Goldfish

[trish1234567]

I have acquired a single goldfish from a derelict garden pond in the garden of the house my daughter is purchasing and has moved into. All the other goldfish appear to have died from neglect as the pond looked very murky. I couldn't offer him (or her) to someone else with a pond in case he was diseased.

I have put him in an ornamental half barrel which is probably just half the size he came from but well big enough for one. I have put some water greenery in it for oxygen and a red clay clog (as in shoe) which is quite deep and he has somewhere to investigate and hide.

For the first few days, he was out of sight all the time, but now he is swimming around and seems to be enjoying himself. He must be minimum 5 years old and looks lovely and healthy.

However, here are my questions as I know nothing about goldfish. I'm oxygenating the water with special tablets and top up the water a little with garden hose. Is this sufficient? Also, am I being mean by not getting another goldfish for company or will he be happy on his own. I have the fish food, should I give him just a pinch every day. He's now gobbling the food fast whereas at first, I thought he wasn't going to eat at all! I can't pass him by now without having a peak at him in his lovely clean water.
Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

[Prudie]

I know my partner's parents have kept 3 in a half-barrel like yours for a long time. They have no filter or air system just plants (water lilies included which look lovely). I think they feed them quite regularly. Don't know the expert's view but human nature would suggest a friend or 2 would not go amiss!

[AlBags]

Don't use chemicals.
Plenty of oxygenating weed (like Elodea Canadensis)
Some surface cover to stop sunlight helping algae grow.
Cadge a few more from friends with a pond.

[paddywak]

cant help much as I've always had fish in a pond not a tank but the guide for feeding is about the same even though it is a bit trial and error to start with, the secret is to try not to have any food left in the water after 5 min, so if you have any left you're giving it too much. I feed my pond fish 4-5 times a day depending on the weather

[trish1234567]

Thanks to all Abers' replies. I'm taking on board very seriously all advice.
I had a smashing little Jack Russell for nearly 18 years which I thought the world of but I didn't think I'd get attached to a little goldfish. I'm stopping the oxygenating tables and I'll heed the feeding and plants advice. Incidentally, he is just outside my back door beneath a four foot fence facing south, so he is out of the sun. Also I covered the top with the stiff green plastic quite large holed net (the type for climbing plants).

About the dishwasher, urrrrrmh - someone been having a little drink this evening?

[paddywak]

I've been thinking about it and my sister has a tank, I think it's a 25litre, and she has three fish which seem to manage quite nicely so I'd imagine you could probably get him 3-4 friends in a half barrel

[trish1234567]

Paddywak - think I'd be a wary about having more than say two goldfish. After all, I'm not very experienced. Also, what if they were both of the opposite sex. Could I manage any offspring?

[paddywak]

I wouldn't worry too much lots of people have tanks with several goldies in without having any problems with them breeding as conditions in a tank aren't always what the fish require. The goldies in my pond however are always at it, I often think half the tanks and ponds in the village have been stocked from my pond

[trish1234567]

Hi Paddywak - I've got the goldfish in a watertight halfbarrel which I got from the gardening centre some time ago and he seems to absolutely love it. He's out all the time now and regularly feeding and I'm really pleased that he looks so healthy. I have been putting the hose in his water (just a dizzle) for short periods and letting the water overflow. I'm hoping this will take the top of the water off and keep the it clean as well as oygenating. Is this OK? Also, I think I heard once that you mustn't overfeed goldfish. Is this true? Do they know when to stop eating?

Can one tell the sex of a goldfish or do they all look the same, unlike birds. Do you think they get bored as they don't even make a nest or such.

Am considering getting him/her a mate. Are there diferent species of goldfish? Many thanks for your interest.

[paddywak]

Have you thought about getting a little feature to go with his barrel? You can get all sorts with a little pump to keep the water moving and they look much better the letting the hose trickle on it. There are quite a few different types of goldies, if you have a walk into a decent pet shop/aquarium centre they usually have decent selection and you'll soon see some you like, as for sexing them I'm afraid I can't help you I just put them in the pond and let them get on with it. As I said in my first post feeding fish is something you learn by experiance especially with outdoor fish as on hot sunny days like we've been having fish are more active but what ever you do you should try not to have any food left floating after about 5 minutes, in fact once your barrel has become established with a few plants etc your fish will find enough natural, the food we give them generally only helps maintain the fishes colour and encourages growth. Any way got to go all this talk about fish has reminded me it's time to clean my pond filter

[trish1234567]

Thanks Paddywak, will follow your sound advice regarding my little rescue fish.