The Fantail is the easiest goldfish variety to keep for beginners. If you're interested in getting one for the first time, know that it doesn't require a lot of care. Provide him with a large aquarium with an adequate filtration system and make sure to offer him high quality food afterwards. Also make sure to follow a constant maintenance of the tank and to manage the conflicts that arise between the different specimens. With a little effort, you can guarantee your little friend a healthy and happy life.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Creating the Right Environment
Step 1. Get an aquarium of the right size
It is very important that it is large enough for the fish; you should choose a tub instead of a bowl, as the bowl gets dirty too quickly, causing potential disease and even death. Purchase a suitable size aquarium at a pet store. keep in mind that although it is quite easy to take care of this fish, it is necessary to invest some money to provide it with adequate living conditions.
Buy one with a minimum capacity of 40 or 80 liters; generally the bigger the better, but you also have to deal with the space and money available. Obviously, the fish are happier and live longer in a spacious environment; choose the largest aquarium you can afford and that can fit comfortably in your home
Step 2. Keep the temperature between 20 and 25 ° C
The Fantail goldfish is quite hardy, so this water temperature range is adequate for its needs; however, make sure it stays within these limits, which are the best for the animal's health.
- You can use a thermometer to check the water temperature. Usually the environmental one falls within this range, but it can also be higher or lower depending on the geographic area in which you live.
- Generally speaking, the water can also be a little warmer or colder than optimal and most goldfish still manage to survive; you just have to make sure that the temperature does not drop below 15 ° C or that it does not exceed 37 ° C.
- However, if you live in a region where temperatures drop a lot during the night, it may be worth installing a heater. If the temperature drops below 15 ° C or even goes below 10 ° C, purchase a heating device at the pet store and mount it on the aquarium, setting it to a temperature of 20-25 ° C.
Step 3. Apply a filter
A filter system is an important element for any aquarium and that for the Fantail is no exception. Purchase a specific goldfish tank model at a pet store; avoid those that cause a lot of current, because they are harmful to your little friend. Goldfish do not do well in environments where water moves very strongly.
Step 4. Clean the aquarium every week
Replace 10-15% of the water once a week. During this procedure there is no need to remove the fish; when you decide to clean the tub, simply take out the water with a cup and replace it with the dechlorinated tap water.
- In addition to changing the water, do some basic cleaning. Scrape the algae that has grown on the bottom of the aquarium using an algae spatula, which you can buy at the pet store.
- When replacing the water, make sure the new water is at a similar temperature to the one in the tub. The simplest way to proceed is to put the dechlorinated water in a bucket and gradually pour it into the aquarium with a siphon, which you can buy online and in pet stores.
- To dechlorinate water you have to buy a special chemical that you find in the same types of stores or online. Follow the instructions on the package, but usually just pour a drop or two of the product into four liters of water; most of these softeners work in a minute or two.
Part 2 of 3: Feeding the Fish
Step 1. Choose high quality food
You can find it in pet stores. Flaked or granulated food is typically the staple food for these fish and should contain all the nutrients they need to stay healthy.
- Formulations in granules may be more suitable than those in flakes; the latter have a tendency to crumble in water and become difficult to eat. Granules are perhaps more expensive, but they are better for your little Fantail's overall health.
- Read the labels when choosing your feed, make sure it contains proteins and fats; generally speaking, the higher the content of these nutrients the better.
Step 2. Supplement your diet with fiber-rich vegetables
Goldfish are omnivores, meaning they eat both meat and vegetables. In addition to providing your pet with high quality food, you should also give them some vegetables to keep them healthy.
- Get some soft aquarium plants and place them in the tank so the fish can nibble on them from time to time.
- The elodea makes a great snack. Although the Fantail eats the granules and flakes very quickly, it takes longer to consume the vegetables; this is completely normal behavior, so don't worry if the plant is not "devoured" completely within a week or so.
Step 3. Avoid overfeeding it
Because it eats quickly, people tend to offer goldfish a lot of food, which typically takes no more than two minutes to consume a ration of flakes or granules. If your specimen takes longer to finish a meal, you are giving it too much food.
- Read the food label to figure out the daily ration you need and adjust it according to your pet's appetite.
- If there are any leftovers after two minutes, reduce the amount of food you put in the water. Goldfish have a tendency to ask for more food after receiving the meal, but are generally satisfied with small doses.
- Keeping live plants in the aquarium helps them manage hunger between meals.
Step 4. Establish a schedule
Feed him around the same time every day, so you remember to do so. Offer him only small doses of granules or flakes; if you feel like he wants more food even after consuming his ration, consider putting live plants in the aquarium. Don't feed him too much.
Part 3 of 3: Avoiding Common Mistakes
Step 1. Don't crowd the aquarium
Remember that each specimen needs 40-80 liters of water. If you want to add a new fish to the tank, you have to increase its capacity accordingly; if animals feel pressured by too many allies, they can become aggressive and fight each other.
Step 2. Consider using a panel to separate the fish in case they become territorial
Some Fantails simply have a more developed territorial instinct than others, despite being in an aquarium of adequate size; if you feel that one specimen is constantly attacking another, buy a separator to manage the conflict.
- You can buy a specific panel for aquariums at a pet store and install it in the tank to avoid contact between the fish.
- You can also buy a new aquarium to solve the problem.
Step 3. Pay attention to leftover food residues that settle to the bottom
These remains can become a problem; not only are they a sign that you are overfeeding animals, but they could also contaminate the environment. If you notice them during your usual water change, take them off and reduce your food rations in the future.
Step 4. Keep the water temperature stable
Fantails can survive in different temperatures, but sudden changes (both upwards and downwards) can cause them to shock; take precautions to make sure the temperature remains relatively stable.
- Do not place the aquarium near a window, the outside air can cause the water temperature to rise or fall suddenly.
- Place the tub in an area of the house where the temperature is constant. Watch out for drafty rooms or corners that get very hot at certain times of the day.
Step 5. Monitor for signs of illness
You should quarantine any fish that appear to be in poor health; by doing so, you not only prevent the spread of the disease, but you can carefully control the sick specimen and treat it with drugs and chemicals without harming the other Fantails, plants and invertebrates that populate the aquarium. The signs of pathologies are:
- Swelling;
- Apathy;
- White spots on the body;
- High respiratory rate;
- Bulging eyes
- Tendency to hide in a corner.
Advice
The specimens belonging to the "Cometa" variety often hunt the small Fantail; it is not recommended to keep these animals in the same aquarium
Warnings
- Wash your hands before and after cleaning the tub and don't let any soap or other chemicals contaminate the water! Never wash the aquarium or the decorations with any type of detergent.
- Always check that the decorations or artificial plants you put in the aquarium do not have jagged or sharp edges.
