Goldfish!!!!

Question
Do goldfish need a filter or heater? Does a goldfish need a specific temp.? Can I put goldfish in a 1 gal. tank? Can I manually clean it? Are they hardy fish? Do they die easily because of ammonia, nitrite, pH, hardness, alkaline, or nitrate? Thanks:)

Answer
Hi Christian;

Goldfish are hardy fish when cared for properly. They are a cold water fish so they don't need a heater. They like their water about 68f or a little less. They absolutely need a filter, and a powerful one. They are very messy guys. They cannot live in small tanks or bowls though. That is a common myth. They grow to be at least 6 inches long so the minimum size for just one is ten gallons. Even if the goldfish is small when you buy it, they all grow pretty fast. Here is a good web page about them to help you learn more;

http://www.firsttankguide.net/goldfish.php

Here also is my own page about "New Tank Syndrome" to help you get your new fish through it as safely as possible;

http://www.xanga.com/Expert_Fish_Help

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins