Goldfish Make Ideal Pets for Dorms and Apartments

Sometimes it is necessary to live where you can't have a cat, dog or bird, such as a college dorm or an apartment. In such cases a goldfish should be considered if you must have a pet.

Goldfish are hardy and intelligent. Some goldfish are fancy with long elegant fins and unusual coloring. There are even blue and chocolate colored goldfish in addition to the traditional gold, white and black. They are trainable and so hardy that you can even take them home at winter break by putting them in a sturdy travel container. Make sure you use fairly clean water from your fish's aquarium and the container is large enough the fish has sufficient room to move and air space to recharge the oxygen in the water.

As hardy and tough as goldfish are it is best if you set up a home before you actually get the fish. With goldfish you aren't stuck with the traditional tank style. You can create an artistic environment by selecting an unusual vase and adding fish-friendly colored gravel and water plants.

Once you have chosen your fish's new home you need to make it safe for your pet. Clean the vase or other container thoroughly with a fish safe cleaner. Do the same with the gravel you have selected. Rinse thoroughly. Be sure you rinse the aquatic plants you chosen as well before you plant them. Once you have the gravel in and plants positioned carefully fill the container with water.

If you got impatient and bought your fish first you need to use a special agent to make the water safe for it. If you waited to buy your fish let the water sit for twenty-four to forty-eight hours before buying your goldfish.

When you purchase your fish select one that is healthy and active. If you go to one of the larger pet stores or a special fish store you will find an amazing variety of goldfish to choose from. There will also be knowledgeable staff to help you in making your choice. A goldfish can cost any where from ten cents to several hundred dollars depending on just how fancy you want to get. For the first time owner I recommend a fish in the one to ten dollar range. The lower priced ones take a keen eye to select a healthy one and even then the attrition rate is huge. The more expensive goldfish can be quite delicate and require extensive knowledge to keep them alive and healthy.

Once you've chosen your new pet the staff can help you select the appropriate food and instruct you in how to feed your goldfish properly.