The Goldfish Tragedy (Watch this before you buy a Goldfish!!)

If you were disabled and were up for adoption how would you feel if nobody bought you because you had special needs. I understand that the fish are bred to have the mutations but they can still live healthy happy long lives they just need their owners to give them the special care. You also shouldn't have gravel in your goldfish tank. They can eat it and lodge it in their stomach and die

Definitely good advice. It bugs the hell out of me that I'm constantly seeing goldfish being kept in small bowls in tv shows and commercials. I wish people would stop promoting this stereotype. Hoping to get a 35-40 gallon tank in the near future (There are some deals to be found on Craigslist) and pick up a couple of fancy golds. So I'm doing my research in advance.

Our three goldfish (all common feeder fish) are kept in a filtered 55 gallon tank. Apollo was kept in a bowl for 2 years by a retirement home for means of decoration, it is a wonder he survived! Now he has grown so much he wouldn't even fit in the bowl! I'm hoping they will live long and happy lives :)

you do realize the goldfish themselves have been breed thousands or millions of times to produce a tiny golden or yellow carp? so the mutations themselves don't really put the fish itself in harm. the owner just needs to quit being lazy and take care of it. like any pet, some are more maintenance than others.

Honestly I don't think its fair to say that fancy goldfish should not be purchased. I feel they should only be bought by owners that will dedicated even more time and resources to them because of their special needs. I mean dogs come in "varieties" too and I see no reason not to love them for it. (owner of a bubble eye, telescope, and oranda)

this is kinda hypocritical comming from someone that keeps kois in a tank they should only be in a pond unless your tank is like 300 gallons

So very true. I had a Comet that was given to me by a friend, that he won at a carnival. I had him for 7 years in a 55 gal. tank. He got to be 7 inches at that time, which I had named him Bubba. I had to go off for training far away, my wife informed me 3 days later that Bubba had died in my absence. I was heart broken but felt I gave that fish a better life for 7 years.....

Why do you have Koi in an aquarium? Those are pond fish.

I am glad to know that there are people out there that give fish the respect they deserve. I have seven goldfish that have been with me for five years now in a 75 gallon tank. They are so happy, I just wish everyone grasps the message you're sending to viewers worldwide.

Every goldfish is different, just because goldfish genetics have been changed in order to create the fancy varieties it does not mean they should be looked upon as deformed. I know your trying to make a statement about how common goldfish are important but putting down fancies with biased comments...it doesn't help. 

My black moor, "disabled" or not, is the light of my life and the first fish I've ever personally owned. I try to keep him happy and am learning how to best care for him. He is beautiful and healthy and spoiled. (But not overly so of course) :)

By your reasoning, you are abusing your fish as well, as these fish are really pond fish. Koi get as large as 52 inches (normal more in the 30 to 38 inch range) and comet goldfish grow to be 12 to 15 inches. Both are stunted by being kept in an aquarium like yours. In truth your 3 comets are all that should be in your 4' tank. Koi should never be kept in a tank. Koi need ponds of 4,000 gals. or more. Fancy goldfish on the other hand are more adaptable to aquariums, although I keep mine in ponds and I do not have any more issues with them than with any other fish in my ponds. Covers over the ponds and good filtration prevent most problems that I incur. (Predators are the main problem.  Also encounter males running the females to death during mating so I tend to keep males and females separate in the fancy breeds of goldfish.) 

Okay.  Hold up.  Although orandas, lionheads, celestials, moors and telescopes etc. are indeed genetically engineered, they aren't in the way you think.  Genetic engineering is influencing the characteristics of any organism and does not necessarily involve ACTUALLY CHANGING the DNA.  Genetic engineerin can even be considered simply breeding a white goldfish and a black goldfish simply to get the outcome of either a gray goldfish or a black and white spotted goldfish.  You don't need to be a scientist to do it, so these forms aren't necessarily "mutations".  Although it is true that fancy varieties of goldfish do not swim as well as the single tailed varieties, this does not mean they are impaired or damaged.  Take for instance, dog breeds.  Grey hounds (in this example, they are representing commons and comets) are known for their speed and agility, and malteses (representing the fancy varieties) are not as fast and cunning.  However, although the maltese lacks athletic ability, it makes a great show dog and is known as being a beautiful breed of dog with it's long fur.  It too needs extra care and grooming to maintain it's beauty, just like fancy goldfish.  Just because one fish can't swim as well as another fish, doesn't mean it's bad, nor does it mean that the fish is not a representation of the "true goldfish".    And either way, if you're able to get a fancy variety goldfish, it's your responsibility to learn how to care for it properly.   And don't say not to buy them because they're "disabled fish".  Seriously?  First off, if we don't buy them, the pet stores will simply let them rot in the harsh conditions they live in while awaiting a new home.  And what's wrong with disabled fish?  Should we not take care of disabled people because they are "damaged" or "mutated"?  Of course not!  All they really need is some TLC and an owner that has done some research. And although I am not an advocate of feeding goldfish to other animals, they tend to be high in protein and fats and don't contain any sharp parts or poisonous parts so they tend to be bought  as food.  So yeah...  

those words u said changed my heart about goldfishes and now I keep 5 in my 10 gallon tank

Thanks for sharing this video! I love my little goldie Mio and I've had him for 2 years so far. People are always shocked when they see my goldfish is still alive. I always tell them if you know how to take care of them, they can live for years! 

I have seen this video on numerous occasions and I must say that you did a excellent job. Some of the most beautiful goldfish come out of feeder tanks.

You have gorgeous fish. I'm so glad that some people actually realize that fish do not belong in bowls, even bettas. I keep butterfly telescope goldfish, ryukins, and a single red capped comet named Felix. He temporarily lives in a ten gallon, but my dad bought him forty gallon and we r setting it up soon!

I do certainly agree that everyone should think carefully before buying goldfish, and keep in mind minimum tank sizes. However, common/comet/shubunkin goldfish need 55 gallons for one at minimum, and preferably should be kept in ponds, while koi should not be kept in aquariums at all; these conditions make them difficult to keep for people who are not deeply into the hobby. The reason so many people, myself included, buy the fancy varieties is that they live long, happy lives as long as they have 15-20g per fish to live in. That is much more affordable for the average aquarium owner with no pond. These fish have been domesticated and bred for hundreds of years to look weird. Yes, they do have deformities, but so do other domesticated animals like pug dogs. My fantail and ryukin are quite happy and spoiled, and don't seem to mind being a little chubbier than their cousins :)

2 years ago, I won a fish at my town fair. I am happy to report that Mikey is still living happily, and is about 6 inches long, I'm planing on moving him from a 25g tank to a 55g, and may get him a friend. Size matching is going to be a pain though, since I'll essentially have to "grow" my own goldfish to Mikeys size.

I brought 3 as they looked so sad in pet shop tiny bowls and not in shoals for comfort but separate with no plants. Put them in my giant pond and their personalities really shine! They look so happy and natural now! People don't realise those comets can grow massive and if in a small tank they look to never grow but their organs still do killing them off