Q&A for How to Keep a Goldfish Alive

The most important thing is to use reverse osmosis filtered water in the bowl.

They don't go together. Goldfish are cold water and angelfish and the shark are tropical. The shark can be aggressive.

There are lots of reasons a fish might not be eating. The most likely is simply that they are not hungry, so be sure you're not overfeeding. Further, look for any other signs of illness. If nothing is up, switch the type of fish food you're using. For instance, switch to pellets if you're only using flakes, or vice versa.

Yes. Take care of it the same way that you take care of any other fish.

For more specific information on an appropriate setup for a gold fish tank see the wikiHow article on How to Set up a Fish Tank (for Goldfish).

It can be, but be aware that they produce lots of waste which will mean frequent tank cleaning. Think about getting a betta, as they only need two gallons of water and come in many different colors.

No. The minimum size for a fancy goldfish is 10 gallons.

Keep them in a 40-gallon tank, provide a strong filter, and do 25% water changes weekly. The 14 cent fish you find at PetSmart are not suitable pets, and they are meant to be eaten by other fish. Goldfish are very hard to keep and become the size of a cat. If you understand those risks, they prefer a current, and would benefit from a few decorations.

Add a little bit of baking soda to the water. It is a natural way to raise pH levels, and it has been shown to be quite effective.

Definitely not! Even if your goldfish is small now, it will grow. They can get up to 10 inches long. Please get at least a 55-gallon tank for it. Even if your goldfish wouldn't grow more, 5 gallons is only suitable for one male betta fish.

You can give the fish away to a friend or family member who will take good care of him/her, or you could put an ad on Craigslist or another community site asking if anyone would like to adopt the fish.

The general rule is 20 gallons for the first goldfish and 10 gallons for each additional goldfish. To keep those 3 alive, you will want to have heavy filtration and do frequent large water changes. Upgrade you tank or give away 1 or 2 of them if you cannot keep up with those large water changes.

You need 20 gallons for the first fish and 10 gallons for each additional. For the best chance of your fish living, a 40 gallon or bigger with filtration will be necessary.

In general, the rule is 20 gallons for the first goldfish and an extra ten for each additional. Some different breeds have slightly different requirements that can easily be found with some additional research.