Goldfish kept in fish bowls are likely to die within days unless transferred quickly and correctly to an aquarium of at least 75 gallons for optimal health. They reach over 12 inches in length.
If your goldfish is running low on food flakes, don’t panic; emergency foods for goldfish include boiled peas and spinach as emergency options; zucchini is an excellent source of potassium and vitamin C.
Contents
Lettuce
Goldfish need a wide range of foods as active fish that consume energy quickly. Feed them a small pinch twice or three times daily with food like algae wafers, food pellets or chopped vegetables for best results.
Live food options like brine shrimp, tubifex worms and daphnia may provide closer representations of what goldfish would consume in nature; however, these live options can become messy and introduce diseases into the tank environment. As an alternative, consider freeze-dried options as great sources of protein for your goldfish.
Peas
Goldfish require a diet containing an assortment of essential vitamins and minerals; their flake food alone cannot provide all of them.
Peas are an excellent source of dietary fiber and can help prevent constipation in goldfish, which often become constipated from not getting enough in their diets. One cup of frozen peas provides 7 grams of dietary fiber; before feeding frozen ones to goldfish for optimal results, rinse and soften them first with warm water prior to cutting into small pieces so your goldfish can eat them easily.
Sweet Potatoes
Winning a goldfish at an animal fair may be easy, but to ensure its survival it’s crucial that your home aquarium be ready for its arrival. A tank at least 20 gallons must be installed with proper temperatures and filters in order to provide ideal conditions.
Do not feed your goldfish bread crumbs as this will bloat and cloud up its water, instead offer small bits of lettuce or finely chopped vegetables like peas (take off their shell) and zucchini instead.
Zucchini
Many carnival goldfish are treated as toys and disposable prizes, often sold in tiny bowls with minimal care instructions. Unfortunately, these carnival fish often succumb to shock, lack of nutrition and stress within days resulting in their demise.
Goldfish that are well cared for can live up to 10 years. For optimal success, large tanks and an assortment of foods should be available – brine shrimp, frozen bloodworms and algae wafers make great snacks; while boiled peas and spinach provide essential vegetables. They even enjoy snacking on raspberries which contain plenty of vitamin C!
Gel Food
Goldfish require a high-protein diet in order to reach full development. When choosing fish flakes or pellets specifically formulated for goldfish, be sure to select those which provide the appropriate balance of proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals.
Goldfish should also be fed small pieces of lettuce, spinach, and peas (with shell removed) every few hours to prevent their fish from inhaling air which could potentially cause them to bloat. When using dry food in their tank water environment it must first be soaked beforehand so as to not cause air bubbles which may lead to bloat ingestion by your goldfish.
Maintain a daily 50% water change until your tank has cycled to prevent ammonia build-up that could harm or kill goldfish.
Egg Yolk
Goldfish are omnivorous feeders, eating everything from plants to insects to other fish’s eggs. While fruit and vegetables can also be enjoyed, it is important to remember that fiber needs to be included as part of their diet.
Cucumbers and raspberries make great foods to feed goldfish, while adding protein by means of mashed egg yolk is another excellent idea. Just be sure to chop all food items very small as too much floats around in the water and can cloud its clarity; all dry food must first be soaked to help avoid air ingestion (which could result in bloat).
Cucumbers
Goldfish require some plant matter as part of their diet; fish flakes alone cannot provide the essential nutrition.
Cucumbers are packed with water-soluble vitamins and minerals like potassium, vitamin C, folate and vitamin K. You can blanch cucumbers by pouring boiling water over them or placing each slice in the microwave for 7 seconds per slice – you may also consider giving this healthy treat to your fish at least 3-4 times weekly for optimal swim bladder health!
Raspberries
Goldfish are herbivorous fish that require plant-based foods like algae, aquatic plants and vegetables as their food source. For protein sources they need bloodworms, daphnia or other small invertebrates.
Be mindful not to overfeed your goldfish; without an obvious stomach, food passes directly through their intestines and could quickly lead to their demise.
Orange peel can help increase goldfish’s vitamin C consumption; just be sure to remove its rind before feeding your goldfish.
