Essential Tools for Goldfish Keepers

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Flaringshutter

Befriend a feeder!
Oct 17, 2006
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Southern California
Goldfish Essentials

Whether you’re a brand new goldfish keeper or an old pro looking to keep your emergency kit stocked up, here are the essentials. All images are from drsfostersmith.com, not because I think they are so great but because they had good, clear pictures and just about everyone can easily order from them. The links below the descriptions go to each product on their website.

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Everyday Basics:




Net – Sounds simple, but goldfish are a little different than neon tetras. For one, large singletails can be difficult to catch, as can fry! So keep two on hand – cornering a fish with two is much less stressful for everyone involved, and much quicker than chasing the fish around with just one. Best ones are the fine, strong ones with metal handles, not cheap wide-mesh types with flimsy wire handles. Goldfish grow very quickly, so buy a big net to begin with, before your fish outgrows that tiny one.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3728+3861&pcatid=3861

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Water dechlorinator – Prime and AmQuel are the most widely used and most recommended, but there are others that do the job just fine. These are absolutely critical, as most water districts add not only chlorine, but chloramines to the water now as a disinfectant. Chlorine can be removed by aging water, but this old method does not work for chloramines.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3974+4057&pcatid=4057
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3974+4045&pcatid=4045

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Test kit- Although the water might look clean, smell clean and you swear you “just” cleaned the tank, who knows if it is chemically balanced. A test kit is essential to determining how well your filter is working, what your water change schedule needs to be, and what additives you may need (or not!) to keep your fish healthy. Liquid test kits are by far the most reliable and accurate, but the strip type kits work fine for most situations.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4345+13524&pcatid=13524

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Gravel vacuum – The “Python” is the aquarist’s best friend these days, and there are many knockoffs that work just as well. Even if you have a fantastic filter, the amount of feces and leftover food that filters down into the gravel is astonishing. Thoroughly vacuuming the gravel at each water change will stop the food and feces from rotting and polluting your water.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3728+3910&pcatid=3910

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Thermometer – A cheap, mercury-filled glass one works just fine, but they can break and make your fish sick, so the stick-on or digital kind are best for goldfish aquariums. Especially aquariums with large, active singletails.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3744+12089&pcatid=12089

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Bucket- Self explanatory. Even if you have a full water change system like the python, buckets are perfect for topping off the tank, transporting fish and cleaning decorations.

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For the Unexpected:



Salt – Aquarium salt, not table salt! Non-iodized aquarium salt cures many ills, and a salt bath can ease stress on a sick goldfish. Buy it in big cartons and it’ll last years.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3974+4982&pcatid=4982

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Heater – Heat speeds up the life cycle of common parasites like Ich and Velvet, so having a heater on hand is wonderful for quickly treating outbreaks when you’re out of meds or it’s Friday night and the stores are closed. Once again, glass is not recommended. The new “safe” plastic heaters are just as effective and much safer.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3743+12060&pcatid=12060

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Full gloves – Some fish medications are skin irritants, and some fish illnesses can spread to humans! So gloves can obviously come in handy. Finding these in the LFS can be a real chore, so order some when you order the tank or the fish and you won’t be caught without them. They come in reusable and disposable types – both work fine.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3728+3871&pcatid=3871

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Steel Tissue Scissors – Simpler the better. Stainless, so they can be boiled for sterilization. Don’t buy the cheap ones, invest in a good pair of $10-20 scissors and keep them sharp. They’re wonderful for snipping off infected finrot and trimming wens.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3728+12039&pcatid=12039

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Tweezers – Also stainless steel so they can be sterilized by boiling. Long and thin are best, with blunt tips. Invaluable for getting gravel, smaller fish, plant bits, too-large pellets, rhinoceroses, small mountains, etc, out of goldfish mouths. They really will try to eat everything and anything. You don’t want to be caught without these.

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Air pump – Even if you don’t run one on the tank, it’s useful to have one in the cabinet. Many medications require additional aeration, and if you’re turning up the temperature for treatment you’ll need to increase aeration as well, since warmer water holds less oxygen. They’re relatively cheap and the newer ones are super quiet.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3728+3693&pcatid=3693

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Medicated Food- Keep these on hand at all times. Many illnesses cause fish to stop eating, and can be hard to treat once that happens. At the first sign of symptoms, if you can get medication into them with food, you can often head off the infection before it gets bad. Jungle Labs anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic are the most widely available, but many other brands work just as well.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4615+12788&pcatid=12788

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External antibiotic – Bio-Bandage is spectacular, but in many situations regular old Neosporin works too. For ulcers, finrot, or physical damage from rough handling or breeding, these are invaluable.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4615+12102&pcatid=12102

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Sedative – Clove oil (eugenol) is the easiest to use and easiest to find. Check health stores or order online. If you have a sick fish, sedating is a wonderful way to treat external problems like ulcers, finrot, some parasites, etc. It’s also perfect for taking gill snips and minor surgery.

http://www.amazon.com/Clove-Oil-Oz-NOW-Foods/dp/B000I4C3IK

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Medications



A broad-spectrum antibacterial like Tetracycline or Maracyn 1 and 2.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4615+4838&pcatid=4838



A gentle yet powerful anti-parasite like Praziquantel.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4615+12098&pcatid=12098

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For the Advanced Aquarist –



Microscope – No other tool is more quick and effective at diagnosis than a microscope. A regular scrape & scope helps you detect illness before your fish show symptoms, and find hard-to-diagnose problems like tiny parasites and internal infections. A clean scrape & scope puts your mind at ease.
Simple, science-class models with 10X, 40X, and 400X magnification will diagnose the vast majority of problems. Ebay, craigslist, even the local high school or college are great sources. Digital scopes are more expensive - but you can post the photos and get input on your diagnosis. You’ll need glass slides and coverslips as well. A good book of parasite images is also a great investment.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4345+18343&pcatid=18343

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UV Sterilizer – These will kill everything. Everything. In the water. They can speed up treatment of just about every parasite, including ich, velvet, anchor worms, flukes, etc. Quite an investment, but worth the price.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4393+11472&pcatid=11472
 
Last edited:

Lupin

Registered Member
Sep 21, 2006
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Lupin Information Super Highway/Goldfish Informati
thegab.org
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Iodized table salt isn't really harmful. In fact, it is cost effective and is just as effective as the pure sodium chloride 'aquarium' salt.
 

Evil Cyborg 10

AC Members
Dec 25, 2008
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Thanks for this list!!!
Gotta go buy some of these now :D
 

irishspy

There is a stargate in my aquarium.
Actually, this is a good list for most freshwater keepers, not just for goldies. :idea:
 

7itanium

AC Members
Jan 31, 2009
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Spokane, WA
I also use normal table salt on several occasions... iodine is not harmfull in this application at all

table salt is fine...


Also..... TEST STRIPS ARE GARBAGE.. they are innacurate and can even give false positives..... GET A LIQUID KIT!


other than that... NICE GUIDE :)
 
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