Do goldfish really need a filter and a heater??

Question

I want to get some gold fish, and some peole are telling me to get a filter and/or a heater, and some say you don't need to !!! What do I do ?!?!?!

Answer 1

Short answer: No.

Yes, goldfish are coldwater fish. That means that they can _tolerate_ cold water. That doesn't necessarily mean it is ideal for them. Warmer water will result in fewer infections. Fish diseases thrive in cold water.

So while a heater isn't required, it is definitely not a bad thing. Goldfish can tolerate temperatures to almost 90 degrees. But too warm is a bad thing; If you get a heater, make sure you get a thermometer as well. If the temperature is consistently over 90 degrees, it could kill your fish. Ideally it should be in the 72 to 85 degree range.

Filters basically reduce maintenance. Thats it. You still have to do periodic water changes even with filters. But filters keep the water quality higher longer. Power filters are mostly useful for looks. They filter out debris. Carbon in them will clear our microscopic debris as well, making the water perfectly clear and visually pleasing.

Filters don't just take out debris...they also provide a home for the benign bacteria that live in your tank. These bacteria consume waste products that are toxic to the goldfish. They are (basically) doing the equivalent of a water change for you. In an undergravel filter they live in the gravel. In a power filter they live in the filter pad. The bacteria require moving water to do their job well.

So if you don't have a filter, you will need to do water changes more often. Adding some live plants will help as well (they consume wastes and spit out oxygen).

Unless you are really despirate, you should get a filter and a heater.

Answer 2

you NEED a filter but you

DO NOT need a heater

goldfish are coldwater fish, not tropicals

just make sure you have at least a 20+ gallon tank for the first goldfish, and an additional 10+ gallons for each other goldie you're planning on getting

Answer 3

Goldfish are cold water fish and do not need a heater but all fish need a filter to keep the aquarium clean.

Answer 4

I don't know , because I don't have a goldfish.you can ask the others, but not in the yahoo answers!

Answer 5

You don't need a heater, but you definietely need a GOOD filter.  Goldfish are considered to be "dirty" fish as they create a lot of waste.  They don't have very complicated digestive systems, so pretty much everything that goes into their mouths comes out their back ends.  Either get a filter or expect to be in there vacuuming up fish p**p twice a day from the bottom of the tank.

Answer 6

yes you do

Answer 7

goldfish produce VERY high amounts of waste (ammonia) which makes unexceptable to live in a bowl....also one goldfish needs 20 gallons and YES 20 gallons needs a filter. The only fish that doesn't need a filter is a betta in a bowl!

NO goldfish are coldwater fish that will thrive anywhere from 60-76 degrees f!

Answer 8

They need a filter but not a heater.  They are cold-water fish.

Answer 9

You definetly need a filter and a good one.  Goldfish are dirty if not one of the dirtiest fish you can keep.  They release a lot of waste products and will quickly foul their water without a filter.

A heater is not nessacary and should be avoided with goldfish.  They like colder temps.  Room temp is fine for these guys.

Remember to house a single fancy in at least a 20 gallon tank and for every extra one you want to add, tack on an additional 10 gallons.  Commons should really be kept in a pond since they get about a foot long.