From: pprior@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Paul A Prior)
Newsgroups: alt.aquaria,rec.aquaria
Subject: Re: help!...goldfish in fishbowl
Keywords: fish torture, early death, naive
Date: 10 Apr 92 18:40:50 GMT
Organization: The Ohio State University

In article <92101.114709GRI101@psuvm.psu.edu> <GRI101@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:
>I bought a couple of small (1 inch long) goldfish which I plan to keep
>in a 1/2 gallon glass bowl. I have some gravel at the bottom. At present
>I have not fixed any filtering system or water aerating system.

Bad move thus far.  Where do you think the waste that fish produce goes?
If someone made you swim around in your own waste, would you live long?

>  Since it is my first experience with fish, I' having serious doubts
>as to what I'm doing is right. Could someone in netland help me with my
>queries.

FIRST and FOREMOST - you need to read up on fish keeping.  It never
ceases to amaze me at the number of people who think keeping fish 
requires no knowledge.  I am not blaming you; it's a very common 
mistake amung beginners.  But also keep in mind that many, if not most,
new hobbyists give up in frustration when their fish keep dying.  Reading
a good book or the FAQ will almost guarantee improved success.

A
>  * do i need to install an aerating system. i dont intend on putting
>    more than two goldfish in the bowl.

What you need is a FILTER!  Fish produce ammonia as a waste product and
that ammonia has to be gotten rid of.  The more cramped the fish are, 
the more concentrated the ammonia will be.  Also, surface area is 
important to allow oxygen to diffuse into the water.  Aerating with an
air pump does not "pump" oxygen into the water, rather it disturbs the
surface, allowing more oxygen to diffuse in from the atmosphere (and more
CO2 to diffuse out).

Goldfish bowls are the fishy equivilant to chaining a german shepard 
up on a concrete lot with a range of movement of about 3 feet: i.e.
it's not healthy and it's not (IMHO) very nice to the fish.

If you want to keep your bowl (something I don't really recommend), then
please go out and buy one of the small fishbowl sized undergravel filters
that they make for them.  And of course an air pump and gravel to make it
work.  I don' have time to explain right now how the UGF works, but if
you read the FAQ you should understand it.

Also keep in mind that if you are keeping fancy goldfish, they should have
about 10 gallons of water space EACH when they are decent sized.  That
should give you an idea of how cramped they will become.


>  * how often should i feed the fish

Until you get a filter I would recommend once per day and only a pinch
of food (say 3-5 flakes if you are feeding flake food).


>  * how often should i change the water

Until you get a filter, you should really change it every couple of days
(every day would be even better).  Once you get a filter weekly or biweekly
changes of 30-50% should be dandy.


>  * i bought some "ammonia chlorine eliminator". I add a couple of drops
>    every day. is it ok.

If the solution is a water treatment clorine remover then this only needs
to be added when you change water.  If it is a product like Amquel, which
binds ammonia (and which you might want to get until you get the filter
cycled) then it would be good to add more often.


>  * the water seems to get dirty very very fast. It turns murky in a few
>    hours time. So I replace half of it with fresh water Three times a day.
>    Also the goldfish come to the water surface and seem to stick there
>    head almost out of water and breath there. but when i add fresh water
>    they swim near the bottom for a few hours. Could this be because the
>    oxygen in the water gets depleted fast and then the fish try to breath
>    near the surface where oxygen conc. may be higher. what can i do to
>    remedy the situation.

Very astute observation.  That is exactly what is happening.  Imagine 
being forced to breath through a straw for extended periods of time.  That
is the effect of low surface area and too many fish.  the only things you
can do are to A) get a bigger tank (10 gal tanks are pretty cheap); 
B) get a filter/air pump which will help gas exchange; C) minimize the number
of fish that are competing for the oxygen.

Goldfish are messy fish.  They are also fairly hearty fish.  This makes them
oftentimes the objects of abuse by well meaning but ignorant people.
Now you know better!  Enjoy your fish.  You'll find them a relaxing and
fulfilling pasttime if you learn how to take care of them.  Beware though,
you might soon find yourself with a house full of tanks and a very 
thin wallet if you get the bug...

Cheers


-- 
--------pprior@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu----(614) 297-8474----------------
Paul A. Prior    Ban anchors, not reef tanks   "With friends like this,   
2nd year medical student		          who needs anemones?"
The Ohio State U. College of Medicine   Tobacco Kills- Please don't smoke!
Newsgroups: alt.aquaria,rec.aquaria