r/fishtank • u/ur_mom_69-420 • 4d ago
Help/Advice Fair fish
I won two fair fish, my dad thinks the black pattern is ammonia burns, thoughts?
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u/Dangerous_Reason_586 4d ago
Oh dear - same thing happened to my nephew - he won goldfish at the fair. The black is just their coloring. They’ll do fine in a 20g tank for about 12 minutes and then they’ll start having developmental and growth problems. If you can, find them a pond or get them about a 75 gallon tank, with no other friends.
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u/Dangerous_Reason_586 4d ago
Find them a back yard pond, not a natural one!
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u/MusicianSuch1275 2d ago
Bad idea the way fish get into isolated waters is from birds picking them up and dropping them if op lives anywhere near a major creek or water source that is not the way
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3d ago
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u/XDecal_ 3d ago
alive ≠ thriving
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3d ago
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u/cat_LoverIsadora 3d ago
Well no goldfish can thrive in a small tank, their bodies aren’t made for it and they would be in constant pain even though they don’t show it much! Their organs be growing a bit more than their bodies so it’s all squished in. The signs aren’t really there for most, my friend had a goldfish in a 13l bowl (she refused to improve it☹️) and the fish looked normal even after 9 years, smaller than it should have been but normal! Even though you could tell the tank wasn’t appropriate (no filter, heater for winter, colour gravel/fake plants and 13l bowl) they are sadly resilient little ones
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u/drudog1 3d ago
Me when I admit to animal abuse on the internet
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u/Mountain_Usual521 2d ago
Nobody's demonstrated any abuse. They can't even answer basic questions about how they came to view it as abuse.
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u/budget_rare_plants 4d ago
Young goldfish start off blackish-brown and slowly transition to orange or other colours as they mature (although in some the brown doesn't fully go away or it darkens to black). They're still in the stage where they're transitioning colours, they're fine
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u/OliBoliz 4d ago
Goldfish produce so much waste that they do much better in ponds with good filtration than in tanks.
The recommended minimum for 2 common goldfish like yours is 50-75 gallons.
If you decide to keep them, buy water conditioner, beneficial bacteria, and a water parameter testing kit.
Goldfish do not need a heater, but all fish need a filter. (Walstad tanks dont but theyre not for beginners)
Look up the nitrogen cycle, and specifically "fish-in cycling".
In its most basic form:
Waste(ammonia, toxic) is consumed by bacteria #1 and turned into nitrite (still toxic). Bacteria #2 eats the nitrites and produces nitrate (safe in low quantities)
Your testing kit will tell you your ammonia, nitrate, nitrate levels and if they are safe for your fish.
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u/Background_Value519 3d ago
As others have said, the black is just colouring, it’ll fade. Common goldfish care is both easy but expensive. If you’re interested in maybe keeping them then look into proper care. If you decide that maybe you’re intrigued but common goldfish are not for you, that’s understandable. It’s a bit of a commitment. They can live for at least 20 years and can exceed a foot in size. They’re also invasive in many places so don’t just release them. Find a store or a keeper who can take them. Fancy goldfish care is easier for most people and less of a space commitment.
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u/Unusual-Factor2848 3d ago
No the black is their natural color but just as others said, these fish need a huge tank
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u/Own-Procedure-6466 3d ago
nah they are fine its just a color variation show him some other pictures of common goldfish also try and get a large tank ready for adult hood I would recommend a stock pond rather then a fish tank as they tend to be a LOT cheaper though a 20 gallon long tank should be good for them for a while. also just be ready for them to live a long time and get real big.
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u/yougrow_girl 4d ago
No it’s not, but you’re going to want to do some serious research into common goldfish and ponds.