Thread: Ask Me About Aquaria

Originally Posted by QwinsepiaSquared

Poor Sushi. I've always loved Beta fish, they're so beautiful.

One of these days I think I'm going to set up a freshwater aquarium. We have a big 55 gallon tank in our basement that's empty. Back in the day my dad used to have oscars in there.

Right now all we have is a goldfish, BJ. We've had him for 8 years and he's still chugging along! He got really big too, at least as big as my hand. Do ya know how long goldfish can live?[/b]

Ah, Oscars are very nice looking!

As far as your goldfish, their size and lifespan can vary greatly. They can reach up to 12" in size, although the average is about 6" to 8".

Like the maximum size, the lifespan of goldfish is also variable. The record is 43 years, but it is uncommon for goldfish to live this long. Goldfish usually live quite long when kept in large aquaria or outdoor ponds, up to 15 to 20 years is not unheard of. In smaller or heated aquaria, a lifespan of five to ten years is quite achievable. As mentioned, the most important factors when keeping goldfish in small aquaria are careful feeding and adequate filtration and/or maintenance.[/b]

Do you know what type of goldfish it is? Is it a fantail, or a regular "feeder" goldfish? The reason I ask, is because the feeders are bred to be used as food, so they have a bit smaller lifespan.

Probably a feeder, I won him at a mayfair when I was little. :p

Nice tank settup! I have a 30 gallon freshwater tank that I have to admit is in need of a revamp. The overhead lamp went out and I've not had the money to replace it therefore I am sure the tank is in need of serious spot cleaning! Now that I know that others share my aquarium keeping hobby I'll post pics of mine when I get it back looking how I want it.