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I have a goldfish -- I think it's a comet -- that apparently arrived as an egg on some water hyacinths I bought last summer. He hatched in the 10-gallon tank that I quarantined the plants in, and I've had him in there ever since. But he's outgrowing it quickly, so I'm about to move him to a 30 that I'm setting up just for him.

My question is about substrate: I have some fairly small gravel that I'm not using in any of my tropical tanks -- the individual stones are each about half the size of a pea. I know goldfish like to rummage, and also that they sometimes swallow rocks or get them stuck in their mouths ... will that gravel be too small for him? He's still pretty teeny -- not quite an inch yet himself -- and I don't really feel like investing in more rocks, since he'll probably move to the pond when he's big enough. (But the tank is in my home office, so I want it to look nice for the time that he's in it.)

Thanks!

i would suggest using a bare bottom tank, as with a messy goldfish it will make it easier to clean.

A bare bottom will do & it will be easier to mantain & clean.



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I'd go with the substrate you have at your disposal for now. I've not had a goldfish ever get gravel stuck in it's mouth although I wont say it never happens....they're goldfish after all . If you're looking for a cheap substrate look for Pea gravel at your local hardware or landscaping store. It's around $5 for a 50lb bag.

^_^