Behaviour and cloudyness of tank issues (goldfish)

Question
Hello, my boyfriend bought me goldfish for Christmas, i have never looked after fish before however I love them to bits! I have a glass bowl which takes about 10 litres (approx. 2 gallons) and I have two goldfish, after a couple of days after cleaning the bowl the water soon gets very cloudy, i have reduced the amount i feed them and that has made a small impact. When I pour new water in I use 5ml of aqua safe. I feed them twice a day with a pinch of fish flakes, i also have an aerator and luminous pink stones at the bottom.
Also one of the fish (Archie) is continually pushing the other (Dot), they often swim rapidly around the tank and Archie is always slightly beneath her (genders:unknown), she often moves in other directions to avoid him. I've checked her fins and they haven't been nipped, the back one has a tear in the back but that was already there when I got her. I don't know much about fish but could it be the fact that they are mating? Could the cloudiness be anything to do with sperm?
Also before feeding them I have been tapping the bowl 3 times, will this condition them to come to the surface for food?
I would be very appreciative for your answer.
Thank you Kate

Answer
Hi Kate,

Oh boy, do we have a lot of issues here.  I'm glad that you are asking about this but I'm afraid that we could have some problems here that cannot be corrected and you will end up with two dead fish very soon.

A little research before purchase goes a long way.  The biggest misconception about goldfish is that they are somehow easy, or starter fish, and this is simply not the case.  They are harder to take care of and more expensive, and require a much bigger tank.  A goldfish, when properly cared for, will live 20 years.  The average lifespan of a goldfish in the US is 3 weeks because they are mishandled.

One goldfish REQUIRES 20 gallons of water, for one, with 10 gallons for each additional.  They also need double filtration.  So, 2 goldfish would need a 30 gallon tank, bare bones minimum, with a 60+ gallon filter.  Anything else simply is not enough to support the bioload that these heavy bodied fish create and they end up burning and suffocating to death from the ammonia build up in the water - and this is something that you cannot see, unless it's extremely excessive, and then it can be cloudy or cause yellowish water.  They will act freakishly wild at first, swimming about, something that is not natural for goldfish, then get lethargic and sit on the bottom and refuse to eat, and finally they die.  It's a slow, painful death that's not necessary.

A goldfish bowl is cruel.  It's not filtered (who or what would want to swim around in their own waste!?) and it's not enough water to support their bioload.  Nothing can safely live in a bowl, nothing.  I am not a PETA freak, I'm just well-educated in aquaria, but bowls need to be outlawed as a source of fishkeeping and I cannot believe stores that know better sell them.  I know why they do, they want you to kill your fish so you keep coming back and buying more fish and more products and keep trying, wondering what you are doing wrong while they reap the profit.  I know it is not your intention to kill these fish so please don't feel like I'm getting down on you but anything that you are going to take on should be researched first, just like you would when buying a car, or a home, or anything.  It's all about information gathering.

If you cannot get the appropriate sized tank and filtration for these fish you may as well return them until you can because they will absolutely die in a bowl no matter what you do.  It's science.

If you are willing to give it a go you should change their water in the bowl 100% every day (make it the same temp as the old water) and double dose a product called Seachem's Prime.  This is a water conditioner and a detoxifier for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates that are harmful and will kill the fish in days.  You cannot do this as a permanent means because frequent water changes stress a fish out.  I wouldn't do this any longer than 5 consecutive days or they will stress from the too frequent water changes.  This is only a means to keep them alive before transfer to an appropriate home.  I also wouldn't feed them anymore at all in the bowl until you get them into the tank.  Feeding them causes more ammonia and they can go months before they'll starve to death.

I would get them in a 30 gallon tank asap with a 60 gallon filter sooner rather than later.  Now, the bad part will be that the tank will have to nitrogen cycle before it's safe to add fish but since you already have them you will have to do it with them, which can kill them too but can be done fairly safely and they may live, espcially with the right sized home and filter.  Cycling is a process where the beneficial bacteria builds up in the tank and this is what eats the waste that turns into harmful ammonia and breaks it down into nitrite (still 50% as harmful as ammonia) and finally into nitrates.  Healthy tanks have nitrates present (always 5-20 ppm range) but never, ever any ammonia or nitrites.  I would get a liquid drop test kit for at least all three of these and monitor not only your bowl but your newly cycling tank.  You will need to add 1 tsp. per 5 gallons of water of aquarium salt to the tank and you will need to change 25% of the water out every other day and double dose the Seachem's Prime.  The partial water changes will be less stressful on the fish.  It will also slow down the cycling process but if you don't do it they'll die.  It will take about 12 weeks to finish.  You'll see the ammonia rise and then fall, and then nitrites rise and then fall and finally nitrates will start to rise.  You would then only need to do monthly tank maintenance.  I would also add an all natural product called Melafix for now since the there is a small tear in the fin.  If you don't do this bacteria will accumulate and cause a disease.

The fish aren't mating.  When you buy them in the pet store they are about 6 mos -1 year old.  They aren't sexually mature until they are 3-4 years old and it's almost impossible to breed them indoors.  Most breeders use large ponds or 1000+ gallon aqauriums.  They spawn in Spring.

Fish will also bully one another when their isn't enough room or when ammonia or nitrites are present.  This will subside in the right environment.

Also, never tap on the aquarium.  The sounds waves inside the tank when you do that is irritating to them.  They will start to recognize you as you approach the tank and will swim up to the surface.

Please let me know how else I can help you.

I have 4 healthy, happy fat fancy goldfish in a 55 gallon with a 110 gallon filter and it's barely sufficient!!!

A good reference site for you would be:

www.kokosgoldfish.com

Good luck : ) April M.