Guy, I'm just going to say this, you are wrong, and someone with a better temper will be with you shortly to explain why.

If I have a goldfish in a 30 gallon tank, is that okay?
Or am I missing something about ponds and tanks.

Commons get to be 14 inches LONG!!! GAH!!! it's people like you who keep chain stores open. You're fish of course won't get that big because you're stunting them... Would you put a F#^$ing cat in a shoe box!?!?!

*calms down*
Please... someone get this man some help.

[Edit]
A 10g aquarium is 20x10x12, a fancy goldfish gets to have an 8inch diameter, if you put one in a 10g it would not be able to turn around, put 5 of them in a 10g and they could not even physically fit inside of it. Goldfish live for 20+ years and if yours live any less then that you have failed. You're stunting them by putting them in a 10g, it's a very slow death, there bodies do not grow, but there organs do causing digestive and circulatory problems. They will live in a bowl because they are hardy... this should not have been exploited. I can keep a betta alive between 2 wet sheets but would you recommend I do that? These are truly wonderful fish and should not be treated like this. The mere thought of youre 5 goldfish in a 10g is making me sick to my stomach.

[span class="edited"][Edited by john.stone 2004-04-10 22:20][/span]

Previously, I have strongly disagreed with john.stone about goldfish, but in this case, I concur with his statement.

5 goldfish in a 10 gallon almost perhaps matches the density of some feeder fish in store tanks. Just because it works fine for some people doesn't mean it's right. I hate when people say this, but it's really true. Who am I to judge what is right or wrong? Nevertheless, we are inclined to believe that if something is successful for us that is declared to be wrong or impossible that it is a good idea. As for the goldfish in your 10 gallon, I would not keep them in those conditions for long. I had goldfish before, and they were obliterated by freshwater diseases. You won't believe it until it does happens to you.

It also depends on the size of the goldfish. Sooner or later you will realize they will need a bigger tank.

Maybe a few hundred

Try a thousand or more!

Don't go by the book all of the time. Be a bit open minded.

We aren't going by the book on this one. We are going by common sense.

You CANNOT keep goldies permanently in a 10 gallon. I think the minimum tank size is a 55, personally. They are a large fish with a big bio-load.

As for common goldies, they don't even belong in an aquarium. They get HUGE and are very active. I wouldn't keep one in anything less that a 150 gallon.

I'm really sorry, Fish Guy, but you are WRONG.

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They shade the glow of it with their mossy-misty costumes,
They wear masks of silk, porcelain, brass, and silver,
So as not to mislead with their own, ordinary faces.

Dang...no small goldfish. Ah well. Thanks. I guess I have to wait till I get a pond...but then I would end up with a koi. haha

Well see people if you get 5 1-2 inch goldfish in a 10 gallon your still not breaking the rule of for every inch of fish have one gallon. And that is what I have. Well had they are in a pond now. But your saying its cruel or whatever but when you look at it nothing beats the pond/stream they could have lived in. So really we are all being cruel. Don't be so fish crazy. Its a hobby not a life.

It is a life... I wish people would treat scaled animals with the same respect as a fuzzy one.

Well see people if you get 5 1-2 inch goldfish in a 10 gallon your still not breaking the rule of for every inch of fish have one gallon.

That was already explained to you that the inch per rule does not apply to goldfish.

We treat them the same. But I'm saying that nothing can beat the pond in woods.

First off, it's not like fancy goldfish are found in the wild. The homes we give them are actually a lot nicer than what it would be like for them in a wild pond or stream somewhere, since they'd be a very very easy catch for practically anything.
This "they're just fish" attitude does get frustrating. When a person keeps a dog, cat, horse, or bird in horrific conditions, they can face jail time in many states and a lot of countries. Why are fish different from those other animals? Basically, they're cheaper, and therefore seem expendable, is the only reason I can come up with. That and we're all socialized to not care about fish death - there isn't exactly a Black Beauty or Old Yeller for fish, that I know of anyway (no, "Free Willy" does not count! Whale, not fish!)
Basically, though, how about this: why the heck would you want to keep a fish that's only going to stunt, be sickly, and die, when in the same tank there are thousands of other fish choices that could live out their full lives, happy and healthy? Why condemn a few fish to pain and suffering when you could keep a bunch of smaller fish perfectly happy? (This isn't directed at pcktlnt, BTW) Okay, rant over!

EDIT: Now it's spelled correctly, pcktlnt. People have an easier time if they know what the name stands for, so c'mon, spill! Pick Till Night(fall)? Pack Talon Torn?

[span class="edited"][Edited by LittleMousling 2004-04-15 05:45][/span]

-Molly
Visit shelldwellers.com!

I wouldn't put a goldfish bigger than 3 inches into a 10 gallon tank. You do have to realize that goldfish like to swim! And poop!

I know you probably think it's crazy that we humans judge things to be "humane" (moral) and "inhumane" (immoral) when it comes to the keeping of fish, but to a certain extent, we just have to use common sense. The inch rule would not apply to a 20 inch fish. Nor would it apply to any fish bigger than two inches for that matter.

There are people who are "fishkeepers," but true aquarists strive to give their fish the best possible conditions that they can, and that includes a sufficiently large tank. For many people, aquariums are a way of life. People on fishprofiles are generally very passionate about the hobby.

You probably think I'm a crazy stinkin' fanatic of PETA when I say this, but we are dealing with real live animals. It is our responsibility to provide the right conditions for them.

Specifically on goldfish, where would I draw the line? These conditions are no optimal, but I would not be disgusted by a person who kept a goldfish in a 20 or 30 gallon tank, as long as it was just one goldfish in there alone.