5 Reasons Not to Buy a Goldfish

I have been keeping freshwater fish for over a decade, and people who know me are often surprised to find out that I don't own goldfish-- and that I never have. Goldfish are often imagined to be easy-to-care-for, healthy, enjoyable pets, but there are few serious aquarists who keep them. Here are five good reasons not to buy a goldfish.

Goldfish Need too Much Space.

The image of a goldfish in an unfiltered bowl is persistent, but these cruelty-pots can't accommodate a goldfish for more than a few days-- or, at most, a few weeks. Let's face it: goldfish aren't suited to live in bowls, or even most aquariums. The goldfish is excellent as a resident for an outdoor pond, but even small goldfish require extensive room for swimming, several same-species companions, and stable water chemistry. A planted, twenty-nine gallon aquarium is the bare minimum for keeping a healthy population of goldfish.

Goldfish Poop. A Lot.

I have often referred to goldfish as "the cattle of the aquarium". They spend most of their time eating plant-based food and then defecating, so even a large aquarium with an excellent filtration system can barely keep up with their waste output. A goldfish aquarium will often develop cloudy water, nitrate pollution, or an offensive odor due to the high waste output from these little golden poop-dispensers. New fishkeepers are often surprised to learn how filthy goldfish actually are.

Goldfish are Hard to Maintain.

A goldfish's waste output doesn't end with its feces. Goldfish also produce massive amounts of nitrate and ammonia, but they require a relatively clean living-space with high levels of dissolved oxygen. This means that a goldfish aquarium will require excellent filtration, frequent water changes, gravel-vacuuming, and constant water-testing. For all that effort, you might as well opt for a large tropical community tank, which would give more variety with less trouble.

Goldfish are Unsuitable for Community Tanks.

Many aquarists make the mistake of keeping goldfish in community aquariums, with other fish species. This can sometimes work out, but it more often leads to chaos. Goldfish are cold-water fish, so they can not survive long in a heated tank-- and tropical fish can not survive long in an unheated tank, either. Goldfish can also be territorial and aggressive toward other fish. Additionally, many community fish are sensitive to the high waste output that goldfish provide. Still, a few species can be compatible with goldfish: this list offers a few cold-water species worth considering.

Goldfish are Overrated.

There are hundreds of species of ornamental freshwater fish on the market, and almost none of them cause as much trouble as goldfish. Rosy barbs, zebra danios, and several strains of tetra are available in long-finned and golden-colored forms, and they tend to be both hardier and cleaner than goldfish. Compared to many varieties of ornamental fish, even the most ostentatious of goldfish appear drab. Do yourself (and your pets) a favor, and avoid buying a goldfish unless you have experience keeping them.